drtravels...

I certainly agree with you about the FA's on AA! I think they are fantastic and with very minor exceptions, I give them all my highest accolades.

Based on your description of the life of a FA, my question is: Given the low pay, constant disrespect and abuse, organized labor problems, etc, why in anyone's mind would one want to be subject to these conditions? There have to be better jobs out there paying greater compensation and providing higher degrees of respect. When I heard a passenger state behind a FA's back on a recent AA flight that FA's are glorified "waitresses" and he does not respect them because they did not have to go through the extensive training that he did for his job, I wanted to pop him first...then educate him (I took the latter approach-discretion over valor). Did I convince him? Probably not.

If this schnook is indicative of the opinion and attitude of many passengers, I sympathize with the plight of the FA's even more...even if each flight had one or two of these kind of people on board...these people make their jobs even more challenging and when they become empowered, it would probably make many FA's want to change careers.

There are many careers I have personally selected that I would never participate in...a police officer, firefighter and airline flight attendant all come to mind. Personally, I am gratified there are people who choose to make these tough positions as their career...and I deeply respect them for doing this.

Perhaps this is the big problem today with some people...taking things for granted and not giving the respect that people really deserve.

The next time all of us are out and about, interacting with society, think about this:

Look for someone performing a job that you would not even consider doing because it was maybe not your calling in life...or even beneath you for doing it...then thank the person for giving 100 percent because their job just enhanced your life...this is what a police officer, a firefighter, a trash collector, a public school teacher in a rough area and yes, even a flight attendant deserve (and there are thousands of other careers in this category).

People who take honorable jobs which come with the disrespect are my personal heroes...so it does not bother me if one of those people are having a not-so-good day and I have to get out of my seat once in awhile to ask for a drink of water on a flight. Generally, a smile and a show of gratitude works wonders to perhaps make their day a little better.

Many times I wonder, how do these people put up with so much for such little compensation? That fact alone makes these people very special in my mind! And...no, I am not married to a flight attendant nor do I know of any personally...I just have a great deal of respect for them...and the rest of my fellow working stiffs!