interview with an AA FA
 

I am going to be doing a 2 part interview with an AA FA.

She has 12+ years experience in domestic and international flights, along with all classes of service.

My first article is going to be a "Confessions of a Flight Attendant" style article.

The second one is a Q&A type, no-holds-barred interview.

I would be interested to know what people on this forum would ask/want to know. I will consider the more popular questions or suggestions (if any)

Expect the articles in late dec/early jan and the other one late jan/early feb

See this thread in the AA forum, or any number of similar threads in any number of other airlines' forums:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...y-reasons.html

Perhaps your FA can explain, probably in the second of your two articles, why so many of his/her colleagues play the security card for so many things that clearly have no security impact.

what's in a name
 

Your project, stupidzbu, is very interesting and will yield, I am sure, interesting results.

A suggestion that I offer to you at this early point in your project is that you create an adult handle for yourself so that readers will take your project seriously. "stupidzbu" and similar really do sound juvenile; why not try grad student or aviation man or survey guy or some such.

Another suggestion I offer is that you indicate the publication where you will publish the results. Are you writing a research paper for a college course? Are you a writer for a regional or local newspaper? Are you a freelancer with a contract from a publisher? Or are you going to pretend to interview a flight attendant who is actually your girlfriend? The readers here on this board won't instinctively know, so why not simply tell them?

In other words, the more background information you can provide your readers, the more fully they will respond.

I am sure others here will join with me in wishing you luck in your endeavor, when it gets off the ground.

John,

Here goes the info you requested..

What do you guys think about this article

Please see the above thread to understand where this interview is going to be posted. I own and operate the website, which is intended to be 50% traveler social network, 50% travel information. My project has an official launch date of Jan 15, 2010 but I am always including content on the site. I have a beta version up now that is being beta tested by various users as we work out some quircks and optimize the experience for the end-user.

The project has the following already up and running:
1) Embassy & consulate contact information categorized by country
2) Airline partner guide and country specific reservation numbers
3) Airport IATA and ICAO codes, along with visual graphics of airport location
4) "Travel News" section for occasional airline/airport information (things that come up on the news) and articles I choose to write (or opportunities that I come by)

I just recently finished a 4 part primer for the uneducated flyer with a goal of organizing a bunch of information in an easy to follow guide.

Thank you for the suggestion on the screen name, but it is what it is for various reasons. Also, thank you for requesting more information about the project, I tend to decide to give less unless requested so as to not give the impression of spamming forums.

FYI: My project will be completely user driven, i.e. all content will be maintained by the user-base along with an intricate system for providing recommendations on hotels/hostels, places to eat, things to do, etc that will be used to create country & subsequent city guides. I am working on making this a 'smart' website, where it recommends things to you based on your travel preferences and that of travelers similar to you (based on an internal algorithm)

You can read more about it at:
Crunchbase: Qtripper.com

This isn't really "the latest frequent flyer program buzz" so not sure MilesBuzz is the right home.

If the article and questions were specific to American, I'd say American Airlines would be the best forum.

If it were about FA experiences generally, perhaps TravelBuzz.

In this case it's about what to ask in preparation for writing an article, I'm going to move this to Newstand. Usually that forum contains finished articles, this is about constructing an article. My hunch is that's a reasonable home for the discussion.

Best regards,
Gary
aka gleff
MilesBuzz moderator

================
Will it bear similarities to this website ..........www.johnnyjet.com....?

Not sure. That site made my head spin with the way the info was placed. It looks like it is the travel journal of just one guy ... imagine this x however many users join my site

I have a question for the AA FA if it's a female you are interviewing. This is something I think a woman may want to know more than a man.

How do FA's keep their makeup looking so nice all the way through their flights? My skin and makeup end up looking like leather by the time my flight ends. Do they use an Evian spritz or a highly moisturized base?

Another question would be, What do FA's do to prevent swelling? I am one of those people that have very swollen feet, legs and hands when flying. Can they recommend anything to combat this for the average flyer?

These may sound like a stupid questions to ask, but I figure that if you don't ask, you don't get. So, if you think these are good enough questions, would you mind asking for me? I think a lot of women might like to know those sorts of things. I also think that a group of female FA's should get together and have a makeup developed based on how good their's always looks during and after the flight.

Best of luck to you with this new project and I look forward to logging onto your site.

Interesting. You call it playing a security card, while the airline industry instituted it after 9-11 because the terrorists quickly gained control of those flights. All gaining access to the cockpits. GRANTED, the doors are re-enforced now. But, pilots do come and go from the cockpit.

Secondly, by the way you word your accusation, you blame the flight attendants for enforcing what YOU perceive as a no security issue.

Apparently you arent aware that the TSA instructed the industry to enforce this policy: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB108552796651521354.html

The Transportation Security Administration told airlines in December to police gatherings of passengers on planes for possible security risks, especially near cockpit doors. Since then, different airlines have interpreted that recommendation differently. And frequent travelers say airline crews often unilaterally go further these days, even outright barring passengers from standing in the aisles and the galleys in the back of the plane.

(another case of we dont make the rules, but we're required to enforce them)

Please calm down and read what you're commenting on before you enter rant mode.

The discussion to which I referred was about one passenger entering a galley. Period.

Nothing was near cockpit doors. Nobody was congregating. Nobody was gathering. The FA to whom I spoke agreed that it was not a security issue. (I was there. I don't think you were.)

You hit the nail on the head when you say that airline crews "often unilaterally go further." That's part of the problem, right there. They are required to enforce the rules, but they are not required to make up their own more restrictive rules. If they decide to make up their own new ones, they are not required to call them "security."

Now can we please get back to the interview the OP expects to have, instead of going off-topic to justify something we might just feel a little bit sensitive about?

I clearly QUOTED what I commented on. Those were your remarks, which were not off-topic.

Didnt YOU ask above?: Please do not enter the galley for security reasons

Perhaps your FA can explain,

I DID.

I did not ask that. I referred to another thread, which was started by someone else, and which you apparently did not read. In that thread, I mentioned a discussion which I personally had with an FA. I doubt you were present at the time.

I will not answer any more baiting on this topic, as I do not wish to feed the trolls any more than necessary. To make sure of that, I will not open this thread again. I do, however, wish the OP the best of luck with his/her interview.

CLEARLY ANOTHER REASON why FLIGHT ATTENDANTS dont want YOU in the galley.

Efrem said:
I once tried something this with an FA whom I was fairly sure wasn't going to get me in to trouble for it, at the galley at the rear of a plane:

It's NOT playing the security card, it's following TSA regulations!!!!

You need to STOP YELLING and re-read the article you referenced. Attitudes like yours do nothing to make the flying public safer.

I'd like to know if the airlines offer guidelines or training on, for lack of a better term, mood control for FA's. Some flights we get one who can smile and be pleasant no matter what the previous pax said to her, and sometimes we get others who arrive at the airport in a foul mood and want to make sure every single pax knows about it.

I once worked for a manager who said "I don't give a d@mn about your problems; when you're at work, smile at every customer." and the staff who worked for her had a pretty high standard of customer service. (not great morale, but that's another issue)

In this day of unions, do airlines, who used to do girdle checks and weigh-ins for FA's, dare tell the staff to smile? Give guidelines/advice on ways to temper your interaction with customers when you're personally stressed? Yes, I know FA's are human and everyone is different, but are there interaction guidelines?

This isn't a security question, it's a customer service question.

Attitude? It's an ANSWER to the post. Speaking of ATTITUDE, this one is childish.

Yelling? Seriously, it's a capital letter, you'll survive.

As you're well aware, Flight Attendants are responsible for your lack of legroom, your seat assignment next to the lavatory, your bag in the back of the airplane, the weather, lack of food and not having your favorite drink, sorry, No Yoo-hoo. Yet, you'll hear a flight attendant apologize for all of these, on a daily basis.
That smile? you asked. It's out there, look for it.

Did you read the whole post before you snipped it? No, very clearly, you didn't and you seem, from your other posts in this thread in a mood to argue. I'm not taking the bait; I'm outta this thread.

YOU asked a "customer service" question. YOU got an answer. Clearly, because you didnt like the answer, it must be rude, right? Same thing happens on the plane. Because the F/A isnt smiling, she must be a ......
Seriously, smile right now. Now HOLD THAT, FOR SAY, 14 HOURS. (unrealistic, isnt it?)
Most F/A's enjoy their jobs, sure, there's that 5% that have "burn out", but doesnt every job?
YOU asked about interaction with the "customer". You got an answer. F/A's can be a verbal punching bag for management mistakes. ie. service changes, fees, Freq. flyer program reductions, etc. I hear F/A's actually apologize for safety! (Are you kidding me?) I'm sorry, but you have to turn that off now. I'm sorry, but you're bag is too big.
And, trust me, F/A's are NOT looking for sympathy. (Before a rush of replies hit this thread) Nor, do they care what you think of their occupation. Sure, they defend themselves online, but who wouldnt from the constant RIDICULE.

here is the first article
 

6 Confessions of an AA FA

Let me know what you guys think!

I am working on the other, longer interview!

I posted my comments of your article on your site.

It's great, but I don't think of these things as confessions. They seem more like FYI's. When I saw the title of "confessions", I thought she/he was going to tell us some things they had either gotten away with, juicy things they learned about passengers or internal policies that we shouldn't know about.

Since when has the call button been for emergencies? I recently had an FA tell us that if we needed him for anything to use the call button. Perhaps they should let the passengers in on that secret. These days I don't know whether to go to the galley for myself or not. The rules seem to change daily. Maybe, they tell the cattle class that it's for emergencies, so they aren't running up and down the isles to give out water.

thanks for the comments....

it is nice to see the POV of someone on the other end of the spectrum, even though no one here agrees with most of the stuff said!

I guess the main thing is that rules are always changing.. and it seems to be based on the FA and not the company!!


I started a thread in the AA forum and will continue to post there ... I am working on a full blown interview with the FA and will post the first part in the coming days!

stay tuned! some of the things i heard where shocking!

(and I tend to stay away from juicy stuff as I dont think airlines need more gossip!)

American Airlines Flight Attendant No Holds Barred
 

American Airlines Flight Attendant No Holds Barred

Some may remember the "6 Confessions" article I posted about 6 months ago. Here is the rest of the interview. I learned a lot and hopefully you guys will too!

Note: I never got a response about the FA button being for emergencies only, sorry!

I guess I just didn't get much out of that interview.

Longer servicing periods is a big concern for him/her, well...and me.

Terms like "no holds barred" and "6 Confessions" usually imply there will be some new and interesting information. I'm not sure you've delivered on either count.

What an embarassing article. This person should NOT be an FA. She sounds miserable and bitter.

But, aren't most FAs this way? There are maybe a handful of FA's I've encountered that aren't miserable and bitter...

No,they're not. People who seem to generally encounter miserable and/or bitter people are probably looking in the wrong place for the cause.

Cheers.

Agreed, nothing here we don't already know. Some of what she said was on target, like the TSA. Some of it was my job has gotten tougher, the industry has changed, etc. etc. FAs should remember that if the industry started to charge money making fares a lot of capacity would go away and crew jobs along with it.

Misery loves company.
 

If you encounter many miserable and bitter people, you are probably not so positive and happy yourself.

Let's face it, hundreds of people in a metal tube is not exactly a positive environment for the most part. The majority of people will be miserable because most don't like to not have control. If you go in with a negative attitude, that's what you'll get.

Oh, and misery is not limited to Flight Attendants. Singling them out is very common. Expectations are high for passengers for some odd reason. Odd because this is 2010. Long gone are the days of Stewardesses shaking their tails for you, and handing out cocktails while you sit there in a business suit.

People want cheap fares, but have high expectations of what they get. It's the world we live in. :(

I hardly interact with FAs and when I do, it is usually positive... but... my observations and what I hear when they talk to each other is usually a lot of negativity and bitterness :confused:

I think this FA nailed it with the recommendation to just be friendly and nice all the time...

I never knew FAs could get personally fined by the FAA.

In a prefect world.
 

Yes it would be great if every human being could be nice, and friendly all the time. However even the nicest FAs have their days. Not to mention that in the service industry, when a customer does not receive something they think they will get, the Crew member is automatically rude.

Remember that when told the word "no", people will think a FA is being rude, or lazy. Passenger wants to go into the first class cabin, then said FA says "no". Passenger automatically equates that to being rude, unfriendly, or bitter. When the fact is that the passenger has no right to be up there, and people paid good money for privacy.

I've encountered miserable and bitter people in all industries, but I'm not going to sit here and say that every person in that particular industry is miserable and bitter. I think it's unfair, and shows ignorance in the fact that the airline industry is not what it use to be.

Surveys show that when the airlines gave out complimentary amenities, passenger satisfaction was up. Take those amenities away, and all of a sudden satisfaction was down, with passenger complaints up. Who were the targets? You guessed it! You see people need to put a face to the airline, and when not given what they want, will use whatever means possible. No upgrade? You're rude! I want your name and social, so I can write a letter and receive miles that I'm entitled to!

Anyone being nice and friendly all the time is not humanly possible, especially when you encounter someone who is not happy, and is angry at the airline, and the world.

This is such a piece of junk it wouldn't have made my college paper. :td:

Apart from the fact that the headline ("no holds barred") is grossly misleading as there are no probing and provocative questions and certainly no revelations in the article, the editing is downright dreadful.

Look at the last "answer." The interviewee says:

The article continues with a story:

So why mention Christmas?

Scott McCartney has nothing to worry about.

And in FA101 they tell you that this will never be a Monday through Friday predictable 9 to 5 job. Get stuck somewhere on a mechnical cancellation when you had plans at home that night, tough. I suspect that some got into this job for the "excitement" and "freedom." But those things wear off real quick. If you are not in for the people, your in the wrong job.

My favorite section of the interview:

QT: You know, most of us can't stand the TSA. I once boarded a flight to Costa Rica on United and the crew member was shouting to the TSA official "you are nobody, you have no authority." I thought that was strange. Can you tell us; is this a common feeling amongst flight attendants about the TSA?

FA: Many flight attendants feel that the TSA is a sham the government uses to create a sense of security, trying to show that they are doing something about something, but things are unavoidable. Just look at what happened on Christmas! If it is going to happen, it is going to happen. The TSA is a pain in the butt and they are idiots, mostly uneducated, and rude. They really have no use other than to delay all of our lives.

^ Glad to see some solidarity from a FA. Hope there are many other airline employees who feel the same way.

Any American FA who genuinely feels their International Coach Service is cutting-edge is clearly not on this planet. Certainly they have never flown with an Asian, Arab or Antipodean Airline, even most of the European Airlines surpass AA on International Long Haul Services.