FA tells me Coke Zero is bad for me
#32
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Bellevue, WA, USA (and sometimes Melbourne, VIC, Australia)
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I think it wouldn't be out of line to send feedback to AA, using the "suggestion" category rather than "complaint," to say it would be good to remind FAs that unsolicited health advice is seldom appropriate or appreciated. Asking an adult passenger whether they really need a requested non-alcoholic beverage followed by "These things are bad for you!", even if done with the best of intentions, can easily come across as being patronizing, not to mention a little weird--if they're "bad for you," why does AA serve them?
I would also be inclined to say that I realize the FA may indeed have had good intentions or perhaps was trying to be humorous and that I'm not writing to ask anyone be reprimanded.
I can imagine a passenger who's often subject to people's unasked-for advice might be more than a little offended at such a response to an innocuous request for a soft drink; perhaps polite feedback could help prevent that.
(Yes, yes, I know, employers don't give supervisors time to cover small issues like this so the suggestion would probably go nowhere, but I can pretend, can't I?)
I would also be inclined to say that I realize the FA may indeed have had good intentions or perhaps was trying to be humorous and that I'm not writing to ask anyone be reprimanded.
I can imagine a passenger who's often subject to people's unasked-for advice might be more than a little offended at such a response to an innocuous request for a soft drink; perhaps polite feedback could help prevent that.
(Yes, yes, I know, employers don't give supervisors time to cover small issues like this so the suggestion would probably go nowhere, but I can pretend, can't I?)
#34
Join Date: Apr 2002
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Just want to validate the OP's feelings. Yes, that comment was totally uncalled for. By any chance do you know was this a Miami-based flight attendant? (Seems unlikely on JFK-SFO, but you never know.)
It's hard to come up with a snappy comeback in the moment when you're so startled by the passive aggression of such a comment.
It's hard to come up with a snappy comeback in the moment when you're so startled by the passive aggression of such a comment.
#35
Join Date: Dec 2014
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Just want to validate the OP's feelings. Yes, that comment was totally uncalled for. By any chance do you know was this a Miami-based flight attendant? (Seems unlikely on JFK-SFO, but you never know.)
It's hard to come up with a snappy comeback in the moment when you're so startled by the passive aggression of such a comment.
It's hard to come up with a snappy comeback in the moment when you're so startled by the passive aggression of such a comment.
#36
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I believe you have to read OP again - OP has indeed received the 3rd drink, simply not a full can.
#37
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: next to HAM
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Posts: 960
I drink Coke Zero, too. The other day I learned from a FA some yet untold story (in this thread).
CokeZero is a real pain when opening the can/bottle at cruise level (underpressure), even
worse than beer. If bottles, some FA might even prepare the flight by opening and closing bottles
prior to takeoff, which obviously wont go with cans.
So maybe the sentence in FA's head went like: "no, not this spilling again" (and that's why you
wont get a closed can).
CokeZero is a real pain when opening the can/bottle at cruise level (underpressure), even
worse than beer. If bottles, some FA might even prepare the flight by opening and closing bottles
prior to takeoff, which obviously wont go with cans.
So maybe the sentence in FA's head went like: "no, not this spilling again" (and that's why you
wont get a closed can).
#38
Moderator: Manufactured Spending
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,576
If he had said "oh, that's a good drink, perfect choice" would you be thinking about complaining?
He was just sharing his opinion and making small talk. As long as he gave it to you, I don't see the issue.
Standard procedure is for sales people to say positive things about their products in order to encourage customers to buy them, but of course since you aren't paying for the soda, that doesn't apply here.
He was just sharing his opinion and making small talk. As long as he gave it to you, I don't see the issue.
Standard procedure is for sales people to say positive things about their products in order to encourage customers to buy them, but of course since you aren't paying for the soda, that doesn't apply here.
#40
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Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,808
It is in generally poor taste for an employee to bad mouth a product they offer and/or sell. Everything offered onboard an aircraft is there because of a contract or agreement, as such, employees who denigrate such a product are operating counter to their employer's wishes. It's also poor practice to criticize a customer's choice, scold, or otherwise guilt trip a customer about their choices.
It is worth a complaint, despite other comments in the thread about it not being a big deal. It's not the soda itself, it's the issue of employee behavior when the employee is the face of the company.
It is worth a complaint, despite other comments in the thread about it not being a big deal. It's not the soda itself, it's the issue of employee behavior when the employee is the face of the company.
#41
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 7,875
It is in generally poor taste for an employee to bad mouth a product they offer and/or sell. Everything offered onboard an aircraft is there because of a contract or agreement, as such, employees who denigrate such a product are operating counter to their employer's wishes. It's also poor practice to criticize a customer's choice, scold, or otherwise guilt trip a customer about their choices.
It is worth a complaint, despite other comments in the thread about it not being a big deal. It's not the soda itself, it's the issue of employee behavior when the employee is the face of the company.
It is worth a complaint, despite other comments in the thread about it not being a big deal. It's not the soda itself, it's the issue of employee behavior when the employee is the face of the company.
Actually, it is good sales' practice to criticize a customer's choice. Salespeople often upsell people, and as such it is beneficial to them to make the customer doubt whether or not they made the right choice (initially, by choosing something cheaper).
I hate rental car salespeople, but they often get customers to upgrade their vehicle choice (at great cost) or to add on unnecessary things (the equivalent of rust protection for used car salesmen). As such, they are "doing a good job" (for themselves)
#42
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Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,808
I think the flight attendant could care less what United's wishes are. And just because there is a contract it means Coke Zero is good for you?
Actually, it is good sales' practice to criticize a customer's choice. Salespeople often upsell people, and as such it is beneficial to them to make the customer doubt whether or not they made the right choice (initially, by choosing something cheaper).
I hate rental car salespeople, but they often get customers to upgrade their vehicle choice (at great cost) or to add on unnecessary things (the equivalent of rust protection for used car salesmen). As such, they are "doing a good job" (for themselves)
Actually, it is good sales' practice to criticize a customer's choice. Salespeople often upsell people, and as such it is beneficial to them to make the customer doubt whether or not they made the right choice (initially, by choosing something cheaper).
I hate rental car salespeople, but they often get customers to upgrade their vehicle choice (at great cost) or to add on unnecessary things (the equivalent of rust protection for used car salesmen). As such, they are "doing a good job" (for themselves)
All that it amounted to was an unsolicited criticism of the customer's choice, despite the relationship between the employer and vendor. If the airline had entered into a contract with Coca Cola, it intends to maintain the integrity of that contract and an employee discouraging the choice of the vendor's product. I would discipline any of my employees for publicly denigrating a partner's product, and I would discipline any of my employees for needless criticism of a paying customer. This is a business that has relationships with other businesses and requires happy customers, not shamed customers.
#43
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 4,477
We all know AA FAs do not have a career, most of them end up working in the aircraft aisles for the whole of their life. We all know USA based FA are generally very casual, and sometimes to the extremely casual. And we all know USA based FAs are primarily for your safety and well being on board rather than providing first class services. So, what is the problem here?
Coke Zero is not bad for your health.
But 3 cans of Coke Zero in 5 hours is excessive. That is 990ml of coke. Drink water, man.
If the FA remember that you are having the third can and reminded you by saying it is not good for you. I would say that it is damn good service! And least the FA cares and remembers what was served to you. That is what we call personal touch.
Coke Zero is not bad for your health.
But 3 cans of Coke Zero in 5 hours is excessive. That is 990ml of coke. Drink water, man.
If the FA remember that you are having the third can and reminded you by saying it is not good for you. I would say that it is damn good service! And least the FA cares and remembers what was served to you. That is what we call personal touch.
#44
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#45
Join Date: Dec 2010
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Not sure why posts suggesting that this existing thread is maybe a more appropriate place to for this issue have been deleted?
What's the stupidest, least substantive thing you can complain about?
OP did, after-all, ask the forum for our opinions.
And mine is that this is pretty much the definition of a least-substantive thing that one might complain about. FA was making small talk.
What's the stupidest, least substantive thing you can complain about?
OP did, after-all, ask the forum for our opinions.
And mine is that this is pretty much the definition of a least-substantive thing that one might complain about. FA was making small talk.