Originally Posted by
EXLEFTSEAT
Question to aluminumdriver: Why is there such a discrepancy between UA drivers? Why are some enthusiastically against and some equally enthusiastically for Ch9?
Why do some have this extraordinarily fear and others completely ignore that fear or in other words don't know why they should fear something? If everyone shares the same fear, I could understand. But only some?
Why does a F/A give me lousy service and I tell him, I will complain about him, and he/she doesn't care? And why does a F/A who served me well, appreciate when I tell him/her that I will send a complimentary e-mail about them? Why is a RCC agent appreciative of me mentioning that I will e-mail a complimentary note to UA?
Where is the disconnect? And why? Why did I p**s the captain off, asking about Ch9? I just don't get it.
I am sorry, here in Japan, everybody conforms!!! And before anyone complains: sometimes I like it, sometimes I don't. But that's just the Swiss in me!!!
I pay for the UA ticket, I want my Ch9.
You pay to fly from A to B safely, not for CH 9. Read your ticket, it isn't mentioned in the contract of carriage. Just like if IFE goes down, or you don't have your choice of meal, doesn't mean you get a refund.
I'll tell you that the attitude we get from some that they demand CH 9, is one of the turnoffs. That and the "know it alls" from the back that accost us after we land for something they heard and "knew all about". Get one of those, and CH 9 is not worth the hassle or risk. There's a reason no other airline in the world does it, their pilots don't want it. The majority of United pilots still do it, so enjoy it when it's on, and respect the Captain's decision when it's off. There is no "conformaty" within pilots when it comes to discretionary issues. Why does one pilot take a jet with something broken, and another one doesn't? Depends on the flight, where they are going, weather, airport, etc.... so same with CH 9. Some have been burned, some haven't. Some have had rude CH 9ers, some haven't. Some just don't like people listening in on them at the job. So, there are just different reasons based on the pilot. It's on most of the time, so I wouldn't worry about the small percentages it's off.
Originally Posted by
ualdenver
+1. this happened on a few of my flights. at first i though the captain lied to me by saying yes then not honoring my request.
He might have wanted to avoid a fight with a CH 9 junkie, or he might have been fine with it, but the FO wasn't. CH 9 also may have been on in the cockpit, but inop or too low in volume for you to hear. So, he may not have "lied" to you when you asked. Impossible for me to know. I wouldn't lie to you, if I want CH 9 off, I'll tell you so.
Originally Posted by
n9536j
Instead of making it personal why not take it up with UA who took your money and manages the pilots. They could make it mandatory and deal with the inevitable contract issues, perhaps have UA lawyers defend the nuisance suits.
No they couldn't, and they know it. Surest way to find CH 9 off all the time is mandate it be on. United again took your money to fly you safely from A to B, with luggage intact hopefully. If having CH 9 is your ultimate dollar making decision, you can always walk to a competitor, but since no other airline in the world has it, going to another airline over that doesn't make much sense to me, but it's your travel dollars.
As I've always said here, enjoy CH 9 when it's on (it's entertainment), do something else when it's off (it's Captain's discretion). As others have accurately pointed out before, asking nicely can sometimes get an apprehensive captain to turn it on for that flight. Going up and demanding it will pretty much guarantee it being off. I have it on right now if my crew is okay with it, so if you're on my flight, enjoy CH 9 when it's working. Haven't we had this thead discussion before, I feel like I'm repeating myself again.
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