Flight attendant fills overhead bin with personal items, rude to passenger
Jun 11, 2019, 6:43 pm
#46
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 7,875
Just flew on VX plane, and I think the FA was also with VX because she took her stuff from the overhead so the passengers in row 1 who did not board immediately had space to put their stuff. Why are nice people like her the extreme exception?
I guess being considerate is verboten on AA, particularly if you work for them
I guess being considerate is verboten on AA, particularly if you work for them
Jun 11, 2019, 7:25 pm
#48
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,848
Bags from cargo hold all go to baggage claim when gate checked.
other than baby strollers, never seen any bags get placed on the jetway after arrival.
FAs sometimes work multiple flights a day on different planes.
so a FA might complete one flight, then have a rest of maybe a few hours or less n then go to another gate in the same airport for a different flight.
Might be the same crew or they could be split up.
obviously the FA cant check in a bag n then retrieve from baggage claim.
FAs often get pulled from a flight to cover another flight in the event of irrops or other matters like another FA getting sick.
it would take too long for baggage handlers to go search for the FA bag in the luggage hold if bag was checked in.
FAs sometimes have a schedule of 5 days or more before returning to base.
So they need enough clothes n stuff for those days.
other than baby strollers, never seen any bags get placed on the jetway after arrival.
FAs sometimes work multiple flights a day on different planes.
so a FA might complete one flight, then have a rest of maybe a few hours or less n then go to another gate in the same airport for a different flight.
Might be the same crew or they could be split up.
obviously the FA cant check in a bag n then retrieve from baggage claim.
FAs often get pulled from a flight to cover another flight in the event of irrops or other matters like another FA getting sick.
it would take too long for baggage handlers to go search for the FA bag in the luggage hold if bag was checked in.
FAs sometimes have a schedule of 5 days or more before returning to base.
So they need enough clothes n stuff for those days.
Jun 11, 2019, 7:38 pm
#49
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: PHL
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, Owner of 2,000 TWA shares
Posts: 812
Bags from cargo hold all go to baggage claim when gate checked.
other than baby strollers, never seen any bags get placed on the jetway after arrival.
FAs sometimes work multiple flights a day on different planes.
so a FA might complete one flight, then have a rest of maybe a few hours or less n then go to another gate in the same airport for a different flight.
Might be the same crew or they could be split up.
obviously the FA cant check in a bag n then retrieve from baggage claim.
FAs often get pulled from a flight to cover another flight in the event of irrops or other matters like another FA getting sick.
it would take too long for baggage handlers to go search for the FA bag in the luggage hold if bag was checked in.
FAs sometimes have a schedule of 5 days or more before returning to base.
So they need enough clothes n stuff for those days.
other than baby strollers, never seen any bags get placed on the jetway after arrival.
FAs sometimes work multiple flights a day on different planes.
so a FA might complete one flight, then have a rest of maybe a few hours or less n then go to another gate in the same airport for a different flight.
Might be the same crew or they could be split up.
obviously the FA cant check in a bag n then retrieve from baggage claim.
FAs often get pulled from a flight to cover another flight in the event of irrops or other matters like another FA getting sick.
it would take too long for baggage handlers to go search for the FA bag in the luggage hold if bag was checked in.
FAs sometimes have a schedule of 5 days or more before returning to base.
So they need enough clothes n stuff for those days.
Jun 11, 2019, 7:58 pm
#50
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: SNA
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K (until it expires then never again), *wood Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 9,239
I disagree, being able to leverage alliance benefits on airlines you rarely fly otherwise are huge, I'm *G for life and that's been great when I find myself on a LH flight in Europe for example. I would also say that out of the big 3 OW has the best benefits, and second place (*A) is distant. Also regards to the OP, w/r/t JFK-LHR BA/AA are the dominant carriers - for example tomorrow there are 12 nonstop flights between AA/BA, VS has 6, DL has 2. If that's the route you need to fly...."voting with your wallet" becomes somewhat more difficult.
Jun 11, 2019, 8:08 pm
#51
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
IMO FAs abuse their allotment....I posted this about Hawaii flight crews rolling up to the gate with like 5 bags stacked on top of each other like they were traveling back to Dallas with everything they own.
Meanwhile I was on the same flight into Hawaii with them and I survived quite nicely with my backpack. Go figure :/
Meanwhile I was on the same flight into Hawaii with them and I survived quite nicely with my backpack. Go figure :/
Jun 11, 2019, 9:00 pm
#53
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: CMH
Programs: BA Gold, AA Plat, NK $9 fare club
Posts: 666
I fly American most often, but have been on all the last year or so. It's an industry-wide issue to this country's airlines. Poor service. Though I'll say that universally Spirit & Southwest have had the friendliest and most helpful employees.
I say tough luck...
Jun 11, 2019, 9:13 pm
#55
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,013
Realistically, when flying USA domestic flights, what is the other option? Delta, United, Southwest, (and when available) Spirit & Frontier all have their share of issues. There's no "proper" airline in the USA these days.
I fly American most often, but have been on all the last year or so. It's an industry-wide issue to this country's airlines. Poor service. Though I'll say that universally Spirit & Southwest have had the friendliest and most helpful employees.
I say tough luck...
I fly American most often, but have been on all the last year or so. It's an industry-wide issue to this country's airlines. Poor service. Though I'll say that universally Spirit & Southwest have had the friendliest and most helpful employees.
I say tough luck...
Jun 11, 2019, 10:01 pm
#56
Join Date: May 2004
Location: DFW-In Plano & CDG-In the 11th
Programs: DL Diamond, AA revenue negative, Bonvoy Titanium +, Avis likes me
Posts: 3,209
...
By contrast, on AA JFK-LHR aside from this disagreeable encounter with the FA, there were no drinks runs and they insisted the shades be lowered even though it was a day flight.
I've discussed that issue on FT in another thread, but my hunch now is that they do that to encourage passengers to sleep so they have to work less hard. I say that because I also often find AA transatlantic flight attendants chatting on their own in the galley, curtain closed, practically bristling when “disturbed” by a passenger for a request.
This all adds up to a feeling that on AA the priority is flight attendant convenience not serving passengers.
I have had this happen several times, and politely asked them to move it. "Fragile" my posterior. What a (insert adjective here).
I hope your complaint included the FA's name, if you could get it. Usually, these types travel through the cabin incognito-all forms of identification conveniently "hidden".
Just another case of management continually surrendering control of the asylum to the inmates.
Jun 11, 2019, 10:35 pm
#57
Join Date: May 2004
Location: DFW-In Plano & CDG-In the 11th
Programs: DL Diamond, AA revenue negative, Bonvoy Titanium +, Avis likes me
Posts: 3,209
There is zero chance of this changing anytime soon-- and I expect it to gradually get bit worse over the next few months.
The answer, IMHO, is to fly another airline vs. groveling for "some bonus miles" and continuing to spend your $ and write in complaints that will do absolutely nothing to change the-- awful-- status quo-- nothing's gonna change in this area.
The answer, IMHO, is to fly another airline vs. groveling for "some bonus miles" and continuing to spend your $ and write in complaints that will do absolutely nothing to change the-- awful-- status quo-- nothing's gonna change in this area.
It's liberating!
I have seen this happen many times. FA storing their luggage there but this has been always on Asian or middle eastern airlines that I travel. Every time, they have been polite and very accommodating and try to shift their stuff somewhere else. Even if it is filled with pillows or newspapers they try to shift it somewhere else. I feel it is the difference of standard of US carriers and certainly the Middle Eastern and Asian Airlines. That is why they are more successful as they treat passengers better most of the time.
Just flew on VX plane, and I think the FA was also with VX because she took her stuff from the overhead so the passengers in row 1 who did not board immediately had space to put their stuff. Why are nice people like her the extreme exception?
I guess being considerate is verboten on AA, particularly if you work for them
I guess being considerate is verboten on AA, particularly if you work for them
Jun 11, 2019, 10:36 pm
#58
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: Rapid Rewards, AAdvantage, SkyMiles
Posts: 2,931
Pot calling the kettle black.
Back to the OP, while the FA's rudeness is never an excuse and should be documented/reported appropriately, they need their luggage in the cabin due to the nature of their job and the fact you don't know where they are going to end up or where they need to be next. While I'm not saying this is the case on a long international flight, there is the possibility the FA might have their schedule changed at the last minute and might either have to deadhead back, stay over in the city, or work another flight. Due to the short advanced notice they need to have all of their belongings ready to go at a moments notice. This also applies to pilots as well, although they keep their stuff in the cockpit.
Back to the OP, while the FA's rudeness is never an excuse and should be documented/reported appropriately, they need their luggage in the cabin due to the nature of their job and the fact you don't know where they are going to end up or where they need to be next. While I'm not saying this is the case on a long international flight, there is the possibility the FA might have their schedule changed at the last minute and might either have to deadhead back, stay over in the city, or work another flight. Due to the short advanced notice they need to have all of their belongings ready to go at a moments notice. This also applies to pilots as well, although they keep their stuff in the cockpit.
Jun 12, 2019, 12:33 am
#59
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: BOS/UTH
Programs: AA LT PLT; QR GLD; Bonvoy LT TIT
Posts: 12,753
Yes, I've started to see large stickers inside bins in F that they are reserved for F pax only.
Jun 12, 2019, 5:56 am
#60
Join Date: Jun 2005
Programs: EVA Air , * G, QR Privilege Club S
Posts: 5,187
As for crew keeping the shades up, they do this not because they want it to be so but because of inconvenience to other passengers who does not want the sun to be in their eyes. Any passenger who refuses to do it is inconveniencing the other passengers.
That is the only reason they ask to put the shades.
As for baggage being retrieved only at the belt it is not so. They can gate check it and also get it at the arriving gate too as some airlines especially in Canada do a gate check for hand luggage and give it back on the arriving gate. So it can be easily done for the crew too. Yes these are not suitcases but carry on luggage.
That is the only reason they ask to put the shades.
As for baggage being retrieved only at the belt it is not so. They can gate check it and also get it at the arriving gate too as some airlines especially in Canada do a gate check for hand luggage and give it back on the arriving gate. So it can be easily done for the crew too. Yes these are not suitcases but carry on luggage.