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Airport - Live Chat      
John Cull from Qantas

Complete transcript...

BBC Host: Hello, and welcome to tonight?s live chat with John Cull, Duty Airport Manager for Qantas at Heathrow. John's now ready to start answering your questions...

James Worth, age 19: Hi John, My main career ambition is to work for an Airline, particularly at Heathrow and become a Passengers Services Representative (Check in) and work my way up the career ladder. What tips can you give me in reaching my first step?

John Cull: Read as much as you can about travel. Learn about the world - be good at geography. Contact one of the major airlines, such as British Airways, who can offer career advice.

Paul Anderson: how do you find it working in front of cameras?

John Cull: Good fun - I enjoy it very much. The production team are always very sympathetic to the fact that I'm working and don't cramp my style too much.

David Short: When was your most stressful day at Heathrow?

John Cull: Three years ago, when the Indian air traffic controllers went on strike and nothing departed from Heathrow to Australia for three days. We had several thousand passengers stranded at Heathrow during that time.

Margaret B: How long do you really need to be able to head into town - would 5 hours be enough to get into London and back to do some shopping?

John Cull: Five hours would be enough, but if you check in for a flight and intend to go into London, you must let the airline know your intentions. People have checked in baggage before now, it's been accepted for the flight; they've gone into London, there's been a problem on the tube and we have to search for them at the gate and offload their baggage if they don't show. That causes a delay for everybody.

Sophie Smith: How do you deal with difficult passengers - like drunks, or violent passengers, or people who suddenly want to get off the plane because they?ve changed their mind?

John Cull: The first thing is to be calm about it all and to look carefully at the situation. With drunk passengers, there are several types of people - some are quiet, some are noisy. You have to assess how they're going to be on the flight before you accept them. Basically you have to be as calm as possible.

John Cull: Sometimes we have to check to see if the crew will accept them for travel.

Emma Jackson: Does anybody ever notice you in the street and say, 'look that's him from Airport!'

John Cull: Yes, they do - and in the supermarket. And on the railway station tonight, someone said to me, "Shouldn't you be in Terminal 4?" I'm very surprised that people remember me so easily. Often it's when I talk, strangely enough.

Nick Beauchamp: What is it like working in one of the busiest airports in the world?

John Cull: It's very exhilarating. Every day's a challenge. I've got lots of good friends at the airport - it's a good community in which to work.
Kei Izawa: how many hours do u work typically a day?

John Cull: Heathrow's like a city in itself with its own inhabitants, and we're all there with the same goal of keeping the customers happy. I normally work either a ten-hour shift in the morning or an eight-hour shift in the afternoon.

RAHUL2485: HI I REALLY DO LIKE AIRPORT I AM ONLY 8 I WANT TO BE A PILOT. DO YOU HAVE ADVICE FOR ME? THANKS!

John Cull: Again, you need to know your geography, be somebody who can stay calm, be good at maths and calculations.

Sheila Burkes: Can you recommend the ?best? time to fly over the holiday period? Is Christmas Day a good time to travel?

John Cull: There's no good time over Christmas these days. It used to be very quiet on Christmas Day but know it's busy all year round. There are no domestic flights on Christmas Day.

Andrew Youngson: Do you get satisfaction from the job that you do?

John Cull: Yes, every day is satisfying because every day is different and every day is a challenge.

Craig Milne: if u could change jobs wich job would you go for ?

John Cull: I'd probably go back to being a disc jockey, which is what I wanted to do originally!

Daniel Pawley: whats the busiest day you have had so far?

John Cull: We operated some charter flights to Europe this year and I worked in Istanbul in the morning, then in the afternoon I was working in Athens and in the evening I was at Thessaloniki in northern Greece.

Christian Cole: I am only 10 today and could you give some tips for working in Heathrow, even if its only as a waiter.

John Cull: Happy birthday, Christian! If you want to work in the airport but not for an airline, Heathrow Airport Ltd can offer some career advice. Any of the airlines that operate from Heathrow can offer career advice about working for them.

John Cull: Also, check www.baa.co.uk for airport jobs information.

Simon Bettinson: You must get to go to Australia a lot what?s your favourite destination right now, where?s really trendy and hot?

John Cull: Sydney's still my favorite Australian city. It's still a trendy town - there are plenty of pubs, clubs, extremely good beaches and this time of year it's extremely hot. My second favourite would be Cairns in Queensland for the Barrier Reef and the rainforest.

Barbara: O.K. what's your most embarrassing moment?

John Cull: One morning, shortly before the aircraft arrived at Heathrow, a lady took off all her clothes. The crew managed to put a blanket around her and I walked her to immigration. She threw the blanket away and I was left standing there wondering what to do next.

John Cull: It was okay in the end - we managed to retrieve the blanket and get her to baggage hall.

Craig Milne: u say u wanted to be a disc jockey, who would u say is your idol. thanks

John Cull: My ultimate idol has to be Alan Freeman - he's the king of DJs.

David Wood: How do you stay so calm after all the stress of your job?- Aircraft in the wrong place and all those stroppy passengers?

John Cull: Staying calm takes years of practice and I find it quite easy now.

Sebastiaan Wooning: Good evening John, what is the quickest tunraround you've managed?

John Cull: The quickest turnaround for a 747 that I can recall doing is one hours and ten minutes at Heathrow. We're normally allowed two hours at Heathrow to turn an aircraft around.

Tim Gray: What is your favourite type of Aircraft?

John Cull: My favourite aircraft is the 747-400. It's terrific to travel in - very comfortable. It's reliable and has a long range - for example, London to Singapore non-stop.

Claire Weatherley: Who is the most famous person you have met in the airport?

John Cull: The most famous person I met was earlier this year when I met the Queen on her departure on a trip to Australia. She was very pleasant, and appreciative of the service we provided.

Dudley Valentine: hello John, How do you deal with children under age who are travelling alone?

John Cull: We have to take great care of unaccompanied minors to ensure that they're looked after every step of the journey. They're seated in a special area on the aircraft and are looked after by "airline aunties."

David Wood: Hi John, whatever happened to that cute koala in the Qantas ads? Did he have a name?

John Cull: I seem to recall that his name was Kevin.

John Cull: He's still there somewhere - and I think he's coming back soon.

Sebastiaan Wooning: Can you describe the most anoying situation you've ever experienced with the cockpit crew.

John Cull: One Christmas Day when we had an aircraft ready to depart, the captain - who's now retired - wouldn't depart until he had a pillowcase on his pillow, which nobody could provide on Christmas Day.

Vasana Limpiyarak: Does you job entail working with other airlines besides Qantas?

John Cull: My job involves dealing with British Airways and really all airlines that our passengers connect to - so yes, all airlines at Heathrow.

Ted Shepherd: Hello John, As you are no doubt very much aware the 4 terminals at Heathrow are very congested. As someone who supports the building of Terminal 5 I would be interested in hearing your views on the Terminal 5 project. Kind Regards!

John Cull: I think Terminal 5 is essential to reduce the crowding and also to secure and guarantee employment for people in the local area, so I'm a big supporter of Terminal 5.

John Cull: Regarding the noise element, I don't think it will increase flights too much with the larger aircraft coming in.

Tim Gray: What do you enjoy most about your job?

John Cull: I think I enjoy most the passenger contact - dealing with people, solving their problems and generally helping them start their holiday in a good way.

Andrew Laing1: If your aircraft misses its departure time, do you or quantas get a fine or penalty?

John Cull: If we miss our slot we sometimes have to wait for another one, which sometimes can be several hours later. We do get a penalty if we depart late at night and are over the noise limits. That's the only time we actually get fined.

Stewart Bryant: How many flights do you deal with every day?

John Cull: On a normal shift I will deal with three arrivals and one departure.
Anakavur: how do you cope up with long hours?

John Cull: I cope with the long hours with great difficulty. The early shifts are the difficult ones, when you have to jump in the shower at three o'clock in the morning and you're coming home at three o'clock that afternoon.

James Jones: How many years have you been working for Qantas at Heathrow?

John Cull: For 27 years now - and I'm still enjoying it.

Kathy Smith: do you think being an air hostess is a good job?

John Cull: It's something that I regret - that I didn't become an air steward for a while as I think it would be a good way of meeting people and a good way to see the world.

Christian Cole: Do ever get abused by passengers?

John Cull: Yes, I often get abused by passengers - sometimes actually assaulted, but those occasions are rare. I put it down to the fact that people are tense when they get to the airport - it happens more times than I'd like it to.

CHRIS MORELAND: DO U TRAVEL MUCH?

John Cull: I get to travel a great deal, not only with my job but also on holidays, using my travel concessions which I'm fortunate to get.

Jay: do u think being a pilot is a good job because i'm in the RAF and want to become a 747 pilot...

John Cull: Yes, I think it's a very interesting job - a very responsible one - again, opportunities to see the world and a career path I would have taken had I been intelligent enough !

John Cull: I wasn't very good at maths, which is necessary for the calculations required in flight. But I love working with people.

Kevin McDustins: what has been the funniest thing that has happened in your experience?

John Cull: I have to think about that...

John Cull: I thought one day I was dealing with a one-armed man so I offered to carry his baggage and assist him in every way I could. After a few moments he took his arm from behind his back and I saw he had two arms - he'd thought it was all part of the service !

Stewart Bryant: Are all Qantas B747-400s called 'Longreach'?

John Cull: Yes, they are. It's the name we give to all the 400 series because it's the Queensland town of our origin. But they all have individual city names as well, such as the City of Sydney and the City of Canberra.

Matthew Cannon: On average, how far do you walk each day?

John Cull: I've always meant to actually get a pedometer to measure how far I walk - but I would say easily five or six miles a day, and that's a conservative estimate.

John Cull: I need a micro-scooter - they've got them at Stockholm Airport. I wish they'd introduce them at Heathrow.

Andrew Youngson: What was your biggest pet hate at school?

John Cull: School was my biggest pet hate - I despised every minute! But I knew I needed to get my education - and I didn't do too badly after all.
Stewart Bryant: Why do airlines always seem to serve chicken in in-flight meals?

John Cull: There are only a certain number of foods that can be reheated on an aircraft so often the range is limited.

sammy smith: have you ever had bad experiences with poisonous animals?

John Cull: One day when I was in the hold of an aircraft I found a cloth bag and moved it - and the bag itself moved. I later found it had a cobra inside which was being imported from India - and I have a dreadful fear of snakes.

John Cull: I had to lie down for several hours after that experience. The snake was taken away by Animal Reception Centre for its onward journey!

anakavur: are you affected by jetlag?

John Cull: Yes, I get it all the time, and all there are many cures and much advice for jetlag, none of it has ever worked for me.

Jacko McQuillan: John, and if you travel with your airline, do they let you go in First? :)

John Cull: Luckily, because I've worked for the airline so long, it does entitle me to travel first class, but only if the seats are not required by full fare-paying passengers.

John Cull: It has been known for me to help the crew with serving teas and coffees, which is quite fun.

Andrew Youngson: What has been your most expensive piece of cargo to go out in to a hold of a aircraft?

John Cull: We took the Book of Krells to Australia last year. Several times we've taken bullion - and valuable cars as well - especially for the Grand Prix in Australia.

Matthew Cannon: Have you ever had to deal with a flight that has had an accident, such as a crash landing?

John Cull: Safety is very important to us and we're very conscious that we have to maintain a safe operation. Fortunately, I personally have never been involved in any such incidents.

SIMON: RU in the mile high club?

John Cull: Lots of funny things happen in flight that I hear from the crew. I've seen several strange things myself such as a passenger eating the hot refreshment towel handed him by the crew. I've heard of people getting locked in toilets - and of course there are the occasional people who join the Mile High Club.

John Cull: Joining the Mile High Club, by the way, happens less in real life than people like to think - and there's no membership certificate.

Jacko McQuillan: John, before an aircraft can leave the stand, whoes responsability is it that all is ok? The Captain, you, or Dispatch?

John Cull: I have the final say in co-operation with the operating captain, who in turn is told by the control tower that he is clear to push back.

John Cull: It's the pilot's decision to close the door and to advise that he's ready on board.

Ross Gunn: hi i also work in heathrow airport i am the approach controller in the control tower have you ever been up in the control tower?

John Cull: It's one of the areas of Heathrow that remains a mystery to me - and one that I deal with quite frequently - and I'm still waiting for my invitation! I'm aware it's an area that is difficult for people to visit because it's so busy and the job is such a difficult one.

CHRIS MORELAND: HOW MANY PASSENGERS IN ONE DAY ROUGHLY MISS THEIR FLIGHT?

John Cull: It's difficult to say - it varies quite a bit. But it does happen often, and there is always someone who misses a flight for one reason or another. Sometimes because transport was late, and often it's because they've left their passport or tickets at home.

BBC Host: There's still 15 minutes to go...so keep sending your questions...
CHRIS MORELAND: DO U LIKE SPORTS ?

John Cull: I'm not a great sports fan but I do like to watch Formula One whenever I can. And of course we get the Australian cricket team or rugby team travelling so I do take an interest in those sports.

Kei Izawa: Why did you choose working for Qantas?

John Cull: I lived in Australia for three years. Qantas had a very good reputation and it was a company that I wanted to work for. Unfortunately I couldn't get accepted by Qantas in Australia so I had to come back to the UK and join them in the UK.

A 1: what is the longest flight you have been on?

John Cull: We operated the maiden flight of our 7-400 series from Heathrow direct to Sydney non-stop. It was the first time it had ever occurred and it hasn't been done since. It took about eighteen hours, and to achieve maximum uplift of fuel we had to tow the aircraft to the end of the runway and start the enginges at the end of the runway.

John Cull: My longest flight would be Singapore to London, which took about thirteen-and-a-half hours, but that's a regular run for us.

Barbara: Can you tell us what QANTAS stands for and why isn't there a 'U' in it?

John Cull: Qantas is an acronym and stands for Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services. We've just celebrated our eightieth birthday.
BBC Host: There's still 10 minutes to go...keep sending in your questions..

CHRIS MORELAND: DO YOU HAVE TO WORK ON CHRISTMAS EVE AND ON CHRISTMAS DAY?

John Cull: Unfortunately, this year I find that I'm working on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. I'm doing the late shift, which means that I start at four in the afternoon and work till midnight, which wipes out most of Christmas.

John Cull: It also means that I have to stick to the orange juice on both days !

Vikki Fontaine: Are there any bars or cafes in the public areas of the terminals that you like to go to, to relax or have a coffee? Or do you get to go to the private lounges or staff areas?

John Cull: I can't go to any of the bars, but there are quite a good number of eating places at Heathrow and some of the famous hamburger chains are there. We do have a good canteen which serves a wide range of meals - I eat there quite a lot. It's quite a social place - even more so since I've been in Airport !

Craig Milne: if you won the lottery would you quit your job?

John Cull: If I won the lottery I would have to be honest and say yes - but I would miss it enormously. I would probably like to buy my own airline.

BBC Host: The Host wants to ask - how will you feel when they stop filming Airport?

John Cull: I think I'll be disappointed. The Airport team are good fun to work with and it's added an extra dimension to my job.

CHRIS MORELAND: DO U GET NERVOUS WHILE ON T.V IN AIRPORT?

John Cull: I was nervous for the first couple of hours but I actually find that with the help of the production team, I'm no longer worried about the cameras and am quite relaxed about it.

John Cull: I don't have time to think about it because I'm working and the team are following me as I do my job - and I appreciate the fact that they respect and don't try to interfere with what I'm doing.

BBC Host: Just time for one last question...

Question from: kate smith: hi i love airport i think it?s great i would like to know how long have you been doing this for?

John Cull: The Airport team have been with me for two months and filming is continuing for next year, in the spring, when there will be a further ten programmes.

John Cull: It has been running for over five years and it's a great honour to have been chosen to appear in it.

BBC Host: That is all we have time for.

BBC Host: Here's John with a final word...

John Cull: It's been fun and exciting doing the Web chat - almost as much fun as doing the filming. It's nice to be able to talk to the people who watch the programme - keep watching.

BBC Host: Sorry if your question didn't get answered - there just wasn't enough time to cover the hundreds of questions which were submitted - thanks very much for staying with us!

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