I was on a flight home from Kansas City last week when a bit of condensation apparently emitted from the air conditioning as we were preparing for take-off. A passenger shouted “there’s smoke in the plane” followed by a second passenger, then a third, etc.
The flight attendants were a bit stunned and immediately got on the phone to the flight deck (I was in 1D so I literally had a front row seat for this whole epic mishap). As they were talking to the captain, passengers kept shouting frantically, not realizing that the flight attendants had already heard them.
SOCIAL MEDIA LESSON: Even if you know you’re doing the right thing, if you don’t acknowledge a customer with a problem, they think you’re doing the wrong thing.
Finally, a flight attendant screamed “we hear you” and then evidently misconstrued the captain’s remarks too, because she stated on the public address system that a warning was going off in the cockpit, as well.
SOCIAL MEDIA LESSON: The “fog” of social media is real. It moves fast. It’s hard to know exactly what’s going on around you. Communication can break down.
This of course created a bit of a panic (especially since we were already delayed leaving due to a broken navigation system). Captain Wilson stopped the takeoff, and we returned to the gate. Eventually, the captain explained that it was a false alarm, just condensation. But, nearly 20% of the entire plane grabbed their belongings and left.
SOCIAL MEDIA LESSON: I’m not sure about the “wisdom” of crowds, but people influence the behavior of their peers. What customers say about your company (regardless of how un/informed they are, or how unique their circumstance is), impacts potential customers’ perceptions more than anything you can ever do or say.
Ouch.
(photo by aralbalkan)
About Jay Baer
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Great points. RT @jaybaer: Panic in the Aisles – Airborne Social Media Lessons [link to post]
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Word of mouth “impacts potential customers’ perceptions more than anything you can ever do or say.” [link to post] (via @jaybaer)
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Hope you had fun in KC! – Panic in the Aisles – Airborne Social Media Lessons [link to post] @jaybaer
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Nice real life example: RT @katiemoffat: Airborne Social Media Lesson: [link to post] What good PR /rep man people should live & breath.
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Like this post: Airborne Social Media Lessons: [link to post] It’s also what good PR /rep man people should live & breath.
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RT @jaybaer Panic in the Aisles-Airborne Social Media Lessons [link to post] – Be mindful what U communicate, less spread false alarm.
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RT @tweetmeme Panic in the Aisles – Airborne Social Media Lessons | PR 2.0 | Social Media Consulting – Convince & Co… [link to post]
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Panic in the Aisles – Airborne Social Media Lessons – [link to post]
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Perfect explanation. Thanks for sharing! RT @jaybaer Panic in the Aisles – Airborne Social Media Lessons [link to post]
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RT @jaybaer – Panic in the Aisles – Airborne Social Media Lessons [link to post]
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RT @jaybaer Look around. There are social media lessons (and horror stories) everywhere. In an airplane, for example… [link to post]
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rt @jaybaer There are social media lessons (and horror stories) everywhere. In an airplane, for example… [link to post]
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Article: “Panic in the Aisles – Airborne Social Media Lessons” [link to post]
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Panic in the Aisles – Airborne Social Media Lessons – Sounds like an interesting flight @jaybaer [link to post]
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@jaybaer Loved your post today. Also, same thing happened on my flight this morning. Interesting to watch the panic, I must say.
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RT @MetrostarSystem: Panic in the Aisles – Airborne Social Media Lessons [link to post] #socialmedia -> wow, good quick ex of SM works
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Panic in the Aisles – Airborne Social Media Lessons [link to post] #socialmedia
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