Bye Bye Singapore Based Stews
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Port St Lucie, FL, UA1K since 1994 and 3mm, Delta 1mm
Programs: Marriott Titanium Life, Hilton Gold
Posts: 566
Bye Bye Singapore Based Stews
I have been fying UA since '85 and have been 1K since they started the program. My chief UA flights are to Asia.
As part of the givebacks -- United's Friendly Grandma club (also known as the Flight Attendants Union) received the concession that if there are any layoff's then the non-union attendants (ie. the SIN based stews) would be the first to go. This means the closing of the SIN based Flight Attendants.
Looks like another concession to rotten service. The SIN based group were the best and lowest paid of UA's flight attendants. They would always have a smile and call you by name. When was the last time a UA stew called you by name????
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Paul Mayo
United 1K/MM, Marriott Plat
Hilton Gold
As part of the givebacks -- United's Friendly Grandma club (also known as the Flight Attendants Union) received the concession that if there are any layoff's then the non-union attendants (ie. the SIN based stews) would be the first to go. This means the closing of the SIN based Flight Attendants.
Looks like another concession to rotten service. The SIN based group were the best and lowest paid of UA's flight attendants. They would always have a smile and call you by name. When was the last time a UA stew called you by name????
------------------
Paul Mayo
United 1K/MM, Marriott Plat
Hilton Gold
#2
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Exile
Posts: 15,656
This clause was actually present in the original AFA contract signed in the mid-90s. Additionally, SIN base was closed over a year ago and all FAs there were terminated.
#3
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Philippines
Programs: CebGo 5J, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum, Alaska 100K
Posts: 4,696
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by PaulMCO:
When was the last time a UA stew called you by name????
</font>
When was the last time a UA stew called you by name????
</font>
#4
Moderator: Midwest, Las Vegas & Dining Buzz
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Posts: 17,976
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by PaulMCO:
When was the last time a UA stew called you by name????
</font>
When was the last time a UA stew called you by name????
</font>
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2000
Location: TPA for now. Hopefully LIS for retirement
Posts: 13,691
B747 is correct-- both the SIN and BKK bases were closed over a year ago now. So any flights you have had to those locations for the past year have been staffed by the Friendly Grandmas already.
Maybe you haven't really noticed the difference?
Maybe you haven't really noticed the difference?
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2000
Programs: UA Million Miler (lite). NY Metro area.
Posts: 15,077
Paul,
While I was waiting to board a LAX/JFK flight during the SFH, a flight att who I flew with 6 months earlier, who was also waiting to board said, "Hi Dan Hammer."
We had a nice chat on both of those flights. Her name is Lisa. She went to Central America every year, along with other F/A, bringing donated toys / clothes etc to the poor children. United donated the freight space.
Dan
While I was waiting to board a LAX/JFK flight during the SFH, a flight att who I flew with 6 months earlier, who was also waiting to board said, "Hi Dan Hammer."
We had a nice chat on both of those flights. Her name is Lisa. She went to Central America every year, along with other F/A, bringing donated toys / clothes etc to the poor children. United donated the freight space.
Dan
#7
In memoriam
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: IAD, BOS, PVD
Programs: UA, US, AS, Marriott, Radisson, Hilton
Posts: 7,203
Actually actually, terminated is kind of a
strong word ... on our SFO-HKG-SFO last
December the upper deck staff were ex-SIN
now based in (I seem to recall) HKG, all
except for one guy who had for some arcane
reason originally worked for SQ and then
come over to UA. They were all younger
middle-aged, and they were all excellent.
strong word ... on our SFO-HKG-SFO last
December the upper deck staff were ex-SIN
now based in (I seem to recall) HKG, all
except for one guy who had for some arcane
reason originally worked for SQ and then
come over to UA. They were all younger
middle-aged, and they were all excellent.
#8
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Programs: Many
Posts: 2,496
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Bear96:
B747 is correct-- both the SIN and BKK bases were closed over a year ago now. So any flights you have had to those locations for the past year have been staffed by the Friendly Grandmas already.
Maybe you haven't really noticed the difference?</font>
B747 is correct-- both the SIN and BKK bases were closed over a year ago now. So any flights you have had to those locations for the past year have been staffed by the Friendly Grandmas already.
Maybe you haven't really noticed the difference?</font>
Things spiralled rapidly downhill on NRT-SFO on the 28th, with glowering 250lb prison matrons fully in attendance.
#9
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA - UA/1K
Posts: 459
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by PaulMCO:
When was the last time a UA stew called you by name????
</font>
When was the last time a UA stew called you by name????
</font>
On both flights I was forced to watch "Signs" (which I hated). I wish instead of assigning movies just east-to-west or west-to-east, they would also do it to-a-hub and away-from-hub (so a total of four different movie segments). That would lower the number of people who have to watch the same movie twice.
#10
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: SYD: Fly and fly... UA UGS 1K MM, SQ PPS, SPG/PC Platinum
Posts: 562
Seeing many overseas based crew, on many airlines, losing their job, often after only a very short period of service. I am wondering why would any one want to sign up with these airlines? Do these FAs look for another job on another airline? Or do they change career?
I understand the fierce competition for SQ FA positions. But I am having a hard time seeing why anyone would want to eagerly work for a foreign airline with discriminatory union rules in SIN.
I understand the fierce competition for SQ FA positions. But I am having a hard time seeing why anyone would want to eagerly work for a foreign airline with discriminatory union rules in SIN.
#11
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Not at home
Programs: MP
Posts: 2,312
FYI on the meal delivery, on the 757 it should go back to front. Mainly this is to keep the people in rows 1 and 2 from wanting their plates and/or trays picked up before we even have a chance to hit row 4. So if you want meals first, sit towards the back.
#12
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,031
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by MillionMiles:
Seeing many overseas based crew, on many airlines, losing their job, often after only a very short period of service. I am wondering why would any one want to sign up with these airlines? Do these FAs look for another job on another airline? Or do they change career?
</font>
Seeing many overseas based crew, on many airlines, losing their job, often after only a very short period of service. I am wondering why would any one want to sign up with these airlines? Do these FAs look for another job on another airline? Or do they change career?
</font>
#13
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: The Villages, FL, USA
Posts: 649
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by moondog:
...especially considering the reduced living expenses that go hand-in-hand with the job.</font>
...especially considering the reduced living expenses that go hand-in-hand with the job.</font>
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Winter Garden, FL
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I'm far from an expert on this subject, but perhaps the airline pays for food on layovers? And provides uniforms? That reduces the need -- not to zero, I realize -- to buy your own food and clothing. And you have much lower commuting costs, not having to drive to work every day. You may even be willing to live in cheaper housing than you would if you had a "normal" job, because you are away so much. You may also be more willing to share housing with roommates, another way to reduce your costs.
Other people may have better information, but these seemed pretty obvious to me.
Bruce
Other people may have better information, but these seemed pretty obvious to me.
Bruce
#15
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: BNA
Programs: HH Gold. (Former) UA PP, DL PM, PC Plat
Posts: 8,184
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by bdschobel:
I'm far from an expert on this subject, but perhaps the airline pays for food on layovers? And provides uniforms?</font>
I'm far from an expert on this subject, but perhaps the airline pays for food on layovers? And provides uniforms?</font>
Uniforms vary by airline as well. Some provide the first set of uniforms and that's it while others provide a uniform allowance for replacing items.