HKG - LAX: Incredibly Rude FA, J Pax offloads himself!
#31
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 526
Study the effects of mutually agreed upon contracts. If your statement was even close to reality AA would not have agreed to the terms. Unions don't want bad employees either as it costs time and money to represent them (not defend). The employee should be reported and go through an agreed upon, non arbitrary discipline process. Seniority benefits keeps valuable employees.
#32
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 1,107
Fully agree. Anyone in a position to do so should report this (or any other matter on a flight) back to AA. It’s a shame a few bad apples can ruin the bunch. AA has a lot of excellent FA’s, and their hard work is often lost amongst the trash. I also write in to let AA know about excellent FA’s as well.
#33
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Spire Ambassador, Radisson Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 3,622
What specifically did the FA say that was incredibly, rude, berating, and humiliating? I will assume his tone of voice was negative and that he raised his voice, but I'm sure AA would want to know specifically what he said if a complaint is filed.
#34
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: BOS/UTH
Programs: AA LT PLT; QR GLD; Bonvoy LT TIT
Posts: 12,753
AA has never had it, obviously not committed to it. What's more, to try to implement it would require a major renegotiation with the flight attendants' union. You may recall that the union filed a grievance when AA required that the FAs set up the bedding in international F, despite that it takes no more than 30 seconds per seat to do it, and there were only eight F seats, IIRC. If they filed a grievance for an additional 30 seconds of work, you can imagine how involved it would be, and how much opposition it would generate, to try to institute an onboard ISM position or similar.
#35
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Houston
Programs: UA 1K and Million Miler, *A Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hertz Five Star,
Posts: 1,301
On a full flight this is hogwash (in reference to the post about FAs required to put bags in certain locations)
Last edited by Collierkr; Jun 6, 2018 at 4:23 pm Reason: typo
#36
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHX, SEA
Programs: Avis President's Club, Global Entry, Hilton/Marriott Gold. No more DL/AA status.
Posts: 4,422
We were on that flight in Business row 14. I saw the passenger offloading himself and did see he was being upset but didn't know why. Now it all makes sense. I didn't witness the actual interaction between the flight attendant and the passenger but certainly can attest how rude that FA was throughout the flight. That guy was working my aisle on the left hand side and he was dismissive, rude and condescending throughout the flight. There was no "you are welcome" to any of "thank you". No service at all from him except collecting trash. At one point when handing him a glass and an empty diet coke can he refused to take the can but just stood there saying "can inside" to which I responded that I don't understand and he kept saying the same thing over and over until I realized he wanted me to put the can inside the glass myself. He clearly couldn't bother to do it himself and refused to move on until I did this. Just overall a miserable guy who shouldn't be in front of passengers and definitely not in Business. On the other hand the lady working the aisle was very professional.
Regarding the delay I believe the captain indicated it was due to weather outside of Hong Kong, but maybe it was after the guy was offloaded so not sure what actually caused that.
Truly disgraceful to employ FAs like that guy but its not going anywhere cause union will protect him and customers will continue to experience this crap.
Regarding the delay I believe the captain indicated it was due to weather outside of Hong Kong, but maybe it was after the guy was offloaded so not sure what actually caused that.
Truly disgraceful to employ FAs like that guy but its not going anywhere cause union will protect him and customers will continue to experience this crap.
#37
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: MIA
Programs: AA EXP (AC), DL G (SC), Bonvoy LTP, & IHG AMB
Posts: 1,798
Fully agree. Anyone in a position to do so should report this (or any other matter on a flight) back to AA. It’s a shame a few bad apples can ruin the bunch. AA has a lot of excellent FA’s, and their hard work is often lost amongst the trash. I also write in to let AA know about excellent FA’s as well.
Having never flown AA ex-HKG, thankfully CX has a non-stop from BOS, I'm curious to know how this was handled by the GAs when the guy walked off the plane. Presumably, the station manager was brought in and hopefully the station manager at LAX met the flight, albeit with a union stew.
#38
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: DFW
Programs: UA Pleb, HH Gold, PWP General Secretary
Posts: 23,199
I didn't mention the APFA contract, as it isn't a contract issue it's an issue with the W+B of the aircraft.
#40
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: HH Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 10,458
I witnessed something quite interesting coming back from HKG last Monday. A incredibly rude FA argued about having to move his crew luggage for a business class passenger when the passenger asked politely to make some space above his seat. The male FA was so incredibly rude, berating and humiliating him loudly in front of other passengers, he actually decided to offloaded himself.
Unfortunately it caused a 2hr ground delay as we had missed our takeoff slot out of HK (bad weather/ traffic as well) however the way the FA spoke to him was totally out of control. I assume the Asian passenger was use to Cathay Pacific and other Asian carriers more softer service. I was embarrassed for the passenger being treated in such a shocking way. He did not once raise his tone and was totally calm the whole time. The rest of the flight 14hr flight had the FA stomping around, slamming overhead lockers, while remove his tie looking incredibly unprofessional.
I don’t understand how rude FA’s get away with this behavior, surely the inconvenience caused by missing the T/O time, missed connections and the passenger probably never paying to fly with AA internationally again should have some serious implications for the FA involved.
Anyway thought I’d share my experience with you all. It was nice to see a passenger politely push back.
I wish AA would improve the onboard service - the soft Casper products and business seats are very competitive!
Unfortunately it caused a 2hr ground delay as we had missed our takeoff slot out of HK (bad weather/ traffic as well) however the way the FA spoke to him was totally out of control. I assume the Asian passenger was use to Cathay Pacific and other Asian carriers more softer service. I was embarrassed for the passenger being treated in such a shocking way. He did not once raise his tone and was totally calm the whole time. The rest of the flight 14hr flight had the FA stomping around, slamming overhead lockers, while remove his tie looking incredibly unprofessional.
I don’t understand how rude FA’s get away with this behavior, surely the inconvenience caused by missing the T/O time, missed connections and the passenger probably never paying to fly with AA internationally again should have some serious implications for the FA involved.
Anyway thought I’d share my experience with you all. It was nice to see a passenger politely push back.
I wish AA would improve the onboard service - the soft Casper products and business seats are very competitive!
#41
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHX, SEA
Programs: Avis President's Club, Global Entry, Hilton/Marriott Gold. No more DL/AA status.
Posts: 4,422
So, back on the topic -- those who are familiar with the AA COC what likely happened to the man who offloaded himself? Assuming a nonrefundable ticket, Is it likely he had to pay a change fee + fare difference to get to LAX?
#42
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2010
Programs: BA SILVER, AA EXEC PLAT
Posts: 50
I’m not sure what happened after he offloaded himself, I just hope he was accommodated without issue. I have wrote into AA and so has another another passenger who I was sitting next to - so I’d like to think AA will act of the 4 complaints received from the business class cabin.
While it didn’t directly affect me, it was extremely uncomfortable for the rest of the journey. I’ve had my fair share of grumpy and bland FA’s, that’s life - however I had never felt so uncomfortable where I thought this guy could turn on me or anyone else.
I wish there was a inflight manager to handle situations and set the tone of the flight. It seems like a free for all on AA.
BA/CX/QF - the ones I fly mostly with seem more than equipt to handle this much better.
As I said before, AA really have a fantastic and competitive product it’s just completely let down by a few bad FA’s.
Such a shame.
While it didn’t directly affect me, it was extremely uncomfortable for the rest of the journey. I’ve had my fair share of grumpy and bland FA’s, that’s life - however I had never felt so uncomfortable where I thought this guy could turn on me or anyone else.
I wish there was a inflight manager to handle situations and set the tone of the flight. It seems like a free for all on AA.
BA/CX/QF - the ones I fly mostly with seem more than equipt to handle this much better.
As I said before, AA really have a fantastic and competitive product it’s just completely let down by a few bad FA’s.
Such a shame.
#43
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: perth
Programs: SPG(LTG), QANTAS gold, Korean, Accor Plat
Posts: 1,500
Makes me wonder if you have ever flown before. The over head bin above the first seats are regularly filled with Plane/crew gear and is unavailable for stowage. The response of the flight attendant though should be " let me find somewhere to stow your bag".
#44
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,227
I would think if he decided to offload himself so voluntarily, there's a reasonable chance that he was on a refundable fare. And so if AA lost a refundable J fare AND this incident contributed to a missed departure slot and 2-hour delay, you can bet that AA management will take this issue seriously, probably even independent of the other passenger complaints. Of course none of us will ever know what, if any, disciplinary action is taken against the FA.