Common Sense Media Review
By Melissa Camacho
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Reality show is amusing promotional vehicle for Southwest.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
ON THE FLY is a reality show featuring the behind-the-scenes customer service operations of Southwest Airlines, an airline known for its friendly, playful customer service agents. Based in major airports like Baltimore and Denver, viewers get to watch as their agents deal with customers who are frustrated or angry about things ranging from flight delays to the accidental destruction of their luggage. It also shows how they deal with certain emergencies. It isn't always easy, but they work together to satisfy their customers and get them to their destinations safely.
Is It Any Good?
The series is a remake of the reality show Airline, and serves as a promotional vehicle for Southwest Airlines by offering a voyeuristic look into the world of air travel from their customer service agents' perspective. As a result, much of the show focuses on how professionally the agents handle difficult situations and clients, and how impossible some customers can be when things go wrong.
While it underscores Southwest's efforts to deal with issues in a positive way, it also reveals some of the problems that airline customers continue to face when flying, like poor communication from supervisors and contradictory airline policies. Some folks may find it fun to watch, but frequent flyers may find the problems a little too realistic.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the reasons why an airline would agree to be showcased on a reality show. What makes this line of work interesting? Is it the passengers that are supposed to make it entertaining?
Do you think employees act differently when the cameras are rolling? Why or why not? Why do you think customers agree to be shown on this series, even when they're acting poorly?
TV Details
- Premiere date : May 24, 2012
- Network : TLC
- Genre : Reality TV
- TV rating :
- Last updated : September 30, 2020
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