Arrogant and humiliating FA service in domestic First.
Dec 27, 2018, 10:31 am
#152
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: LAS
Programs: AA, WN, NK
Posts: 45
Why sell F seats if you can't provide F service? FA needs another job..
I don't care what you call me unless it's "ma'am", anything but ma'am. Ma'am means I did something wrong or something bad is about to happen.. No ma'am for me.
I don't care what you call me unless it's "ma'am", anything but ma'am. Ma'am means I did something wrong or something bad is about to happen.. No ma'am for me.
Dec 27, 2018, 4:28 pm
#154
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,386
This “paid first” nonsense needs to stop. If you ever find yourself typing it, stop yourself and ask “as opposed to what?”
Then go back and review the threads about 1K members who can’t get their instrument upgrades to clear — and instruments are a form of payment — and ask yourself again, “as opposed to what?”
On many UA flights, the entire front cabin is full of “paid first.” On many others, it’s “paid first” plus instrument upgrades — still paid, in my book.
In order to get to flights where it would be meaningful to distinguish a GS/1K/“paid first” tier vs. everyone else, you’d have to find the flights where Platinums clear CPUs regularly. They happen, but they’re certainly not particularly common.
The simple fact of the matter is that first class is no longer particularly expensive, which means “paid first” is not particularly exclusive.
PS: Many GS and 1K members earn their status by.. wait for it... paying for first class.
Dec 27, 2018, 5:46 pm
#155
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 3,359
As opposed to a Gold member travelling on a k fare who got CPU'd on the EWR -> SJU and BQN -> EWR segments
Then go back and review the threads about 1K members who can’t get their instrument upgrades to clear — and instruments are a form of payment — and ask yourself again, “as opposed to what?”
On many UA flights, the entire front cabin is full of “paid first.” On many others, it’s “paid first” plus instrument upgrades — still paid, in my book.
In order to get to flights where it would be meaningful to distinguish a GS/1K/“paid first” tier vs. everyone else, you’d have to find the flights where Platinums clear CPUs regularly. They happen, but they’re certainly not particularly common.
The simple fact of the matter is that first class is no longer particularly expensive, which means “paid first” is not particularly exclusive.
PS: Many GS and 1K members earn their status by.. wait for it... paying for first class.
On many UA flights, the entire front cabin is full of “paid first.” On many others, it’s “paid first” plus instrument upgrades — still paid, in my book.
In order to get to flights where it would be meaningful to distinguish a GS/1K/“paid first” tier vs. everyone else, you’d have to find the flights where Platinums clear CPUs regularly. They happen, but they’re certainly not particularly common.
The simple fact of the matter is that first class is no longer particularly expensive, which means “paid first” is not particularly exclusive.
PS: Many GS and 1K members earn their status by.. wait for it... paying for first class.
Sure, if you are going to very esoteric routes then yes it's possible to be up front for little. But UA is no fool, the number of routes that have that property are falling and in the few cases where these routes exist, UA will likely do RM and down gauge accordingly.
Safe Travels,
James
Dec 27, 2018, 6:51 pm
#156
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: BOS
Programs: 1MM, UA 1k
Posts: 529
New England and Texas have now been passive-aggressively been put down in near-successive posts. I think this thread has gotten its point across.
Dec 27, 2018, 10:17 pm
#157
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 57,554
I've flown UA for 19 years, and have always been treated respectfully by onboard staff. Even in those rare occasions where someone is having a bad day, no one has ever referred to me as anything other than "sir" or "mr.halls120." Which is the way I would address a customer if I were in their shoes.
Dec 28, 2018, 12:05 am
#160
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,386
[left]
As opposed to a Gold member travelling on a k fare who got CPU'd on the EWR -> SJU and BQN -> EWR segments
...
Sure, if you are going to very esoteric routes then yes it's possible to be up front for little. But UA is no fool, the number of routes that have that property are falling and in the few cases where these routes exist, UA will likely do RM and down gauge accordingly.
Precisely. The “paid first” comments always seem to assume that paid first is the exception and Gold CPUs are the rule. That is definitely not my experience.
As opposed to a Gold member travelling on a k fare who got CPU'd on the EWR -> SJU and BQN -> EWR segments
...
Sure, if you are going to very esoteric routes then yes it's possible to be up front for little. But UA is no fool, the number of routes that have that property are falling and in the few cases where these routes exist, UA will likely do RM and down gauge accordingly.
Precisely. The “paid first” comments always seem to assume that paid first is the exception and Gold CPUs are the rule. That is definitely not my experience.
Dec 28, 2018, 8:37 am
#161
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: BOS
Programs: 1MM, UA 1k
Posts: 529
I disagree. There are still people defending the use of outdated or inappropriate forms of address to strangers in a business situation because, after all, they aren't offended, so why should anyone else?
I've flown UA for 19 years, and have always been treated respectfully by onboard staff. Even in those rare occasions where someone is having a bad day, no one has ever referred to me as anything other than "sir" or "mr.halls120." Which is the way I would address a customer if I were in their shoes.
I've flown UA for 19 years, and have always been treated respectfully by onboard staff. Even in those rare occasions where someone is having a bad day, no one has ever referred to me as anything other than "sir" or "mr.halls120." Which is the way I would address a customer if I were in their shoes.
Happy New year, Sir!
Dec 28, 2018, 8:40 am
#162
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: northeast coast of Florida
Programs: UA 1K - 2MM, Lifetime Hilton Diamond, Lifetime Marriott Platinum Elite, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 10,422
I didn't really put down either place, certainly made no reference to New England. I know a lot of people in Texas and met many more and I have never heard of any Texan woman who is offended by the term "Darlin". My comment was made to the person who said every woman he knows is offended which is pretty much opposite of my many years of interaction. As a matter of fact, I was married to a Texan woman for 18 years and met a lot of her family and friends. Again, nobody was offended by terms of endearment.
Dec 28, 2018, 8:57 am
#163
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: MFR
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,880
Discussion is the only way things will change. Maybe, just maybe, somebody reading this thread will think twice before they call a complete stranger Darlin Baby Sweetheart Honey. Or at least notice the pained expression on that persons face when they do.
Dec 28, 2018, 9:04 am
#164
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: AA Gold/Million Miler,DL dirt,UA1K/Million Miler;Honors Silver,Marriott Gold;Avis Preferred,Hertz Prez Circle, Nat'l Exec Elite
Posts: 1,428
I'm not sure what you expect a UA flight attendant to do about that.
You claim to have spent $25,000 on tickets on UA this year, so this seems like a single bad experience - or have you subjected yourself needlessly to multiple bad experiences and still won't switch away from UA? Do you expect UA to give everyone in your family 1K status because you spend $25K in total? A lot of 1Ks and GSs fly with their families and attain 1K or GS status based on their own spend. GS ad 1Ks get prioritized meal choice whether or not they are on a paid First or get upgraded - this issue has been discussed a nauseum - it's just the way UA has decided to reward it's most valuable individual customers. They fly much more often than you, so UA has decided to treat them a little better. UA flight attendants are put in a tough position since UA only caters (usually) the exact number of meals as there are F seats - they probably run into passenger disappointment regularly. I would certainly recommend choosing seats as far forward in the cabin as you can since that usually results in a better chance of meal choice. Sitting in the back rows diminishes chances usually.
You claim to have spent $25,000 on tickets on UA this year, so this seems like a single bad experience - or have you subjected yourself needlessly to multiple bad experiences and still won't switch away from UA? Do you expect UA to give everyone in your family 1K status because you spend $25K in total? A lot of 1Ks and GSs fly with their families and attain 1K or GS status based on their own spend. GS ad 1Ks get prioritized meal choice whether or not they are on a paid First or get upgraded - this issue has been discussed a nauseum - it's just the way UA has decided to reward it's most valuable individual customers. They fly much more often than you, so UA has decided to treat them a little better. UA flight attendants are put in a tough position since UA only caters (usually) the exact number of meals as there are F seats - they probably run into passenger disappointment regularly. I would certainly recommend choosing seats as far forward in the cabin as you can since that usually results in a better chance of meal choice. Sitting in the back rows diminishes chances usually.
Dec 28, 2018, 9:22 am
#165
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
If we go by that we may as well shut down most of the FT threads.
Discussion is the only way things will change. Maybe, just maybe, somebody reading this thread will think twice before they call a complete stranger Darlin Baby Sweetheart Honey. Or at least notice the pained expression on that persons face when they do.