The 2 faces of flight attendants
 

My wife this past week had to fly without me and had our 19 month old with her. We used a companion fare on Delta so that the kid could have his own seat (way too big & too much to handle on such a long flight). So, she's trying to handle the kid, car seat, back pack, and a tote bag all by herself (If you have a toddler, you know this is the minimum to carry on a 9 hour 2 segment flight). Anyway, she was met with what I'll call the 2 faces of flight attendants. You can read more about it here, but in summary:

Flight 1: Super helpful attendant, stored her car seat roller up front, waited for her to get settled; end of the flight brought the roller back to her, helped the kid, etc. etc. EXCELLENT service

Flight 2: totally apathetic attendant, discourteous, and couldn't give a crap about helping the process. Thankfully someone at the front of economy (Medallion I'm sure) helps her. Getting off, same attendant is eating a first class meal and BSing with the captain.

I always find it odd when these situations come up. Maybe it's my southern hospitality, but I'm forever helping lift bags, adjust overheads, etc. They know the slower it takes for her to get to the seat, lock in the car seat, etc, the closer to a delay they'll be. Don't really see what is so hard about helping with a bag or grabbing the kid's hand.

We've flown at least 6 times with him and I have to say we are batting about .500 in encountering less than ideal attendants. Since i'm Gold, we try flying Delta as much as possible, but I've already marked certain airports as not family friendly. Really frustrating.

More likely you've just run across an FA who hasn't had children.

I'm sorry - I'm missing where it's Delta's responsibility to carry your wife's stuff. If she cant handle the boarding process with her child, then perhaps flying should be out of the question. Flight attendants first priority is for passengers safety - not to be their personal assistant or chauffeur.

I know, I know - I'm being slightly extreme here, but I think perhaps you're expectations on what a flight attendant should do are slightly high here. If they help your wife out, then great...but if they dont grab your wifes stuff or help with your child, I highly find them to be poor flight attendants.

Realistically though - if this is the service you expect, and your wife just cant board in a timely manner with your child to the point where you think it may delay take off (as you suggested in your post), perhaps you should invest in a nanny or a personal assistant, rather than expecting Delta to assume that role.

How about it being the responsibility of any decent human being to help someone they see in his wife's situation?

In most cases, it is an FA who takes it upon herself/himself. Sometimes, however, they can't (although that does not appear to be the case here). On my last LAS-ATL segment, a woman had a bag that was too heavy for her to lift into the overhead. It was also too stuffed to fit in easily and had to be forced in. (It did, however, go in wheels first.)

The FA tried to help her, was able to lift the bag, but could not stuff it in -- and had to leave to take care of her other responsibilities.

I was 65 at the time (that was last year) but as I could lift the bag, I did, and after some fighting with it I also managed to get it into the bin. When we landed, I took the bag out for her.

This, to me, was common courtesy. I am getting to the age where I might not be able to lift my own bag in a few years and I would certainly hope that somebody would assist me. The first to try, IMHO, should be the FA.

This, and let us not forget that OP is Gold, wife (and kid) apparently have no status and are traveling in coach with a free companion ticket. Why should they be entitled to special treatment?

Wow, way to jump the shark there. Pretty sure I never demanded this from the FA, just pointing out the difference in level of service. I think the goal for every flyer is consistency, and I'm pointing out lack of it.

And please spare me the safety line. If that was the case, they wouldn't be breaking their neck to hang my coat when in FC. Where is the safety in that? Does safety end when the plane lands or after the FA eats the galley food?


Does the FA know it's a companion? Do you know that my wife is or is not Gold? I just said I was Delta gold. Is it then your assumption that Gold should have their bags carried for them?

I'm not pointing this out for some sympathy or write a CSR demanding points like some people do for the littlest of events. Just trying to understand people.


Exactly.

Right after I had hernia surgery and wasn't allowed to lift anything, I asked the fa if they could put my carry on in the overhead bin for me. They said they couldn't due to policy, which I guess meant that they aren't allowed to in case they get hurt if someones carry on is too heavy. The pilot was nice enough to put it in for me

Surely you are joking (at least I want to hope so), Ms. MSPeconomist and Mr. FlyingHigh20!

I just hope the OP was working or doing something so important that he couldn't fly with his wife & child. OP makes a few assumptions (EC "Medallion I'm sure", FA eats a "First Class meal") that I have to wonder if this is just a way to deflect from guilt?

FA's are not supposed to be lifting people's heavy bags into the overhead (they could get injured).

That does not mean not helping with situations like people with small children, old folks, etc. Common courtesy and helpfulness go a long way.

Sounds like the OP's wife had way too much stuff with her.

Let's be sure to blame it on the OP or his wife. I would only hope that he sent DL a note thanking one lfight attendant for her assistance and mentioning that the other was near useless (except for cleaning up extra FC meals).

A little cold, don't you think?

i don't think the op was asking for the fa to change a diaper or take the baby for a stroll.

sounds within the job description of a fa to help assist a solo mom vs gossiping in the galley while everyone boards.

fa help limited mobility people don't they, for no extra moolah right?

yes i agree, but even more so, however much they paid is irrelevant, they have confirmed seats. the companion pass was earned and is worth a seat that is the same as if someone paid a B fare for it.

What? Really?
 

This is ridiculous, FAs should extend a hand where possible imho. After all, that's what service is all about - just because you don't have to scramble for tips, doesn't mean that you shouldn't try to provide exemplary service. American FAs tend to forget what kind of industry they are in foremost.

That's why I stick with my home carrier, SQ, as far as possible. That said, I have found DL FAs to be generally congenial, and have not met one unwilling to oblige when I requested. Must be my sexy Brit accent.