A grand congratulations to Northwest/Delta Flight Attendant Joan Crandall
Aug 13, 2019, 12:59 pm
#16
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 72
Joan Crandall? Isn't she Bob's wife? All those years an inside spy for AA!!! Just kidding.
Congratulations!!
As for routes she bids, based upon other senior FA's on AA (not DL) I've spoken with, she might choose an ultra long-haul turn trip, only needing to work it 3 or 4 times a month to hit her quota for continued benefits.
Airline pilots are required to retire at 65, so 62 may be a bit young to require FA's to retire.
I did think that FA's had to pass annual safety drills which included emergency simulations with opening the door and also exiting through a window exit. So reading av8tr22's observations at the gate is a little scary.
Congratulations!!
As for routes she bids, based upon other senior FA's on AA (not DL) I've spoken with, she might choose an ultra long-haul turn trip, only needing to work it 3 or 4 times a month to hit her quota for continued benefits.
Airline pilots are required to retire at 65, so 62 may be a bit young to require FA's to retire.
I did think that FA's had to pass annual safety drills which included emergency simulations with opening the door and also exiting through a window exit. So reading av8tr22's observations at the gate is a little scary.
Aug 13, 2019, 1:14 pm
#17
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 72
Many forms of discrimination are perfectly legal:
- As I just mentioned a few posts up, airline pilots must retire at 65.
- We do not allow adults (age of majority is 18 in USA) who are 18-20 to purchase or consume alcoholic beverages.
- Most restaurants will not allow those under age 60 to order from the senior menu with reduced prices.
- Delta charges extra $150 each way for passengers between age 5 to 15 if they travel alone.
Aug 13, 2019, 2:25 pm
#18
Moderator: Hyatt; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: WAS
Programs: :rolleyes:, DL DM, Mlife Plat, Caesars Diam, Marriott Tit, UA Gold, Hyatt Glob, invol FT beta tester
Posts: 18,928
Probably NOT. Everyone likes to pull the discrimination card
Many forms of discrimination are perfectly legal:
Many forms of discrimination are perfectly legal:
- As I just mentioned a few posts up, airline pilots must retire at 65.
- We do not allow adults (age of majority is 18 in USA) who are 18-20 to purchase or consume alcoholic beverages.
- Most restaurants will not allow those under age 60 to order from the senior menu with reduced prices.
- Delta charges extra $150 each way for passengers between age 5 to 15 if they travel alone.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bona_f..._qualification
IANAL but since mandatory retirement by age exists for certain professions, I assume that courts have held that in certain cases using age as a proxy for skill/ability is permissible in the case of certain jobs.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandatory_retirement
"Mandatory retirement is generally unlawful in the United States, except in certain industries and occupations that are regulated by law, and are often part of the government (such as military service and federal police agencies, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation)."
Absent that the "safe" way to get around age discrimination might be to phrase a job requirement as "must be able to lift __ pounds" to help passengers evacuate in the event of a emergency etc.
Aug 13, 2019, 2:26 pm
#19
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Chicago
Programs: United-1K, Marriott-Titanium Ambassador, Hyatt-Globalist
Posts: 215
Probably NOT. Everyone likes to pull the discrimination card
Many forms of discrimination are perfectly legal:
Many forms of discrimination are perfectly legal:
- As I just mentioned a few posts up, airline pilots must retire at 65.
- We do not allow adults (age of majority is 18 in USA) who are 18-20 to purchase or consume alcoholic beverages.
- Most restaurants will not allow those under age 60 to order from the senior menu with reduced prices.
- Delta charges extra $150 each way for passengers between age 5 to 15 if they travel alone.
Aug 14, 2019, 4:54 am
#20
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: LGA
Programs: DL DM, UA Gold, Marriott Plat Prem., Hilton Gold, National Exec Elite.
Posts: 2,533
This. I was on DL147 from ATL-SCL one day last week, and one of the FA’s had to be pushing 80. It could have been Joan (didn’t see her name tag). She was so frail, hunched over and couldn’t stand up straight. Before boarding, when the crew arrived at the gate, she pulled out her badge to open the jetway door and she couldn’t even open the door....the gate agent had to help her open it.
All for celebrating milestones, but there should absolutely be a minimum age for FA’s. There was no way this woman would be saving anyone; God forbid something ever happens. Someone would be saving her.
Aug 14, 2019, 9:25 am
#21
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 72
Yes, I agree. However most people who are quick to yell: "that's discrimination," do so implying it's illegal and shouldn't happen.
It's perfectly LEGAL for the following to occur:
Angry gate agent announces: "May I have the attention of all those passengers in the gate area for flight #123 . If you are wearing green today, please approach the podium." After those wearing green assemble: "None of you will be on this flight today. There will be no arguments or further explanation other than to tell you I hate green. So your best option is to head over to the re-accommodation counter to get on another flight!"
Of course while this is legal, it's rather impractical and probably wouldn't happen-- simply because the servers that host FlyTalk Forums would MELTDOWN.
It's perfectly LEGAL for the following to occur:
Angry gate agent announces: "May I have the attention of all those passengers in the gate area for flight #123 . If you are wearing green today, please approach the podium." After those wearing green assemble: "None of you will be on this flight today. There will be no arguments or further explanation other than to tell you I hate green. So your best option is to head over to the re-accommodation counter to get on another flight!"
Of course while this is legal, it's rather impractical and probably wouldn't happen-- simply because the servers that host FlyTalk Forums would MELTDOWN.
Aug 14, 2019, 9:31 am
#22
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Minneapolis
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 2,235
Yes, but in the case of an emergency, there won't likely be a gate agent standing outside to help open it.
Aug 14, 2019, 11:08 am
#23
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: LGA
Programs: DL DM, UA Gold, Marriott Plat Prem., Hilton Gold, National Exec Elite.
Posts: 2,533
Aug 14, 2019, 3:17 pm
#24
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Body in the CLE, soul still in New England
Programs: In 2023? Does it matter? SPG/Marriott: Plat; DL: Plat; B6: Mosaic
Posts: 2,979
Congrats Joan!
I do agree with the slightly off topic point regarding the physical ability to do the FA job. I don't care if you are 21, 51 or 71, FAs should be in good enough physical and mental health to help ensure passenger safety. And if they can't, they should be forced to retire.
And don't get me started on how women may be hindered from ensuring my safety by wearing a skirt and heels. Ugh.
I do agree with the slightly off topic point regarding the physical ability to do the FA job. I don't care if you are 21, 51 or 71, FAs should be in good enough physical and mental health to help ensure passenger safety. And if they can't, they should be forced to retire.
And don't get me started on how women may be hindered from ensuring my safety by wearing a skirt and heels. Ugh.
Aug 14, 2019, 8:53 pm
#25
formerly jackvogt
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Atlanta, GA
Programs: Delta SkyMiles,
Posts: 822
I've witnessed FAs on DL and other airlines who were very young but I wouldn't have any confidence that they would be able to move quickly or have any kind of stamina should CPR or some other emergency procedure need to be followed.
Aug 15, 2019, 10:11 am
#27
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: Delta Gold, Marriott Platinum, Former Amtrak Select, Former Hilton Gold
Posts: 422
Right, but I am questioning the poster's observation that she was unable to open the door to the jetway... the fact that a gate agent HAS to open the door, means that he likely misinterpreted... the old lady was standing by the door, and the gate agent came to open to because she had to, not because the old lady could not open it. - that's my take. Maybe the lady was so old she forgot it was locked and that is why it looked like she was too weak to open it.
Aug 15, 2019, 1:04 pm
#28
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: HSV
Programs: Delta DM / 4MM; HHonors Diamond
Posts: 126
Ah, FlyerTalk ! Only here can we take a congratulatory thread and turn it into a flame-fest.
As for me, congratulations Joan ! May the days in front of you be at least as good as those behind !
As for me, congratulations Joan ! May the days in front of you be at least as good as those behind !
Aug 15, 2019, 8:19 pm
#29
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Ormond Beach, FL
Programs: AS MVPG 75k, DL PM, Bonvoy Platinum
Posts: 51
The flight was oversold by 14 or so, and all three gate agents barely looked up when the flight crew arrived. I most certainly did watch this woman scan her badge and attempt to open the jetway door. In fact, I flew for work twice this week and observed both flight attendants and pilots open the jetway door.
Aug 15, 2019, 8:21 pm
#30
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Ormond Beach, FL
Programs: AS MVPG 75k, DL PM, Bonvoy Platinum
Posts: 51
She was Atlanta based, and again, I watched her scan her badge and punch in a 4 digit code and attempt to open the door. The gate agent noticed she was struggling and walked over to open it.