dg1
Aug 29, 00, 12:01 am
Those of you who have read my previous trip reports know I like to write complaint letters, even if I don't send them since it allows me to vent and kill time on a flight. This is one of those letters. I'm not sure if it's actually worth sending ... my first instinct is not to send it ... what's your take?
Letter has been edited to protect the guilty...
To Whom It May Concern,
I have a complaint about in-flight service on American Airlines flight XXX. It is somewhat of an odd complaint, and I admit minor, however it does bother me. I am a frequent flier -- I have been Chairman's Preferred with USAirways (their top elite level) for two years. I am currently trying out American for some destinations I can not reach on USAirways. I signed up for the Platinum challenge, and coincidentally this flight in question is the one that puts me over 10,000 points for Platinum status.
That said, in the three-four hundred flights I've flown, I've never seen so blatantly what I saw today. Seated near me in XXX and XXX were two women who were very friendly with the flight attendants, and they were friendly back. That's fine. However, out of the blue, the first class flight attendant (I did not get his name), who was helping out in coach, suggests that he would treat the ladies (in coach, mind you) to sundaes left over from first class food service. He mentioned there were currently only two people in first class. He also suggested they come up any time they want to first (my impression was just to get the sundae -- but I was wrong!)
Now I would have loved a sundae myself, but I wasn't too upset at this point -- you chat up the flight attendants, little perks like that I understand. What upset me was that fifteen minutes later the ladies asked to move to first class. The flight attendant said OK, and within a matter of minutes the ladies disappeared beyond the curtain into first for the rest of the flight.
Now, as a Chairman's Preferred on USAirways I sit in first class 95% of the time, even on deep discount tickets. This is all through the regular process of upgrades clearing, certificates collected, etc. I also know that sometimes you can smooth talk your way into first class -- I don't do it, but I know it can be done. I play by the rules -- and the airlines have lots of silly rules -- and I expect the airlines to do the same.
It upsets me how blatantly this was done and how your flight attendant is using free upgrades as a pickup line and your plane as his personal bar! (did I mention the girls were buying drinks in coach -- how much do you want to bet they didn't pay after they moved to first class -- lost revenue for American!) In addition, this is my third, full fare coach round-trip on American. I have never sat in first on American. That's fine with me -- those are the rules -- I might have paid a thousand more dollars than those ladies on those flights, but we're all in coach, all's fair... I don't appreciate the rules being bent for such a frivolous reason. I think I'd appreciate it even less as a first class passenger who spent upgrades (OR PAID!) and then someone gets in for free.
My only request is you have a talk with the first class flight attendant who was working this flight and tell him that his behavior was completely unacceptable and may even be considered discrimination. Or at least to conceal it better so as not to insult passengers who aren't attractive to the flight attendants. If this is acceptable policy on American, please do let me know so I can take my business elsewhere.
Letter has been edited to protect the guilty...
To Whom It May Concern,
I have a complaint about in-flight service on American Airlines flight XXX. It is somewhat of an odd complaint, and I admit minor, however it does bother me. I am a frequent flier -- I have been Chairman's Preferred with USAirways (their top elite level) for two years. I am currently trying out American for some destinations I can not reach on USAirways. I signed up for the Platinum challenge, and coincidentally this flight in question is the one that puts me over 10,000 points for Platinum status.
That said, in the three-four hundred flights I've flown, I've never seen so blatantly what I saw today. Seated near me in XXX and XXX were two women who were very friendly with the flight attendants, and they were friendly back. That's fine. However, out of the blue, the first class flight attendant (I did not get his name), who was helping out in coach, suggests that he would treat the ladies (in coach, mind you) to sundaes left over from first class food service. He mentioned there were currently only two people in first class. He also suggested they come up any time they want to first (my impression was just to get the sundae -- but I was wrong!)
Now I would have loved a sundae myself, but I wasn't too upset at this point -- you chat up the flight attendants, little perks like that I understand. What upset me was that fifteen minutes later the ladies asked to move to first class. The flight attendant said OK, and within a matter of minutes the ladies disappeared beyond the curtain into first for the rest of the flight.
Now, as a Chairman's Preferred on USAirways I sit in first class 95% of the time, even on deep discount tickets. This is all through the regular process of upgrades clearing, certificates collected, etc. I also know that sometimes you can smooth talk your way into first class -- I don't do it, but I know it can be done. I play by the rules -- and the airlines have lots of silly rules -- and I expect the airlines to do the same.
It upsets me how blatantly this was done and how your flight attendant is using free upgrades as a pickup line and your plane as his personal bar! (did I mention the girls were buying drinks in coach -- how much do you want to bet they didn't pay after they moved to first class -- lost revenue for American!) In addition, this is my third, full fare coach round-trip on American. I have never sat in first on American. That's fine with me -- those are the rules -- I might have paid a thousand more dollars than those ladies on those flights, but we're all in coach, all's fair... I don't appreciate the rules being bent for such a frivolous reason. I think I'd appreciate it even less as a first class passenger who spent upgrades (OR PAID!) and then someone gets in for free.
My only request is you have a talk with the first class flight attendant who was working this flight and tell him that his behavior was completely unacceptable and may even be considered discrimination. Or at least to conceal it better so as not to insult passengers who aren't attractive to the flight attendants. If this is acceptable policy on American, please do let me know so I can take my business elsewhere.