Why is it
 

that we talk about re-enforced cockpit doors and armed pilots but say nothing about a$$ kicking flight attendants?

Didn't know there were too many and I'm not sure I want any.

I know that they claim to be there primarily for my safety, but I'd just as soon look out for myself and have them deliver the drinks, food, and blankets.

------------------
"Give me Liberty or give me Death." - Patrick Henry

They want to be there for our safety, they really, really do. Problem is, they add as much "safety" to the airplane ride as TSA adds "security" to the airport experience.

Enforcing the FAA's childish rules on seatbacks, tray tables and seat belts doesn't add enough "safety" to be statistically significant.

And the wasted training on evacuations? Might as well put those weeks to work becoming better sky waiters and waitresses. And if airlines aren't going to serve me food and drink, the FAs might as well be canned and the money saved (Lord knows the airlines could use the dough right now).

How often have flight attendants really mattered in an emergency? I'm willing to take my chances. On no other mode of transportation does the federal government require that the carrier employ attendants who are to treat the pax like children.

I agree completely. Unfortunately for us, this view is SO politically incorrect!

Bruce

There was talk about having FA's trained in self-defense and such but who is going to pay for that training? If it is considered on the job training then the airlines are likely to have to foot the bill for the training as well as paying those FA's for their time. That could be costly. If the TSA decides to pick up the tab, which I think is very unlikely, the cost is likely to be even higher. Is it worth the expense? I don't think so.

------------------
"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety
deserve neither liberty nor safety." -- Ben Franklin

[This message has been edited by tazi (edited 04-03-2003).]

I'll train them. They can come over to my house and we'll kick b*tt.

http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...um/biggrin.gif

Does anybody remember the 1970's-era seat-pocket safety card that National Lampoom published? They wanted you to replace the real one with their version. Their caption about emergency oxygen was, "It's like watering a dead plant, but we've got it if you want it." In place of the diagram of the emergency exits, they showed a cartoon of an airplane broken into pieces on the ground with bodies laying all around. The caption read, "Plenty of exits now, so, everybody out!" A third picture was a diagram of an airplane with a notation of, "There are 42 fuel locations on this aircraft. Knowing every location could make the difference between a pleasant trip and an oxydized one."

It was truly a classic. If I can find it after all these years, I'll try to scan it and post it. :-)

I really was going to just ignore this because I know whatever I say will just become an invitation to more ridicule, but the part about how flight attendants have never made a difference during an emergency is so untrue that I just couldn't.
http://www.afa27.org/unsung_hero's.htm
http://www.warroom.com/nyterrorism/flightattendant.htm
http://www.planeinsanity.com/column2001_09b.html
The list goes on and on. I myself, have saved two lives using CPR and an AED on flights that had no doctors onboard. We don't all treat our passengers like babies, even when they act like babies. I treat my passengers with respect, and have the skills and experience to protect them from harm while providing warm customer service at the same time.
I am sorry that you've had the experiences that you must have had in order to feel this way, because it makes it more difficult for those of us who take pride in our careers.
NWA Purser

This is off topic a little bit,but why does everyone assume there are doctors on flights? How come no one ever thinks there may be firefighters or medics onboard,who are actually more qualified in emergency care than a doctor is,unless they are an ER doctor. If you can run an AED great,but i have also seen many "professionals" improperly attempt to use such devices and cause more harm than good.

No ridicule from me. I'm sure there are plenty of examples of FAs saving the day.

Had there been no flight attendants on board, would those pax have died? Nobody knows.

When compared to the millions of flights each year in the US, however, it is clear that at least some of your training borders on the useless.

My main point is that perhaps it is time to examine the role of flight attendants from a cost/benefit standpoint. Flight attendants cost the airlines many billions of dollars each year. Should that continue forever?

Of course, we might disagree on the answer (after all, your very career hinges on the outcome). http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif

You needn't feel sorry for me as I've had no bad experiences with FAs in over thirty years of frequent travel. http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif

Happy flying. http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif

I think that pilots who work less than 40 hour weeks but earn over 6 figures and over paid mechanics really cost the airlines billions.Did I say unions?

I have to agree with this. As planes become more and more technologically sophisticated, the pilots' job gets easier and easier. Yet their pay is really astronomical -- at least with the majors. Just for fun, compare a pilot's pay with a railroad enginerr's pay. It's not even close. (Yeah, I know that the jobs aren't comparable, either, but it's the closest I could get!)

Bruce

Compare an Apache or F16 pilots pay to this. There is alot more stress and electronic gizmo stuff to worry about than a 747.

Don't get us wrong, the majority of us appreciate you and are grateful you are on board.

However, I don't want your primary job focus to be mothering (or fathering) me with excessive "safety" or worrying about extremely improbable hijack scenarios when my glass is empty or the food is getting cold (or warm, in the case of some of the meals these days).

Your right, Spiff, it's all about feeling safe. And, I too, feel safer when my wine and water glass are full, meal service is prompt, and someone periodically is asking me if I need anything else.

I think that Flight Attendants with handguns attached to their leg by a garter belt would be cool.

Are you kidding...? On a SQ Girl, yes, but on one of the UA Prison Matrons...??? http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/eek.gif