Does regional culture effect service at US Airways hubs?
Mar 29, 2007, 7:24 am
#1
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Does regional culture effect service at US Airways hubs?
I notice a huge difference in the service levels at various US Airways hubs. In PHL (Philly) people at the Airport are likely to be harsh and aburpt. While in LAS and PHX things are fun and relaxed, just like the weather. In Charlotte I find true southern hospitality. Of course thre are exceptions to this rule but I find it is true the majority of the time.
Is there any truth that regional culture and stereotypes can have an impact on Airline service at the hub?
Is there any truth that regional culture and stereotypes can have an impact on Airline service at the hub?
Last edited by greenery; Mar 29, 2007 at 8:13 am
Mar 29, 2007, 7:46 am
#2
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: PHL
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I notice a huge difference in the service levels at various US Airways hubs. In PHL (Philly) people at the Airport are likely to be harsh and aburpt. While in LAS and PHX things are fun and relaxed, just like the weather. In Charlotte I find true southern hospitality. Is there any truth that regional culture and stereotypes can have an impact on Airline service at the hub?
Overall, you are correct -- although there are cetainly exceptions (there ARE some friendly employees at PHL).
Mar 29, 2007, 8:09 am
#3
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I think regional cultures have an impact on everything--from service styles to what is stocked in stores, what is heard on the radio, politics, etc. It's a big-a$$ country and there's always going to be regional differences. Your experiences with US may simply be a great manifestation because it's easy to compare one to the other when, in one day, you may interact on the ground with staff in BOS, then CLT (because your first leg flight was sooo early you decided to get off and stretch your legs
) and then PHX.
) and then PHX.
Mar 29, 2007, 9:44 am
#4
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Airports employ primarily local residents, so it stands to reason that local culture has a significant impact. That's one of the reasons why I love flying through CLT so much - especially on a Saturday afternoon, when Coachrowsey is bound to be working! 
Mar 29, 2007, 10:34 am
#5
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Lehighton, PA, USA,HH Gold, US Plat
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I notice a huge difference in the service levels at various US Airways hubs. In PHL (Philly) people at the Airport are likely to be harsh and aburpt. While in LAS and PHX things are fun and relaxed, just like the weather. In Charlotte I find true southern hospitality. Of course thre are exceptions to this rule but I find it is true the majority of the time.
Is there any truth that regional culture and stereotypes can have an impact on Airline service at the hub?
Is there any truth that regional culture and stereotypes can have an impact on Airline service at the hub?
Mar 29, 2007, 10:38 am
#6
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I see maybe one or two from time to time and that is a stretch. The people at the F terminal bus are always harsh...."Cant you read the sign, this is not your bus!" Get a dirty look a lot when I try to change seats or bump up or back a flight.
Also have you noticed the difference in cart drivers in CLT and PHL. They almost run you over in PHL!!
Mar 29, 2007, 12:11 pm
#7
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I always felt this way about CLT until my last pass through there....encountered 6 horrible gate agents (granted it was in the middle of the shares mess), and was blatently lied to by 2 of them. The attitudes I saw that day to me as well as others was worse than what I have seen in PHL in the past.
I have a lot of friends/coworkers that live there who had been telling me in general how bad CLT is getting, in fact several have defected from US. I never believed them until now.
I have a lot of friends/coworkers that live there who had been telling me in general how bad CLT is getting, in fact several have defected from US. I never believed them until now.
Mar 29, 2007, 2:11 pm
#8
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Mar 29, 2007, 2:21 pm
#9
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I don't know as there are any friendly ones but I agree with abeflyer: there are some excellent, efficient, no-nonsense types that, while not friendly, are very good at what they do. I've see some PHL GAs manage some pretty difficult situations stunningly well, although not necessarily with a smile.
Mar 29, 2007, 4:03 pm
#10
Join Date: Sep 2006
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Wow, I try to give PHL a little benefit of the doubt and I get ripped!! Tough crowd.
Mar 29, 2007, 4:08 pm
#11
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 522
I'll never forget the time I was in PHL during bad weather and found a gate agent with no one around her. She was on her cell phone talking with her boyfriend about who did he sleep with last night. She was smacking gum too. She looked at me several times and did not smile or knowledge my presence, just kept smackin her gum at me and repeatedly demanding whom it was that her boyfriend slept with last night. It certainly wasn't me!!
Granted she might have been on a break, and perhaps didn't want to have that conversation in the break room, but couldn't she at least have directed me to special services or something?
Granted she might have been on a break, and perhaps didn't want to have that conversation in the break room, but couldn't she at least have directed me to special services or something?
Mar 29, 2007, 4:47 pm
#12
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Mar 29, 2007, 4:57 pm
#13
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PHL is my home airport, so I go through quite a bit. I find the ground staff no better and no worse than at other airports. Like in any industry, you'll get the good and the bad, both in the rank and file and in the leadership that enforces policies.
Mar 29, 2007, 6:21 pm
#14
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While in LAS and PHX things are fun and relaxed...
Mar 29, 2007, 7:13 pm
#15
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