Arrogant and humiliating FA service in domestic First.
Dec 20, 2018, 3:37 pm
#46
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: ORD
Programs: AA EXP 2.6 MM
Posts: 90
I have noticed the same thing on United. I was on a paid ticket and I watched them clear over half of the cabin at the gate. Unfortunately, as someone with no United status, I received last choice of meal. I also found the same attitude - you don't have status - oh well. Rather than complain, I just shifted all of my non-AA flying to Delta.
Dec 20, 2018, 3:57 pm
#47
Join Date: Jul 2013
Programs: DYKWIA, But I'm a "Diamond Guest" UA 1K/2MM
Posts: 2,257
Being called "Papa" for no apparent reason could certainly be considered humiliating.
Dec 20, 2018, 4:15 pm
#48
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 3,359
Gotta disagree with her. Anyone who is Gold is elite in my book: spending $1000 on UA k fares to grab the 50,000 PQM to hit Gold is quite the achievement.
In all seriousness, that's pretty bad service and in my limited amount of travelling I haven't seen anything like that. Do you know if this was mainline or regional? My understanding of UA is mainline service is better than UX!
-James
In all seriousness, that's pretty bad service and in my limited amount of travelling I haven't seen anything like that. Do you know if this was mainline or regional? My understanding of UA is mainline service is better than UX!
-James
Dec 20, 2018, 4:50 pm
#49
Join Date: Mar 2012
Programs: Mileage Plus 1K; Marriott Platinum; Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,355
Gotta disagree with her. Anyone who is Gold is elite in my book: spending $1000 on UA k fares to grab the 50,000 PQM to hit Gold is quite the achievement.
In all seriousness, that's pretty bad service and in my limited amount of travelling I haven't seen anything like that. Do you know if this was mainline or regional? My understanding of UA is mainline service is better than UX!
-James
In all seriousness, that's pretty bad service and in my limited amount of travelling I haven't seen anything like that. Do you know if this was mainline or regional? My understanding of UA is mainline service is better than UX!
-James
Dec 20, 2018, 6:24 pm
#50
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: SFO
Programs: United 1MM GS, Marriott Platinum Elite, Hilton Diamond, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 283
what do you expect? when the junior sCO FA were holding international lines, i'm pretty sure a bunch of sUA FAs were complaining about it somewhere else. When the lines are combined, someone is going to work international, and someone is going to work domestic? you can provide a better solution?
why don't UA FAs compare themselves to DL level of service? if they get paid the same as DL FAs, have the same staffing level as DL, and they even get to travel to fancier places than DL FAs, why can't they provide DL level of service? it is all a bunch of ........!
why don't UA FAs compare themselves to DL level of service? if they get paid the same as DL FAs, have the same staffing level as DL, and they even get to travel to fancier places than DL FAs, why can't they provide DL level of service? it is all a bunch of ........!
Dec 20, 2018, 9:39 pm
#54
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Chicago
Programs: UA-1K-MM AA-EXP-MM
Posts: 726
Not every carrier - maybe every US carrier
I have to disagree with that statement, I might agree on every US carrier, but in my fairly extensive travels on SQ and ANA, I have never encountered a rude FA, certainly some that weren't the best at their job but none that are down right rude to a first class passenger.
In 40 years of air travel, I have had a handful of times when a FA addressed me in some manner, I thought was inappropriate and unacceptable, I have been called, "dude" and "big boy". On those occasions I have politely suggested to the FA, that I didn't find that to be an acceptable way to address me and they did apologize and stopped addressing me in that manner, although in at least one case, the FA was clearly insincere and I could hear her complaining about me to the other FA.
I think it is important to make it clear to someone when they are offending you, as they may be just be unaware of the image they are projecting or they may be a jerk but either way communicating your dissatisfaction with their action is the right thing to do in my opinion, despite the fact that it may make things a little uncomfortable.
In 40 years of air travel, I have had a handful of times when a FA addressed me in some manner, I thought was inappropriate and unacceptable, I have been called, "dude" and "big boy". On those occasions I have politely suggested to the FA, that I didn't find that to be an acceptable way to address me and they did apologize and stopped addressing me in that manner, although in at least one case, the FA was clearly insincere and I could hear her complaining about me to the other FA.
I think it is important to make it clear to someone when they are offending you, as they may be just be unaware of the image they are projecting or they may be a jerk but either way communicating your dissatisfaction with their action is the right thing to do in my opinion, despite the fact that it may make things a little uncomfortable.
Dec 20, 2018, 10:42 pm
#55
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: jfk area
Programs: AA platinum; 2MM AA, Delta Diamond, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,291
I normally fly AA. I get emails on occasion from AA to answer a "survey" after I've completed a flt. Flying in BC from JFK to LHR a recent survey asked: "were you addressed by your name?"--I don't think "PAPA" would count.
Dec 20, 2018, 11:04 pm
#56
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: UA
Posts: 444
I have noticed the same thing on United. I was on a paid ticket and I watched them clear over half of the cabin at the gate. Unfortunately, as someone with no United status, I received last choice of meal. I also found the same attitude - you don't have status - oh well. Rather than complain, I just shifted all of my non-AA flying to Delta.
Last year I was on Delta first class JFK to SEA— but not Delta One, bought 2 days before departure and had no status on Delta. Did not get a meal choice and what was left was something I do not eat. I know one person that was status upgrade that was for meal choice before me as I stood next to the person in security line and heard the complaints of not yet clearing the upgrade list. I declined the meal and asked for a snack box from Economy and was told by the head flight attendant that I would have to pay for it.
I wish there was advance meal selection on all first class flights.
No excuse for what the OP went through but it is not just UA, although I was not addressed in such an unprofessional manner.
Dec 21, 2018, 3:28 am
#60
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 57,589