Late FA get punished?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Tallahassee, FL
Programs: Hilton Diamond / Delta Plat
Posts: 271
Late FA get punished?
Sitting in Memphis and will miss connection because FA is late for work. Are you serious? Any compensation expected? Not late because of other flight. Just got to the airport late. Are you serious? And why are they playing Christmas music during boarding???!!
#2
In Memoriam
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: DL DM, UA, AA, SPG Gold, Marriott, HH, Fairmont, NYSC (Passport), 24hrFitness-Super Sport
Posts: 2,197
Yes. I would imagine said FA would get reprimanded. It's certainly annoying, but haven't we all been late to work at some point? At least you aren't calling for termination. No excuse for the xmas music.
#3
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 125
Depends on if the flight attendant was short called (under 2 hrs) for the assignment.. We have 2 hrs to get to the airport. Otherwise they would get a late report which is dependably mark. 1st one you get a coaching. after a coaching you go on a level there is 4 levels then your terminated
#4
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: BUR
Programs: AA, DL Platinum, AS, AF/KL, UA, VS, HA, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 1,788
Contradicting points:
For those below Gold status, if we arrive at the airport late and provided there are seats available on a later flight, we must pay a $50 SDC fee.
Then again recenty I woke up in my home an hour after my plane left, got to the airport and passed security 2 1/4 hours after my booked/checked-in flight and they put my FO sleepy self on a later itinerary free of charge.
So do we hold them to the fire or cut them some slack? I don't know. I think it's worth a polite email with modest expectations.
For those below Gold status, if we arrive at the airport late and provided there are seats available on a later flight, we must pay a $50 SDC fee.
Then again recenty I woke up in my home an hour after my plane left, got to the airport and passed security 2 1/4 hours after my booked/checked-in flight and they put my FO sleepy self on a later itinerary free of charge.
So do we hold them to the fire or cut them some slack? I don't know. I think it's worth a polite email with modest expectations.
Last edited by Oakshadow; Jan 16, 2011 at 1:01 pm
#5
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: CHA
Programs: DL GM, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Priority Plat, Nat'l Exec
Posts: 233
I had this problem at DTW last month... I didn't even complain about that, because I had already complained once about my missing double MQM (BNA-DTW-LAS), and then again about missing my connection home due to mechanical trouble.
The late FA was on my rebooking.... (which the rebooking was apparently the cause of the double MQM screw up). I thought three complaints on one itinerary was excessive.
It was a little irritiating to see the FA when she showed up. Apparently, even though she was late, she had plenty of time to stop for a cup of a coffee and breakfast....
The late FA was on my rebooking.... (which the rebooking was apparently the cause of the double MQM screw up). I thought three complaints on one itinerary was excessive.
It was a little irritiating to see the FA when she showed up. Apparently, even though she was late, she had plenty of time to stop for a cup of a coffee and breakfast....
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Somewhere between here and there...
Programs: WWF, Appalachian Mountain Club
Posts: 11,595
Contradicting points:
For those below Gold status, if we arrive at the airport late and provided there are seats available on a later flight, we must pay a $50 SDC fee.
Then again recenty I woke up in my home an hour after my plane left, got to the airport and passed security 2 1/4 hours after my booked/checked-in flight and they put my FO sleepy self on a later itinerary free of charge.
For those below Gold status, if we arrive at the airport late and provided there are seats available on a later flight, we must pay a $50 SDC fee.
Then again recenty I woke up in my home an hour after my plane left, got to the airport and passed security 2 1/4 hours after my booked/checked-in flight and they put my FO sleepy self on a later itinerary free of charge.
Why do you think she was late? As long as she brought enough for everyone...
#7
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,451
I had this problem at DTW last month... I didn't even complain about that, because I had already complained once about my missing double MQM (BNA-DTW-LAS), and then again about missing my connection home due to mechanical trouble.
The late FA was on my rebooking.... (which the rebooking was apparently the cause of the double MQM screw up). I thought three complaints on one itinerary was excessive.
It was a little irritiating to see the FA when she showed up. Apparently, even though she was late, she had plenty of time to stop for a cup of a coffee and breakfast....
The late FA was on my rebooking.... (which the rebooking was apparently the cause of the double MQM screw up). I thought three complaints on one itinerary was excessive.
It was a little irritiating to see the FA when she showed up. Apparently, even though she was late, she had plenty of time to stop for a cup of a coffee and breakfast....
#8
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 125
I've seen this when FAs are late (supposedly) because their incoming flight was late. It's maddening when the passengers waiting in the gate see them amble up as if they have all the time in the world, carrying food and coffee from different airport outlets. I don't expect them to do an OJ-style run through the airport and arrive panting and breathless, but they could at least walk with purpose when the passengers waiting in the gate are watching. The deliberate stroll and pause routine seems like giving their passengers the finger before boarding even starts.
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: The best state in the USA - Florida!
Programs: Marriott Titanium/LT Plat, AS MVP75K, AA PlatPro, UA Premier, Disney AP
Posts: 14,497
If that flight in was late then it cut into our time for food.. (yes we need food too) We don't always get crew meals. I am concerned about my heath as #1. The only person that cares about me is me so If I need to eat and we are late. I stop! We always eat on the go and usually food that has gotten cold.. So cut us some slack. All these delays and weather takes a toll on us as well!
#10
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: ATL
Programs: DL Diamond, car rental, hotel, etc.
Posts: 84
Sitting in Memphis a few months ago, I overheard a conversation an FA was having on his cell. He was very upset that he had delayed a flight, and the impression I got was that he'd be in deep...
#11
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: BDU
Programs: DL:MM, Marriott:LTT
Posts: 8,779
Preparing to be flamed as I type...
Stuff happens. Yes, it's annoying when we have to wait because an FA is running late. Yes, we are inconvenienced when we miss connections. But c'mon, we're all human. Who among us, even with the best of planning and allowing for extra time, hasn't gotten a flat tire, stuck behind a jack-knifed semi or accidentally set the alarm for PM instead of AM?
One would think DL monitors which FAs are late when. Hopefully, if this FA has made being late a more-than-once habit, DL is dealing with it appropriately, but if it was a one-time screw up, it's noted and forgotten, unless it happens again. One must also believe the FAs, knowing the consequences of being late, take extraordinary steps to be on time. Even the best laid plans, though, can be impacted by the unexpected.
As for the breakfast and coffee, that might take away my even keel on this. Do you know for sure that was the FA who was late? Or might another FA been assigned to your flight since she was already in the airport and the FA running late be expected to take the other FA's original flight?
Stuff happens. Yes, it's annoying when we have to wait because an FA is running late. Yes, we are inconvenienced when we miss connections. But c'mon, we're all human. Who among us, even with the best of planning and allowing for extra time, hasn't gotten a flat tire, stuck behind a jack-knifed semi or accidentally set the alarm for PM instead of AM?
One would think DL monitors which FAs are late when. Hopefully, if this FA has made being late a more-than-once habit, DL is dealing with it appropriately, but if it was a one-time screw up, it's noted and forgotten, unless it happens again. One must also believe the FAs, knowing the consequences of being late, take extraordinary steps to be on time. Even the best laid plans, though, can be impacted by the unexpected.
As for the breakfast and coffee, that might take away my even keel on this. Do you know for sure that was the FA who was late? Or might another FA been assigned to your flight since she was already in the airport and the FA running late be expected to take the other FA's original flight?
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: The best state in the USA - Florida!
Programs: Marriott Titanium/LT Plat, AS MVP75K, AA PlatPro, UA Premier, Disney AP
Posts: 14,497
Knowing my other friends as well, they tend to arrive about 30 minutes minimum before their scheduled report time. Better to be safe than cut it close and have something unforeseen happen and be late. It's not like many of us at all, where if we're late we call the DM line and SDC to another flight, or have OLCI'd beforehand and might be able to quickly make it through TSA to get to our flight, even though we missed the check-in cutoff.
#13
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Programs: Hyatt Diamond, Fairmont Platinum, Aeroplan Diamond, HHonors Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 18,686
Pressure is on everyone.. even FA's.. nowadays, time is money, and money is accumulated through flyers who want flights on time, every time.
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: Fallen Plats, ex-WN CP, DYKWIW; still PAL Premier Elite & Hilton Diamond
Posts: 25,418
& sometimes crews have minimum rest times that must be observed, which might include sleeping & eating. If their plane arrived at 2 a.m. instead of midnight, odds are the 8 a.m. flight they're scheduled for will be delayed. What they do during that rest time (coffee & breakfast is a distinct possibility) really isn't your concern.
#15
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 6,339
Let those who are without sin cast the first stone....
Like Airline crews I too work in a rigidly "scheduled" field... and like some of the FA's who have already commented, I too make serious efforts to ensure I will never be late.
What that means of course is that I am usually at work rather too early... but to me that is a reasonable trade off for the peace of mind of not letting the side down.... Jeez.. I sound "all for it" don't I???
Like Airline crews I too work in a rigidly "scheduled" field... and like some of the FA's who have already commented, I too make serious efforts to ensure I will never be late.
What that means of course is that I am usually at work rather too early... but to me that is a reasonable trade off for the peace of mind of not letting the side down.... Jeez.. I sound "all for it" don't I???