What Can We Do?
 

The frontline employees of CO to make your travel more enjoyable? I read so much griping about CO - that I'd like to do something right, whenever I have you on a flight.


[This message has been edited by PradaFA (edited 01-26-2003).]

I'm quite happy with 95 % of the CO people I
meet face to face.

Tell you management that elites are always complaining
that CO.online is down, broken,
would not let us book an itinerary it found.

Ask also to remove seat 1A from the ERJ-
with 1+2 seating and increase the legroom
for elites on the A seats, 2A through 8A.

Most complaints I have with CO are due to
management, not poor staff.

When boarding, organize the scrum of pax so
as to let elites preboard without having to
push our way to the front and query other
pax, 'are you elite/first class or are you
just waiting in my way ?'.


[This message has been edited by squid (edited 01-26-2003).]

[This message has been edited by squid (edited 01-26-2003).]

Squid
Sorry I wasn't clear. Meant to ask what FAs could do to make things more enjoyable

We have nothing to do with boarding, as we are already on the plane.

PradaFA:

Thank you very much for asking.

Like squid says, if you see gripes about CO it RARELY is about front line employees (although this past week there was a complaint about a surly FA on a EWR-FLL flight).

I think you and your co-workers are doing your best. Your ability to service us is limited by what CO (catering) provides.

In the 1980 I dated an FA for DL who worked JFK-France (she spoke fluent French). Her very well know saying was:

FAs are here to save your a#$, not kiss it.

Safe travels.

I find CO FA's to be generally pretty good. In fact, I wrote my first email to CO about a great FA (Shirley, DEN-EWR).

That said, I think you guys underestimate how distracting and annoying some of the discussions in the front galley can be. It's particularly annoying (I'm not sure exactly why) when FAs are complaining about work. Passengers don't feel comfortable asking you guys to be quiet.

Again, I'm generally happy with CO in-flight, but you asked. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

PradaFA,
I must say that on my 100+ flights on CO in the last 2 1/2 years I haven't had any complaints about the FA.

You & your compatriots do a terrific job. Never had a bad experience on board. Everyone has always gone above and beyond.

My only complaint <wink> is that there is no way to contact you and shake your hand to thank you in person. You fly out of EWR?

They say that admission of a problem is the first step.

Perhaps the next time you see someone squeezed into a seat that no human should be allowed to endure for three hours, grumbling about how Platinum elite travelers are treated by the stupid airline, you whisper to him that you empathize with him – say something like “I’m sorry for the idiots I have to work for and how shortsighted they are”. Maybe give him or her a complimentary drink – if you have to pay for it yourself, just post that you did it here and we’ll reimburse you.

Maybe you can print up pins to wear or little cards to give out that say “I know our passengers are not the problem – they pay our salaries.”

Maybe you and your colleagues can make an effort to be pleasant to the passengers on your next flight as it is preparing to board – instead of forming a “crew circle clique” in the boarding area and ignoring us as the plane is being readied. I remember how much I appreciated the handshakes and personal introductions the FA’s attempted about a year ago…it lasted like a month I think.

Things like that would go a long way.

Not sure how possible this is, but it'd be great if meal choices were awarded to the people with the highest elite status first and to those without any status last.

Most flights I've been on show the elite status of 1st class passengers on their manifest ...but very few flight attendants do anything with that info.

The only other "wish list" item for flight attendants is to please, please, please encourage passengers to report broken seats (or broken entertainment systems) and do your best to document/report the problem so it can be fixed. I've been on many flights, not all CO, where the flight attendants didn't do anything with a bad seat. I hate sitting in a bad seat, and I hate sitting in a bad seat where the flight attendant doesn't make any note to report the problem.

For people of *most* body types, three hours in a coach seat is no physiological problem. . . .


PradaFA - thank you for opening this discussion. I don't think anyone would fault you for not answering the more obnoxious posts.

Taken from the CO forum's latest expert in obnoxious posts and insulting, cowardly private e-mails.

Feel free to ride the extended range RJs coast to coast if you like, I and my firm's travel dollars will be on another carrier.

And try to get your insults to graduate at least to high school level. The last "fat" joke I heard in junior high left the last person who said it bloody. He learned what the ratio of bone and muscle in a healthy American male could be used for. Maybe read the NY Times or Newsweek or something - it'd do wonders for you.

And there's no need to e-mail me additional insults. The ones you've sent me and others are quite sufficent, thanks. I won't be replying to them.


[This message has been edited by NJDavid (edited 01-26-2003).]

PradaFA -

I have to say that very rarely are CO front line employees the problem. It's the people who don't interact with the public everyday who seem to cause the most problem. A regular dose of reality would be helpful for those on Smith St.

That being said, I do have one request. Since it appears that I'll be spending more time behind the curtain next year, who you please brief your fellow crewmembers to NOT put their crew bags above row 5? It seems that the FA's working in first have a terrible habit of doing so. When I'm unlucky enough to be in steerage, but lucky enough to score a bulkhead seat, the overhead is usually filled with black bags with yellow tags. thanks!

I really think PradaFA was looking for constructive ideas, not for a "your airline really su**s and you should be ashamed" response.
I, for one, appreciate her efforts.


------------------
Friends don't let friends fly RJ's
I am not real smart, but I can lift heavy things.

I've been happy with the service of most Continental flight attendants.

The only thing I would have to mention is cabin lighting. I prefer (especially on evening flights), when the cabin lighting is dimmed and only used when necessary.

It also seems to make the pax quieter and get settled faster, versus being blinded by the light when trying to nap.

Thanks for asking...

Weatherboy - CO policy on taking FC meal order is front to back. So most FAs tend to follow the rule. I know this must be an issue, because in our montly inflight memo's its quite frequently brought up. The company tends to stress this point that we follow the rule. My suggestion is, that you keep writing/calling CO an address this issue. Maybe if they get enough complaints, they'll change the rule

Duxfan - Crew stowage is an issue.I believe that was the designated area for the lead position (on a 737), since they sit up front. I'm not exactly sure, because I stow mine in the locking overhead bin. But I can see how it would upset you if the entire crew stowed luggage there, leaving you with little/to no space. I know I've personally moved crew bags to the locking overhead bins, to accomodate passengers.

I am EWR based

PradaFA,

Thank you for opening this post. I think some of the ideas make good sense like greeting the passengers and not putting the crew bags over the bulkhead seats. I don't think serving meals by elite status would win many friends among the Full Fare passengers that don't have status. Reporting broken equipment is fantastic.

I think this has mostly been on NW, but it may have happen on CO some, but I think serving the pre-flight drink in first is something that should be a high priority. I have been on several flights where it was not done.

Mainly as in any service industry just to realize and show that you realize that the customer is what pays your salary and treat them with that realization, even when they don't deserve it.