APEX in Profile: Dominic Green
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Dominic Green
Executive Vice-President, IFD Americas
Inflight Dublin
Before joining Inflight Dublin, Dominic led the development of content services for wireless in-flight entertainment and connectivity solutions at Thales. Before that, he spent over 13 years at Spafax, most recently as vice-president of Sales and Marketing. Prior to that he served as senior director of Client Services, where his team managed the creation and delivery of award-winning content services for a wide range of airlines from around the world including Air Canada, Finnair and Thai Airways. He currently serves as secretary on the APEX Board of Directors and chairs several APEX committees.
FAST FACTS
Location: LGB
Frequent Flight: LAX-LHR
Now Watching: Episodes, Ripper Street
IFE Standby: British dramas that I’ve downloaded to my iPad.
The future of flight will be: Individual
Favorite Airport: LDH. Not many places you can get dropped off by a boat, walk across the beach, along the runway and into the terminal.
Favorite Hotel: The Upper House in Hong Kong
Favorite Aircraft: Concorde. Can’t beat the rush of flying it.
Brand of Suitcase: Samsonite
Paper or electronic boarding pass? Both. I’m a bit OCD.
Passport stamp you wish you had: USSR
If you weren’t doing your current job, what would you love to be doing?
I’m always really jealous when we go on holiday to some far-flung island and there’s a couple that’s set up some cool dive shop by the beach. They decided to give up their fancy careers, expensive homes and cars and all the mod cons back in their home country. It’s a huge risk and not all rosy, I’m sure, but they always seem so happy. They get to meet new people every day and go swim with the fishes. I envy them, so I guess I would love to have the courage to do that.
What are your ritual travel habits?
I tend to plan ahead extensively and write plenty of lists for packing, sightseeing, accommodation options and so on. I hate hanging around in airports, so I plan the journey down to the minute – what time to leave, factor in traffic, parking, train times, etc. – whatever is involved in getting there. It’s all done with the aim of getting from the front door to boarding with the minimum amount of waiting around.
When I was at British Airways (BA) and was traveling between LA and London every few weeks, they got to know me well at staff check-in and I nearly always fell into the “have a go” category. It’s what they would call anyone that missed the proper check-in time and would be allowed to “have a go” at getting through security and on to [onto] the plane before it closed. I had quite a few close calls but never actually missed a flight. Once I’m on the plane I tend to go with the flow – no real rituals.
“Even between competitors it’s often a friendly rivalry and most people know when to cooperate and have some fun.”
Something that never ceases to amaze you in your industry?
I know this seems a bit cheesy but it’s probably the genuine friendliness and support that you get from so many people throughout the industry. Even between competitors it’s often a friendly rivalry and most people know when to cooperate and have some fun.
What’s the one item you can’t travel without?
Sometimes I wish I didn’t feel the need to be so connected, but it has to be my mobile phone.
What do you think is the most overlooked aspect of the passenger experience?
Toilets. Every now and then you come across something that tries to make the experience of using a bathroom on an airplane a bit better; for example, the faces on the windows on Air New Zealand, or the constant cleaning up by the crew on THAI, but even up [at] the front of the plane they are generally pretty horrible.
What’s the most efficient way to pack a carry-on suitcase?
Plan what to take and lay it all out before you start. My packing disasters always happen when I leave it to the last minute. Also, doing it so many times that you get to know exactly where everything fits in [helps].
What does your typical workday look like?
Apart from checking e-mail first thing over coffee, there’s no such thing as a typical day for me after that. I could be making a conference call to HQ, heading to the airport to go visit a client, or working on a proposal. The constant variety is what I love about my job. I’d be bored out of my mind if I had a routine.
Did you choose the airline industry or did it choose you?
A bit of both, really. My family moved to Zambia when I was very young and we traveled extensively within the region, as well as back and forth to the UK. The travel bug bit me early on and I’ve been flying regularly ever since. I always wanted a job in the airline industry and have to admit to being a bit of a plane spotter. I eventually lucked out when a friend working at BA referred me for a position there quite early on in my career and I’ve never managed to escape to a real job since then.
What’s the best seat on the plane?
1A, of course! No, really it depends on the airline and the airplane. Their configurations vary so much so you really need to check each one out before you choose. I’m not very tolerant of other travelers so I prefer a seat where I can hide away and go unnoticed for most of the trip.
Biggest challenge you’ve ever overcome at work?
Monday mornings.
Fail-proof travel tip?
Apart from the obvious (remember passport, drink lots of water, etc.), I don’t think anything’s fail-proof. I actually can’t stand all those self-proclaimed travel and aviation experts that always have their clever little tips. We’re all different so what works for one person doesn’t always make sense for another.
Two things that you miss most about home when you’re traveling?
My dog Keiko and my better half, Alex.
Craziest travel experience?
Probably when I took a diving safari to Egypt and our group got washed away by a storm. I did a trip where we traveled along the coast of southern Egypt, moving from bay to bay, camping on the beach and experiencing amazing dives on pristine reefs every day. A week or so in, there was a massive storm overnight, with torrential rain that washed most of our camp and many of our belongings into the sea. We had to clamber into the back of a truck and ride north along mud roads with all the other refugees fleeing their abandoned homes.
Something only people working in the airline industry would understand?
LOPAs.
What are the challenges with being a supplier to airlines? What are some of the highlights?
The biggest challenge is getting to understand the many different cultures and expectations, both at a company level, but also personal. You think you’ve worked out what the airline’s requirements are, but the individuals you deal with often have a different take on what’s important to them and you have to balance both sets of needs. But those challenges are often what create the best highlights. Getting to travel, experience new cultures and make new friends in distant places is what, most of the time, makes this business a good experience.
Your top three films of all time?
The African Queen, The Jungle Book and Borat.
Favorite APEX conference of all time?
Durban, 1998.
Favorite airport carpet?
I’ve never really noticed. I like the wooden floors in Helsinki so I guess I don’t really like carpet. Too many people, too many germs!