Two AA flights today. One was an average crew. PDBs at 130pm departure on a 757 boarding through Door 2 were OJ or Water. The lady across the aisle was turned down when asking for club soda - "once we're in the air."

Next flight there was a bit of an odd welcome announcement from the pilot. Something about "in appreciation for the service my flight attendants are going to provide you, I am telling you that I expect full compliance with their instructions." It was the normal announcement just in a stern tone with maybe a word or two changed.

The inflight service was just poor. The FA came to us "chicken or pasta." My neighbor said "I don't eat chicken, what type of pasta?" The FA said,"If you don't eat chicken it doesn't matter." I then asked her what type of pasta as I don't like cream sauce. She was visibly annoyed I repeated the question but said "Tortellini, what do you want." I asked her what type of sauce, and got a "white, what do you want." I didn't bother to ask what type of chicken.

For the two hour flight after meals were done about an hour before landing the cart blocked the galley until about 25 minutes before landing. There was one pilot just standing and chatting with a FA. The rude FA was actually in the cockpit and several call buttons just stayed unanswered.

When we landed the FA who was rude to me was in the front galley turned away from disembarking pax. I never recall seeing that. They are virtually always there saying goodbye.

Might be a candidate for the $40,000 buyout.

We'd only be so lucky. Sounds like a no voter FA.

AA really should allow the passengers to select the buyout candidates.

So far they removed 2 rows and the middle seats of those rows become work tables. Magically, the total seat number becomes 150 which should only require 3 FAs. (1 per 50 passengers)
AA's plans are not so easy because, even though the seats are replaced by work tables, the FAA minimums state seat 'structure' which leaves it at 154 seats. AA is petitioning to change or override the rule.

Interesting! ^ I was wondering how they would configure the a/c to get down to 150 seats. I thought they might have removed the window seats at each of the exit rows.

Are the seats going to be removed with a work table put in their place or is AA thinking they can just put a "table top" over and existing seat? If they're talking about some type of "table top" leaving the seat intact in a way that it could be used if another seat was broken, or as an additional jump seat for crew, etc. I would have to agree that technically the seat structure would be 154. If AA decided make a more permanent alteration to the seat as to render that seat unusable under any circumstance then I can see AA's point of view that something that doesn't meet the FAA requirements for seating shouldn't be considered part of the seating "structure".

For how many years will this contract offer last? Because one of the reasons why the pilots have rejected their proposal was due to the 8-year term of the contract.

Thanks for the share, FWAAA. This is much more encouraging news than the 1113 defeat.

It was really sad as I always say please and thank you ---to not even get an smile or acknowledgement.

More than that she spoke softly so you had to strain to hear her limited responses.

Well ... I just had a ORD-HNL RT with excellent service. Very high seniority route as I understand. Pre boarding drinks, friendly crews, out in the cabin much of the time. Hoping the contract approval will put the bad feelings toward management in the background for a while!

Duration 6 years. Early openers for next contract anytime after the completion of 4 years.

Many FA no votes were partly based on the 6 year duration.


The overwhelming reason many voted no was they thought it would send a no confidence vote to creditors and analysts with AA management.

The yes voters primarily voted yes to try to salvage what they could of their contract and hopefully make it easier for a merger which could possibly get rid of AA management.

No seat, just a table. I do not know the construction or the rules. I would imagine the row structure (metal bars) are still in place. Even of they were individual it would be a structure unless they attached the work table to the armrest like a tray table and it pulled out and went the opposite way. I think they want power ports and outlets on the table though. I'm sure they will prevail, eventually. It takes a while to clear 18 levels of management in order to get the message to the people who can make it happen.

I am genuinley shocked, I thought the Cabin Crew and their union were highly militant. It wasn't even a marginal vote either.

I read the statement from the Union and I find it inappropriate, so much bitterness and so they clearly aren't interested in the moral highground.

This puts tremendous pressure on the Pilots as the Transport Workers and now Cabin Crew have ratified an agreement whilst they have not.

Unfortunately, I suspect that the unhappiest FAs are those who feel trapped. They feel cheated because they are not getting the pay and benefits that they used to get in the glory years, but they cannot leave for another job because their current pay and benefits (even under this new contract) are still much better than they could get in any other job. I doubt that even a $40,000 buyout would be sufficient to tempt them, as the pay difference between AA and the best other job would consume $40,000 in only a few years. The ones I see taking the buyout are those considering retirement anyway, this could be enough incentive to move up retirement plans a few years. Those who plan to work for another 10 years and to make passengers as miserable as they (these FAs) are will not be tempted.

It still amazes me how the pilots and FAs hold this short-sided view that Parker and his cronies will be their savior. They need to wake up and realize that US's numbers are not anywhere near what will be reality upon merger completion. It doesn't take an accountant to figure this out...