rjque

"Your call is important to us."

EsquireFlyer

No. "Full" isn't necessarily an all or nothing proposition. A flight can be "half full," for example. Similarly, it can be "somewhat full," "very full," or "completely full." Actually, in the airline world, a flight can even be "more than completely full," i.e., overbooked. Although it would more likely be a GA or CSR calling a flight more than completely full, because by the time the FA making any announcements the passenger list has usually been cut down to capacity.

"Very, very full" is a bit repetitive but still makes sense as meaning "completely or almost completely full." Because fullness is not a binary, it does make sense to say "the flight is half full" or "the flight is very full." In contrast, for example, an ordinary household lighbulb is binary, so it doesn't make sense to say "the light is half on" or "the light is very on."

And if the FA adding a second "very" means that (1) I don't have to rearrange another pax's coat, sweaters, and shopping bags in overhead bin just to get my suitcase in (when meanwhile, that pax's underseat storage space is...surprise, surprise...EMPTY) and (2) I don't have to boot the middle-seat pax out of my window seat, then I'm all for the FA announcing that the flight is "very, very full." I don't think this particular announcement is a power trip at all.

harryhv

And that horrible cliche, from every single airline..

"Sit back, relax and have a pleasant...

OOPS WE DIDN'T REALLY MEAN SIT BACK - Bring your seatback upright NOW"

cblaisd

Akin to the "last and final" boarding call.

fzwinter

As are the CSR's in the Honolulu phone center. I try to call midday PST - seems I have a much better chance to reach them. Nothing beats the Hawaiian accent (and subsequent competence) when trying to do complicated things over the phone.

ChicagoUnited

Or, my favorite, "This is a VERY full flight." Huh? Very full?

fzwinter

That sounds "somewhat unique" doesn't it?

ChicagoUnited

Yes! Bravo!

DogHead

"We benchmark our international competitors to determine what our customers should expect from us for both product and service.
We recognize our customers, like our investors, have increasing choices, and we want them to choose United.
We begin with getting the basics right; comparing performance to the best airlines and looking for best practice beyond our industry."

- Glenn Tilton, The Great Leader

RichardInSF

The poster would also have the option to walk or drive or charter a rail car. Or maybe backstroke the whole way, if there was a river.

Seriously, when a poster on the United forum on FT says that they have no choice since UA is the only carrier serving their city, we all know what the context the poster is referring to. I bet it's more likely folks realize that than know what "part 135" or "part 121" was.

VibeGuy

Fractional wouldn't actually be an airline, anyway. The reality is, that within a 100 mile driving radius of my destination, I don't have a choice of airlines.

Another favorite half-truth, esp. regarding UX operations into SFO - "this flight is delayed for ATC reasons". The reality is, if they'd operated the two other sections that didn't even touch SFO on-time (usually a crew or mx delay), they wouldn't have lost their slot.

Frequently, I'll see the flight that becomes my flight "delayed for aircraft servicing" and then my flight goes ATC.

Starman

How about "the award winning Hemispheres magazine", of which you of course have your "personal" copy. Haven't you always wondered who gave the award?

Zone1

In all fairness to UA, more than half of the passengers on UA232 survived.

Here is one that I often hear when I want to re-route my itinerary when there is bad weather in ORD:
"All our flights to everywhere are full today. Sorry."

EmailKid

And still light years ahead of 75% of US FAs, particularly those from the original US

EmailKid

justforfun

You mean from the time of the original 13 colonies?