FA of the Decade - very poor experience, threats to disembark
#76
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
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.
I stand up for myself in all situations. If you just sit back and take it, you are just inviting people to keep piling it on.
#77
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: jfk area
Programs: AA platinum; 2MM AA, Delta Diamond, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,291
Upthread one poster noted asking for ORANGE JUICE. I recollect a (very) old thread re a FA named Helen who went bonkers when a pax asked for OJ...perhaps Helen and current FA are related?
#79
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,191
#80
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: New York
Programs: AA EXP 1.0mm, not sure where I am with hotels these days
Posts: 2,795
Maybe it's me, but asking for any coffee drink as a PDB strikes me as unnecessarily high maintenance. The FA doesn't brew coffee just in case someone in F orders it during boarding. They have to make a pot, then dump it before takeoff. How do you expect them to play Candy Crush if they're serving passengers during boarding.
#81
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: SEA
Programs: AA LT PLT; HH Diamond; AS 75K
Posts: 2,877
#82
Join Date: May 2012
Location: BKK/SIN/YYZ/YUL
Programs: DL, AC, Bonvoy, Accor, Hilton
Posts: 2,889
#83
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
If you don't stand up for yourself, no one else will. No way in hell I would take crap like that from a GA. Apparently they will have no problem finding someone who will take it, so it all works out for everyone involved.
#84
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 361
Obviously, the behavior is not acceptable and that FA needs to be talked to. But I think everyone is far too quick to forget, FAs are humans too.
#85
Join Date: Apr 2009
Programs: American EXP; British Airways Gold
Posts: 1,896
I empathize with many FA's. They are quite aware of the investment AA is making in some stylish airport lounges while the FA's have to hear complaints from the passengers about seat pitch; bin space; IFE (or lack thereof); food quality; and credit-card "carnival barkers".
#86
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: CONUS
Posts: 947
How many times have you flown?
Maybe it's me, but asking for any coffee drink as a PDB strikes me as unnecessarily high maintenance. The FA doesn't brew coffee just in case someone in F orders it during boarding. They have to make a pot, then dump it before takeoff. How do you expect them to play Candy Crush if they're serving passengers during boarding.
#87
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 4,374
To the "high maintenance" accusation - that is an absurd copout used by entitled staffers who lack the character for customer service.
If there is a legitimate need to decline a request, there are polite ways to do so. Ex: "Sir/Ma'am, terribly sorry we're unable to brew coffee in this short time prior to takeoff. Happy to serve it to you once in the air."
If there is a legitimate need to decline a request, there are polite ways to do so. Ex: "Sir/Ma'am, terribly sorry we're unable to brew coffee in this short time prior to takeoff. Happy to serve it to you once in the air."
#88
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: RNO
Programs: AA/DL/UA
Posts: 10,745
It's not the way it should be, but sadly it is the only way to deal with crazy people.
#89
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2006
Programs: AAdvantage PP
Posts: 13,913
In my experience, the best way to deal with crazy people is to say "okay" or "no" or "fine", something short and sweet that makes the crazy person go away. Asking her "why" or "are you having a good day" or anything beyond the absolute MINIMUM needed to reply just invites crazy people to come unglued.
It's not the way it should be, but sadly it is the only way to deal with crazy people.
It's not the way it should be, but sadly it is the only way to deal with crazy people.
#90
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Roswell, GA
Programs: AA EXP 2.8m,Lifetime PLT, Hilton Diamond, IHG PlLT, SPG Gold
Posts: 3,191
Just remember the FA has the power to ruin your life
its always going to be one sided and the FA will win
it is a sad state and yes the FA do have to deal with a variety of passengers but that is the job they have chosen
i am sure everyone here had to deal with clients that can be a mess but you still treat them with respect
shame a very few FA cant to do the same
its always going to be one sided and the FA will win
it is a sad state and yes the FA do have to deal with a variety of passengers but that is the job they have chosen
i am sure everyone here had to deal with clients that can be a mess but you still treat them with respect
shame a very few FA cant to do the same