username

I used to fly CO regularly but have been doing UA mostly the last few years. My observation is that UA FAs are polite, friendly or indifferent.

CO FAs seem to work harder but some of them have that New York attitude - sort of rushed/short, not as friendly or polite, efficient and sometimes sarcastic with a wink.

Today, on a flight, we started boarding late (apparently some maintenance issue) and I was the first one to board (since I was in F bulkhead and wanted to get my bin space).

When I got on, the FA looked at me and said "What's the rush?". I said "Are there problems?" Then she said "We had a problem but it is fixed. Why? Are you going to fix it?"

All that without a smile. I was in shock. Then she said "I wasn't talking to you.", without a smile.

I had forgotten about the CO attitude. So I was very displeased. Then, observing her during the rest of the boarding process, it turned out that is just the way she is - she was very friendly with the passengers. She was probably just being playful with me and I remembered from my past CO experiences...

For people who are not used to this, it can certainly be perceived as bad attitude. I really hope this does not carry over.

Comments? Thoughts? Observations?

Thanks.

HeathrowGuy

CO's EWR-based crews are the best inflight staff the New United system has, hands down. On a bad day they're merely OK, on a good day they beat the Singapore Girls. Many United crews --with the exception of IAD-, HKG- and NRT-based FAs -- tend to be far more disinterested in the notion of providing good service, and even The COurageous Leader Jeff Smisek has made tongue-in-cheek comments about this.

Joshua

I'd like to put in a plug for CO's CLE-based crews. I've had great experiences in F, good service in Y, and have not run into F/As with bad or sassy attitudes. It's unfortunate that it looks like that crew base will be getting reduced.

uastarflyer

Any Asia base wins. Gimme a break, new jersey can't hang with real UA in NRT or real UA HKG in the air and especially on the ground.

The SIN girls are overrated though. I will give you that

LAX

With respect to what??

LAX

cbourl

Please!
I fly United often enough internationally and domestically to know that United has some pretty damn good FAs - in Y,in C and in F - domestic and international - they also have some very bad ones - Its like any other business - good and bad with a few rotten apples - Ive had 2 of my worst experiences in C LX A330-300 and C SQ A380 - both long haul - but I still fly the airlines becasue overall they are good
Just yesterday I did a status credit run -QF - ADL-BNE-TSV-BNE-ADL - all C - I had some great FA and a couple of crap ones -same in the lounges Everyone can have a bad day so its important to be a little forgiving IMHO


But nothing comes between me and my United!!!
Im sorry but with which other airline can you get a fantastic international network, a fantastic domestic network, cheap seats which very often can be upgraded if u look properly both long and short haul and dare I say reasonable lounges - its gotta be United!

76Patriots

That's not my experience. Today's crew do not qualify, and not even close, to UA's "best inflight staff". The single CLE experience from the past was better than anything I have gotten out or EWR. Admittedly I have a smallish experience to draw from (EWR is not a frequent stop for me). Today's 1172 to SFO (from EWR) experience was the worst so far. From the boarding process to in flight, the experience was simply not good. I wouldn't say the FAs were atrocious but not what I consider good and absolutely no where near 'best'.

UA-NYC

Um - really? I've only done 35K BIS on CO the past year and a half (my entire CO flight history), but IMO the airline is a whole lot more pleasant with the IAH crews than the EWR ones.

I'd personally nominate the JFK (and by extention, LGA) base from UA for "best in show".

halls120

On my very first CO flight last June, sitting in BF, I witnessed the same kind of unprofessional behavior I used to see on US. Because there was evidently a shortage of FA's, one was taken from our international flight. The lead FA actually went on the PA to announce that because of a FA shortage, they wouldn't be able to be as available. And he was right. While the food and beverage service was politely delivered, the FA's basically hid the remainder of the flight.

Yes, some UA FA's need to be retired, along with their bad attitude, but the majority I've encountered are pleasant and do try to provide excellent service.

DenverBrian

Whenever you answer a question in conversation with a question, you run a risk that the person you're speaking with will misinterpret your intentions. That may have happened here; it's hard to know without actually being there to also observe body language and tone of voice of the two speakers.

I think if you had answered the FA's question "What's the rush?" with "I'm in the bulkhead, gotta get my bag stowed," the entire interaction might have been much more like what you normally expect. <shrugs>

TommyC80

You've got to be kidding. I'll take the service on Singapore, Thai, Emirates and even Aegean any day over COUA service out of EWR.

On a great day they are merely OK, on a good day they're invisible and on a bad they you deplane with a few more grey hairs.

In general, service on US airlines (especially legacies) sucks in comparison to most anything you'll find overseas.

channa

The level of refinement among CO crews is noticeably lacking for someone who flies UA a lot.

While most are good, some of CO's bad apples are really bad. I would much rather have the professionalism of a UA crew addressing you by name when requesting a drink order than a CO FA pointing at me saying "Drink?"

If what you say about Mr. Smisek is true, it's disappointing that he would stereotype an entire crew base like that. It's already clear that he's not interested in what UA could offer the combined airline, as he's just interested in running things the CO way.

That said, maybe after a few more months of playing the Smisek video, he'll endear the legacy UA staff to him so much that the service will rise to his standards.

NOTXAPTAP

I fly one or the other every week, mostly domestic. Not sure I've noticed a distinction. I've had great FA's on both airlines...and some with attitudes on both airlines. My particular pet peeve is when the FA's finish their service in first and then sit down, chat, read, do cross words, etc. for the majority of the rest of the flight. This is especially bothersome (at least to me) on coast to coast flights. I've experienced this more often on CO than UA. I've also experienced FA's chatting loudly on red eye's when most passengers are trying to sleep...another pet peeve. This happened recently on a SHA-ORD flight. Very irritating. Obviously they're not doing this on purpose...they just aren't thinking.

boolean64

I think you're onto something here. the CO co-workers clearly buy that they're the finest in the business and can do no wrong. So maybe after hearing it four times a day, the UA employees will start to buy into it too and feel warm fuzzies toward smisek every time they hear him say it.

I think one of the problems is that everyone defines service differently. I have to believe that each station develops its own culture. FAs probably get interviewed locally and when they start flying, they learn the "on the job tips" from FAs from their station. So if your expectations are aligned with a certain station's way of doing things, then you'l get great service. Otherwise, not so much. JUst the way it is.

Red_Rob

I generally prefer IAH crews to EWR but then again I prefer the crowd at a typical bar in Houston to Jersey. I suspect for someone from Jersey it might be the inverse.