So on a recent trip from ORD-LHR I got an upgrade to biz class but it went downhill fairly quickly... my FA IMO was quite rude - telling people to "get up and close your overhead bins because I can't do it for everyone", "would you like breakfast? yes ok well you're going to have to getup and pull your tray out fatty"... I know that most southern states use dear as a term of endearment - wonder which states use fatty?

in general her tone and body language just gave the impression that she didn't want to be there... and it's left a poor impression on AA customer service as well!

Her name didn't happen to be Helen, was it? 'hope you didn't ask for OJ.

Are you sure you didn't mishear? I mean, maybe she didn't call you "fatty" -- maybe she called you "farty". Just kidding, but I'm sure that some FT'er will question whether you heard correctly.

Wow if that were said to someone i was travelling with, if they happened to be 'larger' i'd be upset at the least and probably lodge a complaint.

What may be a term of endearment to some can be hugely (pardon the pun) offensive to others.

If someone called me "fatty", I'd have to get medieval on their buttocks!

I can't think of any English speaking country where fatty is is used as a term of endearment, and most definitely not to customers in a business situation.

If it was addressed to a person I was travelling with, I would lodge a complaint.

Forgetting the fatty comment, an attitude like that has no place in a business cabin. I probably wouldn't think twice if i heard "get up and close your overhead bins because I can't do it for everyone" in Y. But in business....

My response, said with a wide smile and a wink of the eye, would be along the lines of "Yes, I'll have breakfast, and I can pull out my own tray, biotch."

If true, completely unacceptable. A letter should be sent to AA.

Sounds inappropriate...but do you mind if I ask, are you skinny? If so it was probably just a joke, like calling a tall person tiny or something. If you are larger then its definitely out of line. It does sound to me like someone with a bad sense of humor but I wasn't there.

Sean

TRUE STORY: Last year (or late 2008) on a flight from MIA on a A300 in Business Class, I had an older gentleman in his 60s as the front cabin purser. The flight was a late evening flight and I was with my business colleague. I am 5'10 and about 190 lbs, so not skinny but not fat.

This purser was obviously drunk or high. That much was clear. He would repeat everything in a sing song fashion. "Put the laptops up, put the laptops up. Shut down phones, shut down phones"

Anyways, as we are sitting down in the middle two seats he looks at both of us (as my colleague is slimmer than me) and says to me, "you are too fat, you need two seats, need to fly United, two seats, two seats"

Keep in mind that these are front cabin seats on the A300 and I could have accomodated another skinny supermodel in my seat

We burst out laughing and sat down. Needless to say, he remained drunk the whole flight and plied us with a lot of alcohol, even when not asked (like refills on screwdrivers and bloody mary's)

It is if you are talking to a hamburger!

Being from a southern state, I can assure you that fatty is indeed _not_ a term of endearment. It means the same thing here that it probably means in your home state.

Maybe she said '.... and put out that fatty '

".........you're the one for me fatty, you're the one I really, really love...."

"...fat-bottomed girls you make the rockin' world go 'round...."