Some posters here seem to think that FAs don’t have to do anything until they are getting paid. That’s absolutely false. They have to show up for duty at a set time. They have to be at the gate at a set time. They have to assist with the boarding process. All of this happens before they are officially “on the clock”. And refusing to comply with any of these is not an option available to them.
I think where posters/flyers are having an issue is FAs sitting on their phones playing games rather than doing PDB which is supposed to be part of the FC 'package'. The who paid/not paid is a false narrative, as many have posted.
Compare AA to QR international PDB...
QR pre departure includes multiple drinks, handing out pj's and menus and truly assisting with boarding.
AA includes a single drink in cheap plastic done quickly.
So on INT, yes AA does a PDB, but you can feel the sense of "its an obligation" vs. welcome aboard.
Domestic, US was darn near 100% of PDB. Now that US and AA are merged, PDB is simply random. And when it does come 50/50 it is a tray of water or juice. I will say if you ask for a beer, 90% of the time it will be honored. But , net net AA PDB is very randomly served.
Originally Posted by
Platy
You might want to try opening your mind to the complex reality of the world around you rather than basking in such stupid simplicity .... you appear to be very confused about what constitutes a job duty ... contracted standards of appearance (e.g. a uniform) and socially accepted / legally required public behavior....
(I removed the rest of your post as it was simply inappropriate and insulting to the FT community.)
1000s of flights a day. I think it is
very safe to say there is a pattern here; those airlines that want/demand a PDB in first, get one done without sacrificing on time departures/arrivals. Anything excuse trying to explaining away the difference is just that... an excuse.