bryandshan

We just returned from an international flight in Business First. We had a horrible flight attendant. She scolded and yelled at us twice. The first time, we had stacked our plates on our tray and she firmly told us that we were making her job harder and to stop messing with her. Ok, just trying to help but fine.

Next, she takes our drink order then promptly forgets it. We get no drinks through our entire dinner service. 45 minutes later we ask if we could have our drinks ( we did not ring the call button just caught her eye) We waited until she was done serving ( there were 4 FA's at least in the cabin). She came back and told us to stop bothering her and that every time she comes over we ask for something and she's tired of it. She had raised her voice and the other passengers were staring at us. It was embarrassing as we had not asked for anything other than the drinks we ordered that she had forgotten. She then came back and plunked down the drinks. I later asked another FA what the mean ones name was to complain.

My question is, should I have addressed it with the Purser? We had a tight connection so I would not have had time to deal with the Purser or the FA after landing and make our connection ( thanks EWR). The woman was so strange I did not want to end up in some odd situation or confrontation while flying. We kept our mouths shut, never asked for anything else and I wrote an email to UA To which I got the general we're sorry response. I can't imagine this is the first time this woman has acted this way.

bmwe92fan

You made the right decision - if you had escalated it while onboard it could get ugly - for you! I would definitely write in to united and be short and specific - this is all too common and has to stop - and this is what happens when seniority matters more than actual performance....

milepig

I'm pretty sure I've had her as well. Write it up!!

blueman2

You did the right thing. I would never try to bring up an issue with FA service on a flight. FAs these days are on power trips and they might decide to escalate and get the plane diverted and you escorted off the plane. Not worth the risk. Best to let it go and do a short, concise write up to United when you get home.

Slurve30

No doubt! Write to CS!!!! These rogue FA's need to be fired or re-educated!

NH_Clark

If they don't start weeding out these bad apples Polaris is doomed for failure.

davie355

With hindsight, I will say you should have recorded (discreetly) every interaction after the plate-stacking.

Did any other passengers receive this level of service? Any chance you were mistaken for a nonrev?

Non-NonRev

Snail-mail a one page letter with the facts of what happened, presented in an emotion-free manner. Edit and re-edit before sending. Stress that you usually receive good service, which made this womans behavior stand out so much.

The idea is to add your information to the others who have no doubt written in about this person.

Nothing will be done with one or two complaint; several complaints in a similar vein have a better chance of genetating some action.

sinoflyer

I stack my plates all the time. Sorry OP to hear about this kind of "service." IMO you handled the situation well and with admirable composure. I would have said things right there that I know I will regret now. As far as the FA is concerned, I wasn't there so I don't know exactly what's wrong with her, but it does seem like she has deeper issues than dealing with some pax nagging about drinks and stacking their plates without her approval.

AndyInSaigon

We rarely know what disaster is taking place in another person's life. Her world may have caved in that day & you were the unfortunate victim. She may be experiencing extreme regret for her behavior.

Still, she's in a service business and it must be reported.

I agree with all the others: you did the right thing. And confronting a FA on the plane never solves a problem (though I did it on ANA last year).

Wooglin

Would the FA have known? Is that shown on the manifest?

And either way- Why should this be a determinant factor in the service one receives while onboard?

If I bought the ticket, or was on an award ticket using miles I've earned by buying previous tickets, or used RPU/GPU, etc... I should receive the same level of service in each case, and it should be the same service as the other pax in the cabin (regardless of how they got their tickets for that particular flight).

JVPhoto

A non-rev is an employee flying...doesn't refer to using miles/award flights.

porciuscato

IME, actual non-revs (i.e. employees and buddies) get roughly the same treatment as other passengers. Though some here claim they get treated better. For FA, being rude to a fellow FA or a pilot's family is much riskier than being rude to a passenger.

Please do write. As wise posters above have advised, keep it brief and factual.

narvik

I think WE ALL did!


In my opinion, the words "extreme regret" used in connection with UA/CO flight attendants is the textbook definition of an oxymoron.

edcho

I think it's more of the extremes with mostly positive experiences. Of course if you are marked as a non rev seat relating to a person that the FA hates or people like SMI/J, I wouldn't be surprised.

Regardless, it's unacceptable and unprofessional.