Originally Posted by
rodsren
If you approach them as you understand they are underpaid and overworked ( it's not like there is an excess if decent good paying jobs in the US hiring in recent memory) they are sort of stuck. Pre 9/11 they were thinking they were going to have a pension, a somewhat glamorous life, flight benefits ( which they charge them more I think tan any other airline unless they have 25 years in, in which case they get free first class-unless that has been conceded by the union as well.
Approach them with the attitude that you know they are overworked and you do not want to add to their burden, but you really would appreciate whatever you are trying to get out if them ( with the one noted exception of an in-flight upgrade- that just isn't going to happen or has happened much j the last 12 years), then you will probably get what you need.
I think the "overworked" argument is relative. I was speaking with a fairly senior international FA a month or so ago, and she said that many AA FAs are overworked by choice, because they choose to pick up additional trips.
FAs can choose to bid for a few flights or MANY flights each month. There is a minimum amount of monthly flying needed in order to remain an active FA. I have an FA buddy who is NYC based and does the bare minimum because he has another career, but wouldn't dream of giving up flying because he loves it too much!
(many of those wonderful senior DFW-based ladies are in the same situation--husband retired, living the good pensioner life, but love flying and so they continue to fly the minimum and it brings in a bit more cash)
There also is a "standard" amount of flight hours each month for FAs to work. But the FA I mentioned above told me that if she were to fly only the "standard" amount, there is NO way she could afford to send her kid to college or pay her bills. The ONLY way she can survive is to pick up many additional trips (beyond her standard bid) which in turn makes her overworked.