It seems that whenever there is a thread with surly, mean, bad service, and CO in the same title it has to do with EWR somehow....
I have to admit after speaking with the EWR Customer Service Mgrs. at the HOuston DO I was encouraged that service would improve. I think that in general at EWR (GAs, PC personnel, etc) it has.
Maybe EWR based flight crews need to have a "secret shopper" fly with them so see how they behave. I'll volunteer as long as I can get FF miles and of course, unlimited upgrades. I think it would be imperative to check out the service from the FC FAs....
Cheers
Interestingly enough, I have the exact opposite observation on long-haul and international flights. The IAH-based crews seem to range from OK to fair, while every EWR-based crew I've ever experienced ranges from OK to competing with the Singapore Girls for attentiveness.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Babu
At any rate, I find your post strewn with generalizations, innuendos and assumptions, some of which are inaccurate and some of which are offensive.
Could you elaborate? Where is the innuendo and assumption? As for generalzations, the only thing he said that may be a generalization was that the Indians and FAs had trouble communicating. Though if a significant number of them did, then that wouldn't be generalzation, rather it would be fact. Given that communication can often be a challenge with non-native speakers of any nationality, I would be surprised if the U.S. FAs and the Indian pax/residents didn't have even a modicum of difficulty communicating with each other.
As mentioned before, maybe the OP should switch carriers. It's what I did when I had a huge problem with CO a few years back. Although, as an aside, a rude FA here and there is bound to appear on any carrier, whether Asian or US. My major international flight is to HKG and I used to use CO. But now I use CX and the difference is pretty vast, but I won't really get into it. I flew CO again once last year to see if any changes occurred, and aside from the easier upgrade probability, found CX still better. Though I did get an upgrade to Silver tier on an H fare.
My suggestion to the OP is to make your complaint to using the provided 800 number and then switch carriers if you're easily bothered. Might I suggest Jet Airways? It's not non-stop but it is absolutely amazing and very representative of the higher caliber Asian carriers out there. My mother recently flew CO to BOM in BF and has also flown on 9W in Y and told me that the service/entertainment (AVOD) in Y in 9W is excellent and that the seat in BF CO is just the bigger Business Class version of the Y seat in 9W to accomodate business class vs. economy class differences. Meaning, nothing spectacular stood out as compared with VS upper class or 9W J.
I do tend to use CO over AA for domestic flights, though, because well ... AA just can't compare. Yup, I give up mileage on CX because AA is so atrocious.
If you want to have good service, try flying Asian airlines when possible. Even though Continental is generally better than other US airlines, such as AA (don't get me started with AA's service (or lack thereof)), I'd rather have connections with KE/JL/CX/SQ than flying non-stop with US airlines. From the time you step into the plane, you can already feel the difference. The FAs are just nice and friendly. Almost all of the time, in Asian airlines you won't see grumpy FAs who like to throw things on the tray tables and refuse to get you what you ask for.
Resurrecting an old thread but this seems to be a pattern
So, a thread on the Airlines of India forum about AI sacking 10 overweight FAs suddenly morphed into a discussion about CO FAs being rude / unprofessional..
Here's the post below. Some very specific, and ugly cases of misbehaving FAs cited here.
I wasnt on that flight, but That kind of behavior is clearly unacceptable, in my opinion.
My suggestion was to report the behavior in a letter to CO India - but as this is EWR based crew, it might make sense to report it elsewhere too.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Babu
It was more like the FA walking down the aisle with newspapers saying, "USA Today, New York Times, and don't touch me, USA Today, New York Times, and don't touch me". The don't touch me was reserved only for Indians. And for the record, no one touched her or even tried to.
Another instance is a FA slapping food trays down, and the sweet old Indian lady said all she wanted was coffee. The reply, "does this look like a coffee cart to you?" The woman was shocked. The bev cart was a few feet away...why couldn't the jerk simply have said, "ma'am the beverage cart is coming in just a few minutes."
There were many more instances like this that I could write here, but I have to get back to work now!
Me too -- domestic service is pretty good. International service is excellent.
International service = excellent??? probably excellent as compared to US based carriers... but pathetic as compared to the best in class (SQ, Jet, New Air Zealand etc.).
I used to find the EWR based crews to be seemingly crabby and difficult on domestic routes. In the past year, however, I have encountered many good Newark crews. My view on domestic EWR based crews has changed to the better over 2008. I have always found the FAs on the international routes to be exceptional. I think from EWR there are a few more bad apples, than other hubs, but there are many excellent FAs. I have had my bad experiences (acting dead and ambivalent or nasty) but overall I would say there are more good experiences with CO's flight crews than bad.
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I was rudely woken up by the attendants, when they banged open the tray table only to give me a snack... I am absolutely repulsed and dread the thought of flying back on CO next month.
Dang, how loud could it have been? Repulsed? Really???
The OP is probably right....I've never flown with continental to India but....the flight attendants probably hate the route and dealing with the people...i work directly with indians at the airport that come via frankfurt to america...they can be very annoying and demanding to deal with....if they are from small villages they don't know what a line is or anything...if they have money and are educated sometimes they treat you like you are at the bottom of the chain and are their complete servant...not that its fine to be rude with people...but FAs are human too.
ive heard it from delta and lufthansa fas, that they hate flying there.
With just two flights a day, the India service definitely generate the most complaints to this forum if not to CO, per flight or per passenger carried. From meals to language to corruption and everything. Maybe CO should just pull out from India.
yup....meals and language and this and that....thats what i've heard too...then on the ground there is always a fleet of wheelchairs to parade them through immigration when they can walk perfectly fine...i myself have been yelled at numerous times by them to pick up their bags for them...or to do their paperwork for them....i must be an untouchable
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Quote:
Originally Posted by M11Stephen
Don't expect to get good service if you still call them that or stewardess. Here in America its flight attendant or cabin crew.
This comment really highlights the cultural difference. Air hostess is normal in India, yet offensive to an American flight attendant. So an Indian even calling someone an air hostess may be normal to them, yet unintentionally offend the FA. Gotta love getting a conversation off on the wrong foot...
This comment really highlights the cultural difference. Air hostess is normal in India, yet offensive to an American flight attendant. So an Indian even calling someone an air hostess may be normal to them, yet unintentionally offend the FA. Gotta love getting a conversation off on the wrong foot...
Calling me air hostess is the least of my worries and never gets me upset or bothered. I have been called far worse (and even that doesn't get me). Call me anything you want to get my attention (just don't call me late for dinner ).
Every flight, domestic or international, has someone in charge. Speak to them as well. I know, as an ISM, I would like to know how you perceived the service to be (good, bad and indifferent).
It truly saddens me to hear that anyone got/gets bad customer service on CO. I am sorry you experienced that on your flight. Customer service is what we are here for in the first place. Yes, there will be some bad apples in the bunch. Thankfully, they are few and far between.
![Continental Airlines complaint! [Rude FA EWR-DEL]](/forum/iconimages/continental-onepass/continental-airlines-complaint-rude-fa-ewr-del_ltr.gif)
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