This nonsense will continue until a Service Manager with authority over the crew is created. This attitude comes from having a couldn’t-care-less attitude where any old thing will do. I had this on a flight LAX-LHR only two weeks ago. It was not F, it was J but it was abundantly obvious that not one member of the crew was interested. The Purser was clearly extremely senior and didn’t come near the cabin as far as I could tell.

Until someone one is responsible for managing service aboard and to deal with any issues this will never improve.

Union contract prohibits it (one FA reporting on/evaluating/etc another.) AA would *love* to have it otherwise, but it aint gonna happen.

As someone who flies ANA J/F often with hands down awesome service that tries to provide a comfortable service-based experience for the passenger and super friendly FAs, when I have to fly international on AA (usually to NRT or HKG), it's a total let down. It's painfully obvious that providing service to passengers is getting in the way of candy crush or chit chat with coworkers about relationships and destinations behind a curtain.

I suppose that I have in mind something like the Cabin Service Directors that other carriers have - would that come under the rule?

It would.

And thus the vicious cycle of lowest common denominator continues.

Theres that saying about dragging one down to their level and beating them with experience.

Which is why it is absolutely critical that when one of us experiences terrible service on AA, we report it to AA with specifics and NAME NAMES as opposed to starting yet another rant-filled "AA sucks" FT thread.

I'm curious if the APFA contract allows for AA management to hire non-employee "mystery shoppers" to fly on flights and for AA to initiate disciplinary action as a result of their findings.

ding ding ding.......

There’s gotta be a way to publicly “shame” the union for this kind of stuff. Surely the flying and general public weighing in (via the media I suppose ) can shake it up...just a little? Are there any other professions where employees have near-total impunity?!

HA! good one.

College athletics. And any good ol' boys club company/industry.

Other than that, Belarus or North Korean goverment maybe?

I concur wholeheartedly. I have never understood why people are so quick to start threads but never bother to complain to the Company. After all, this isn’t AA Customer Relations. However, it was explained to me that some people just want to vent and posting provides a forum for that...

So I guess it will just continue to be more of the same.

While I hear this time and time again (here in a sarcastic tone). A real question comes to mind. If these extremely senior flight attendants can’t perform their in flight duties satisfactorily, while should I trust them with the life of my loved ones? To me the two are connected.

Why do you assume that people only post here and dont write to AA?

This why I fly other OW airlines internationally. I haven't flown AA internationally since pre Parker. YMMV.