Off Duty FAs Say the Darndest Things.
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: BDU
Programs: DL:MM, Marriott:LTT
Posts: 8,779
Off Duty FAs Say the Darndest Things.
Not a complaint, just telling a story some might find of interest...
Yesterday, an angel of an agent in DTW collapsed two tickets - the last leg of an international flight and a separate second flight from the final destination of flight one to the final destination of flight two - allowing me to fly directly home, saving three or four hours. While I was confirmed on a later flight, there was an earlier flight for which I was put on SB. I got on the earlier flight, but was way towards the back. I was just happy to get on the flight.
DTW-ATL attracts may Pilots/Execs/FAs trying to position themselves, and this flight was no exception. There were two FAs in uniform sitting in the back of the plane. The male FA carried on a very loud conversation throughout the entire flight, mostly complaining about DL. We could not help but hear every word. He complained about not getting proper credit for hours and having to call DL. He complained that too many FAs don't have a plan before getting on a flight and assign duties once boarded. He bragged about being so good at his job that he even wrote a manual which, for some reason, DL would not adopt. Then, as we were waiting to exit the plane, when there was now a mechanic in the back with the two flight attendants....
He told a story, again, at the top of his lungs, about the time there was a warning light on, the mechanics got on the flight, jiggled a few wires so the light would go off, and they were able to take off to Nagoya. According to him, the plane was still broken, and it flew four more flights. All the mechanics did, according to him, was turn the warning light off.
A passenger (might have been a DL employee?) marched to the back and said to the guy, again, loud enough for all of us to hear, something along the lines of, "Do you realize you are in uniform telling a story loud enough for everyone to hear about how Delta flies broken planes? Do you really need to have someone tell you why you do not do this? Are you a mechanic? Are you licensed or authorized to fix planes? Passengers will not know that you don't know what you are talking about. They will see a Delta employee saying Delta knowingly flies broken planes and be concerned." The FA apologized. A few people thanked the passenger and encouraged him to report the FA to a redcoat. He was waiting at the gate counter when I left, so I assume he did.
Yesterday, an angel of an agent in DTW collapsed two tickets - the last leg of an international flight and a separate second flight from the final destination of flight one to the final destination of flight two - allowing me to fly directly home, saving three or four hours. While I was confirmed on a later flight, there was an earlier flight for which I was put on SB. I got on the earlier flight, but was way towards the back. I was just happy to get on the flight.
DTW-ATL attracts may Pilots/Execs/FAs trying to position themselves, and this flight was no exception. There were two FAs in uniform sitting in the back of the plane. The male FA carried on a very loud conversation throughout the entire flight, mostly complaining about DL. We could not help but hear every word. He complained about not getting proper credit for hours and having to call DL. He complained that too many FAs don't have a plan before getting on a flight and assign duties once boarded. He bragged about being so good at his job that he even wrote a manual which, for some reason, DL would not adopt. Then, as we were waiting to exit the plane, when there was now a mechanic in the back with the two flight attendants....
He told a story, again, at the top of his lungs, about the time there was a warning light on, the mechanics got on the flight, jiggled a few wires so the light would go off, and they were able to take off to Nagoya. According to him, the plane was still broken, and it flew four more flights. All the mechanics did, according to him, was turn the warning light off.
A passenger (might have been a DL employee?) marched to the back and said to the guy, again, loud enough for all of us to hear, something along the lines of, "Do you realize you are in uniform telling a story loud enough for everyone to hear about how Delta flies broken planes? Do you really need to have someone tell you why you do not do this? Are you a mechanic? Are you licensed or authorized to fix planes? Passengers will not know that you don't know what you are talking about. They will see a Delta employee saying Delta knowingly flies broken planes and be concerned." The FA apologized. A few people thanked the passenger and encouraged him to report the FA to a redcoat. He was waiting at the gate counter when I left, so I assume he did.
#2
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: MSP
Posts: 164
It drives me crazy when fellow employees do that. I can't tell if that is better or worse than the new hires bragging about how they get D1 for free at the top of their lungs.
I tell people I sell insurance when I'm on a flight and someone else asks...no follow up questions.
I tell people I sell insurance when I'm on a flight and someone else asks...no follow up questions.
#3
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
It drives me crazy when fellow employees do that. I can't tell if that is better or worse than the new hires bragging about how they get D1 for free at the top of their lungs.
I tell people I sell insurance when I'm on a flight and someone else asks...no follow up questions.
I tell people I sell insurance when I'm on a flight and someone else asks...no follow up questions.
#7
Join Date: Jun 2013
Programs: Delta DDM 720, SPG Unobtainium, CC Adamantium, can I keep bragging now?
Posts: 306
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: BDU
Programs: DL:MM, Marriott:LTT
Posts: 8,779
OMG, this is practically the same thing I tell people. My version is, "I'm with an insurance company." Alas, it's true. But I've learned it's the easiest way to get people to stop trying to strike up a conversation.
Last edited by CJKatl; Apr 6, 2016 at 1:18 pm
#9
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Huntsville, AL
Programs: DL DM 1.929MM, Hilton Lifetime Diamond, IHG Platinum, Avis CHM, Marriott Titanium (lifetime gold)
Posts: 7,860
#11
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: MSP
Posts: 164
My bigger fear as an employee is that I'll get yelled at for the time DL lost their bag in 1998 (I was in elementary school).
#12
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: SJC, SFO
Programs: Delta DM, IHG Spire, Hertz PC, H.com Gold^3, lowly something on others...
Posts: 1,260
Off-duty FA chatter, big deal! I have you beat!
I was on NRT-bound flight and a passenger was struggling with getting the luggage into the overhead bin. It was not because it was heavy but because the bin is too high. She was eyeing the FA for help but the FA literally said this "I am too old for this crap...you are gonna get it in there yourself...and maybe next time stop carrying such heavy things".
DL like UA and AA, full of entitled retirement age FAs but this one even rub me the wrong way... You are an on-duty FA! If you didn't want to help, just hide, don't make these offensive comments.
I ended up helping that passenger get the luggage into the bin...
I was on NRT-bound flight and a passenger was struggling with getting the luggage into the overhead bin. It was not because it was heavy but because the bin is too high. She was eyeing the FA for help but the FA literally said this "I am too old for this crap...you are gonna get it in there yourself...and maybe next time stop carrying such heavy things".
DL like UA and AA, full of entitled retirement age FAs but this one even rub me the wrong way... You are an on-duty FA! If you didn't want to help, just hide, don't make these offensive comments.
I ended up helping that passenger get the luggage into the bin...
#13
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: 100,413
Off-duty FA chatter, big deal! I have you beat!
I was on NRT-bound flight and a passenger was struggling with getting the luggage into the overhead bin. It was not because it was heavy but because the bin is too high. She was eyeing the FA for help but the FA literally said this "I am too old for this crap...you are gonna get it in there yourself...and maybe next time stop carrying such heavy things".
DL like UA and AA, full of entitled retirement age FAs but this one even rub me the wrong way... You are an on-duty FA! If you didn't want to help, just hide, don't make these offensive comments.
I ended up helping that passenger get the luggage into the bin...
I was on NRT-bound flight and a passenger was struggling with getting the luggage into the overhead bin. It was not because it was heavy but because the bin is too high. She was eyeing the FA for help but the FA literally said this "I am too old for this crap...you are gonna get it in there yourself...and maybe next time stop carrying such heavy things".
DL like UA and AA, full of entitled retirement age FAs but this one even rub me the wrong way... You are an on-duty FA! If you didn't want to help, just hide, don't make these offensive comments.
I ended up helping that passenger get the luggage into the bin...
#14
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: AA Plat Pto, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,538
It drives me crazy when fellow employees do that. I can't tell if that is better or worse than the new hires bragging about how they get D1 for free at the top of their lungs.
I tell people I sell insurance when I'm on a flight and someone else asks...no follow up questions.
I tell people I sell insurance when I'm on a flight and someone else asks...no follow up questions.
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: HH Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 10,458
It drives me crazy when fellow employees do that. I can't tell if that is better or worse than the new hires bragging about how they get D1 for free at the top of their lungs.
I tell people I sell insurance when I'm on a flight and someone else asks...no follow up questions.
I tell people I sell insurance when I'm on a flight and someone else asks...no follow up questions.