FA of the Decade - very poor experience, threats to disembark
Feb 5, 2019, 9:51 am
#62
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Join Date: Sep 2006
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The first “no” from the FA should have been enough. After that there seemed to be escalation on both sides. The passenger who was denied the Irish Coffee should have just let it go without further comment. I never argue with airline crews or staff, it’s like trying to argue your way out of a ticket with a traffic cop. It’s their airline, their aircraft and they are in charge whether they are right or wrong. I’m not saying the FA covered herself in glory in this case but it all could have been easily avoided.
Feb 5, 2019, 10:23 am
#64
Join Date: Apr 2005
Programs: Eurostar Carte Blanche, SBB-CFF-FFS GA-AG, SNCF Grand Voyageur LeClub
Posts: 7,836
The first “no” from the FA should have been enough. After that there seemed to be escalation on both sides. The passenger who was denied the Irish Coffee should have just let it go without further comment. I never argue with airline crews or staff, it’s like trying to argue your way out of a ticket with a traffic cop. It’s their airline, their aircraft and they are in charge whether they are right or wrong. I’m not saying the FA covered herself in glory in this case but it all could have been easily avoided.
I understand how FAs sometimes complain about passengers that are PITA - but shouldn‘t passengers be expecting the same politeness and courtesy from airline staff?
Feb 5, 2019, 11:16 am
#65
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,057
Is that the state of things that we should accept? People who are rude should just be accepted as a fact of life, and given opportunities for their little power trips? That would be very sad.
I understand how FAs sometimes complain about passengers that are PITA - but shouldn‘t passengers be expecting the same politeness and courtesy from airline staff?
Feb 5, 2019, 11:46 am
#66
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Location: ORD/MDW
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Do you want to fly today? It's not an equitable playing field. End of story.
Feb 5, 2019, 11:53 am
#67
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 4,374
As soon as 3 distinct reports are received prior to departure, that FA's credentials are invalidated immediately.
Feb 5, 2019, 11:58 am
#68
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Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: ORD/MDW
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Imagine the spurious reports that would flood the works: She looked at me funny! I asked nicely but didn't get a free upgrade! She claimed to be out of ginger ale, but I know she was hoarding it! There is no quantitative definition of "ill-tempered."
Feb 5, 2019, 11:59 am
#69
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Join Date: May 2012
Location: Sydney Australia
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Small regional jet havibg Irish coffee!!!! Ones Ive beem on are pick a drink from the box
Feb 5, 2019, 12:01 pm
#70
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 4,374
That's why multiple reports would be needed. One passenger could very well be frivolous in complaints, but it's unlikely 3 would.
Feb 5, 2019, 12:53 pm
#71
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On the other hand, IME, the FA's serving on these aircraft are generally more friendly and pleasant than those working mAAinline.
This FA seems an exception.
Feb 5, 2019, 1:39 pm
#72
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Join Date: Sep 2006
Programs: AAdvantage PP
Posts: 13,913
You have to take it all in stride. Starting with the barkers at the TSA check point and the people in the precheck line taking their shoes off, fishing through their backs to take out electronics and gumming up what should be a very simple process. The people that come into the AC that let their children run wild. The people that scream into their phone. The paxs in Group 9 that rush the boarding gate when CK is called. The morons, particularly those in F, that stand in the middle of the aisle looking for god knows what in their bag while 150+ people are trying to board, the same upon arrivals because hell I don't have a connection to worry about, the strange FAs, the GAs that either don't do their jobs or act like vultures looking for an easy kill, and on and on. It's all part of the flying experience in the 21st century. It's hard to believe that at one time this was considered a special occasion. And we're lucky enough to at least be treated marginally better than the steerage.
Feb 5, 2019, 2:09 pm
#73
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Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
This is the way I see it. A few times I've had really nasty responses from AA employees. Once I was on the standby list for BOS/JFK. I saw my name clear so I approached the podium to get my new BP (the AC had told me F was booked but Y was pretty much wide open, short flight I didn't care). The GA went off on me lecturing me of "how the system works" and that people like me try to circumvent "the system." She then said "I have lots of open seats in the front of coach but I'm assigning you a seat in the very last row to teach you a lesson about how the "system works." In the end I just let it go. She obviously had more issues in life than I care to think about.
Feb 5, 2019, 2:46 pm
#74
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Join Date: Sep 2006
Programs: AAdvantage PP
Posts: 13,913
Unfortunately in the airline business standing up for yourself can get you booted off the flight. Then your at the mercy of the GA to be rebooked on another flight. Give the GA some guff and you then might be dealing with airport police. It's just not worth it. Consider yourself lucky that you don't hate your life and your job that much.
Feb 5, 2019, 2:47 pm
#75
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: BUF
Programs: Delta Platinum Medallion, Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 26
Putting up with FAs who are this unreasonable will always continue to happen because the AC is not a democracy-- Pilots and then FAs are the dictators-- and it has to be that way for safety reasons. There will always be FAs drunk with power who feel they can get away with such behavior. Thankfully for all of us, most of the FAs we encounter are decent, thoughtful people, who are trying their best under circumstances that would challenge us all. When you encounter the occasional problem, assume that it has been a particularly bad day, and they need you to cut them a break. Then vent here.