Horrific United Flight Attendant - what to do
Jun 23, 2016, 9:32 am
#136
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Central Texas
Programs: Many, slipping beneath the horizon
Posts: 9,859
While UA may be an easy and justifiable target, I recall a return from Europe (MAD/DFW, Award tickets, my wife in 1st, I in Business), in which an AA FA (Middle age encroaching at what seemed to her an unacceptable rate) whose attitude and conduct transcended the acceptable and closely approached the boorish and offensive.
Jun 23, 2016, 10:37 am
#137
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: UA 1K 1.45MM, Marriott+SPG Plat, Clear, Nexus, Global Entry and MEX Viajero Confiable
Posts: 1,777
Back in topic.. I was in GF IAD-ZRH had the most wonderful f/a in GF. Attentive and genuine in her desire to help. The good news is there is a few of them out there. Too bad the large number of bad ones overshadows the good.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jun 23, 2016 at 3:49 pm Reason: OT material deleted;discuss the issue, not the posters
Jun 23, 2016, 12:44 pm
#138
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: anywhere and everywhere
Programs: UA GS, AS MVP 100K, DL Diamond, Marriot Lifetime Titanium, AmEx Centurion
Posts: 5,528
Jun 23, 2016, 2:57 pm
#139
Join Date: Feb 2015
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 957
I've often had FA begin our interactions with a bit of snarl, indifference, or other downright rude behavior. 90% of the time that is correctable with smiles, compliments, and the ability to engage them in conversation that does not relate directly to them servicing me.
Most people are not mean or rude. But sometimes your job sucks, and a FA is in the service business where they have to provide service to the same group of people in a cramped space for hours at a time. The problem is not the UA hires the wrong people and the EU and Asian based airlines hire the right ones. It's that the work environment, primarily based on the union, ruins incentive and eliminates consequences. If we treat those affected with dignity, often they recognize this and appreciate it.
Most people are not mean or rude. But sometimes your job sucks, and a FA is in the service business where they have to provide service to the same group of people in a cramped space for hours at a time. The problem is not the UA hires the wrong people and the EU and Asian based airlines hire the right ones. It's that the work environment, primarily based on the union, ruins incentive and eliminates consequences. If we treat those affected with dignity, often they recognize this and appreciate it.
Jun 23, 2016, 3:52 pm
#140
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 948
I've often had FA begin our interactions with a bit of snarl, indifference, or other downright rude behavior. 90% of the time that is correctable with smiles, compliments, and the ability to engage them in conversation that does not relate directly to them servicing me.
Most people are not mean or rude. But sometimes your job sucks, and a FA is in the service business where they have to provide service to the same group of people in a cramped space for hours at a time. The problem is not the UA hires the wrong people and the EU and Asian based airlines hire the right ones. It's that the work environment, primarily based on the union, ruins incentive and eliminates consequences. If we treat those affected with dignity, often they recognize this and appreciate it.
Most people are not mean or rude. But sometimes your job sucks, and a FA is in the service business where they have to provide service to the same group of people in a cramped space for hours at a time. The problem is not the UA hires the wrong people and the EU and Asian based airlines hire the right ones. It's that the work environment, primarily based on the union, ruins incentive and eliminates consequences. If we treat those affected with dignity, often they recognize this and appreciate it.
If that's how they act they should be fired, there's nothing more to it.
Jun 23, 2016, 6:49 pm
#141
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 4,374
Similar FlyerTalk thread on AA
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...d-blanket.html
Just to show the grass is not greener.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...d-blanket.html
Just to show the grass is not greener.
Jun 23, 2016, 9:49 pm
#142
Join Date: Jul 2007
Programs: UA Silver
Posts: 794
These stories just make me so sad for everyone involved. Getting to fly up front is such a treat for me that if I got a mean FA it would be so disappointing. Earlier this year when I got moved to GF when I was downgraded from J on another flight, I was having a horrible day (had phone stolen in Paris the night before and got about 2 hours of sleep as a result, plus some other stuff). I will never forget how nice that FA was to me, she reminded me of my mom taking care of me when I'm sick. Really just did everything to make that day better for me. I'm sure I would've been a wreck had I gotten someone like some of you describe that day.
Jun 24, 2016, 6:12 am
#143
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 57,616
While UA may be an easy and justifiable target, I recall a return from Europe (MAD/DFW, Award tickets, my wife in 1st, I in Business), in which an AA FA (Middle age encroaching at what seemed to her an unacceptable rate) whose attitude and conduct transcended the acceptable and closely approached the boorish and offensive.
Every bad experience I've had - not all that many - was with a FA who clearly didn't want to be doing the job he/she was paid to do. Thanks to certain rules, none of the legacy US carriers can do anything about this kind of employee.
Jun 24, 2016, 6:39 am
#144
Join Date: Feb 2015
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 957
I completely agree. The problem is that in most instances they can't be fired (or at least the process is quite difficult). They have little incentive to provide stellar service. The culture and the process is broken. As such, I approach each flight with low expectations. It stinks, and I often choose to fly international carriers when riding up front because of this, but it is what it is.
Jun 24, 2016, 8:26 am
#145
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Colorado
Programs: UA Gold (.85 MM), HH Diamond, SPG Platinum (LT Gold), Hertz PC, National EE
Posts: 5,663
Last week, sitting at the hotel bar enjoying a beer with a colleague when a lady sits down next to us. Turns out she is a new hire for Envoy Air (1 year in), so we strike up a conversation about her work.
She mentions how she hates serving passengers and always hopes there is enough turbulence to require the FA's to stay seated during the flight. She described all passengers as "retards" and her only interest was meeting a pilot that she could marry, hopefully soon. I cannot believe a company hired her with such a attitude toward customers, and I can only imagine her attitude will get worse over time...
She mentions how she hates serving passengers and always hopes there is enough turbulence to require the FA's to stay seated during the flight. She described all passengers as "retards" and her only interest was meeting a pilot that she could marry, hopefully soon. I cannot believe a company hired her with such a attitude toward customers, and I can only imagine her attitude will get worse over time...
Jun 24, 2016, 9:41 am
#146
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,324
Flew most of 2014 and FH2015 on those glorious 67I 3-class IAD-ZRH-IAD. Always had a lovely experience in F & C. Due to last Summer's Ops meltdown, we switched to LX. It did NOT feel like home to me, in service or the lie flat. Still miss those days!
Jun 24, 2016, 9:53 am
#147
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: ______
Posts: 32
Hah reminds me of the time I flew BA in J and this older male FA was rude to me the whole time, forgot/ignored my drinks, gave up my meal choice ( I was in the seated at the front I asked for the beef he proceeded down the row then minutes later said theyre out of beef I noticed the passengers behind me getting beef later on) and kept referring to my girlfriend as my "friend" (we're interracial)
Jun 25, 2016, 3:18 am
#148
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 948
I completely agree. The problem is that in most instances they can't be fired (or at least the process is quite difficult). They have little incentive to provide stellar service. The culture and the process is broken. As such, I approach each flight with low expectations. It stinks, and I often choose to fly international carriers when riding up front because of this, but it is what it is.
Last edited by goalie; Jun 25, 2016 at 2:31 pm Reason: per earlier mod topic check reminder
Jun 25, 2016, 4:42 am
#149
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: san antonio, texas
Programs: 3.2MM AA, 1.4MM UA,StwdLftPlt
Posts: 1,586
Last week, sitting at the hotel bar enjoying a beer with a colleague when a lady sits down next to us. Turns out she is a new hire for Envoy Air (1 year in), so we strike up a conversation about her work.
She mentions how she hates serving passengers and always hopes there is enough turbulence to require the FA's to stay seated during the flight. She described all passengers as "retards" and her only interest was meeting a pilot that she could marry, hopefully soon. I cannot believe a company hired her with such a attitude toward customers, and I can only imagine her attitude will get worse over time...
She mentions how she hates serving passengers and always hopes there is enough turbulence to require the FA's to stay seated during the flight. She described all passengers as "retards" and her only interest was meeting a pilot that she could marry, hopefully soon. I cannot believe a company hired her with such a attitude toward customers, and I can only imagine her attitude will get worse over time...
Jun 25, 2016, 5:30 am
#150
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Morris County, NJ
Programs: UA 1K/*G, Avis Pres, Marriott Plat
Posts: 2,305
I often wonder why I don't seem to encounter these horrific FAs. I may now know why.