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Originally Posted by iahphx
(Post 20050275)
On a recent 20,000 mile journey to Asia recently on multiple airlines, I noticed something very curious about the flight attendants who work for USA airlines: they never smile. Ever. Flight attendants for Asian carriers (as well as at most other foreign airlines) are often smiling and at least pretend that they're really glad to be working your flight and serving you. USA flight attendants seem to be just punching the clock. There's almost no friendliness, despite America's well-earned reputation as a friendly people.
And, of course, unfriendly cabin staff is only a small part of what's "wrong" with flying USA airlines. The food and drink is almost always worse -- especially in coach. Like I recently flew a 4-hour redeye flight on Thai Airways in coach where I received 2 meals, numerous offers of beverages, hot towels, etc. (perhaps this was one flight where I might have wanted LESS service to get more sleep!). No $7 charge for an alcoholic drink, either. Good service on a USA-operated redeye is now unimaginable. Finally, USA airlines tend to have older -- and therefore worse -- int'l aircraft. At SFO recently, as a boarded my largely entertainment-free UA 747, I saw an entire fleet of largely entertainment-free UA 747s. No foreign carrier (except perhaps Iberia?) has so many int'l aircraft with poor entertainment systems. So does this comparatively poor in-flight service cause you to book away from USA airlines when you travel internationally? I certainly do, especially if I can earn/burn miles at the same rate within the major alliances. Also, having eaten plenty of street food in Asia... it's better than what you're getting on an Asian airline in C or Y (the only reason I don't include F is that you're not getting caviar or JWB on the street). One other factor to consider: most Asian airlines have not had 30-40 years of LCC competition. |
Originally Posted by eponymous_coward
(Post 20104337)
One other factor to consider: most Asian airlines have not had 30-40 years of LCC competition.
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If it was possible, I would avoid US airlines. I have noticed a significant difference between service in the US and service outside the US, and I have extremely limited experience. I have flown with American and United on a cross country flight several times. Mostly American. American had the worst service...and the worst plane too...but either way...their attendants have been so cold and stiff and I just bury my sorrows in my music and wait for it to be over. United was slightly better, having a bit more room in the plane (same model, a 757). But as soon as I get on my flight from LAX to Melbourne, Australia, aboard Qantas, everything changes. I'm greeted by two people at the door, both smiling and welcoming me on board and helping me find my seat. As I make my way through the plane to my seat, they are all welcoming me aboard. Throughout the long 16 hour journey, they are always positive, helpful, and even personally kind. No matter what my issue was, I was never made to feel like they were put out of their way. Some FAs even stood and had coffee with me at about 5am when everyone was sleeping and I was too sick to sleep. They talked about their personal lives back home, family and lifestyle, etc. Such a contrast. If I could avoid AA without too much of a hassle, I would, but it's too much for me to handle to do my trip any other way.
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Originally Posted by iahphx
(Post 20050275)
On a recent 20,000 mile journey to Asia recently on multiple airlines, I noticed something very curious about the flight attendants who work for USA airlines: they never smile. Ever. USA flight attendants seem to be just punching the clock. There's almost no friendliness, despite America's well-earned reputation as a friendly people.
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Originally Posted by FlyinDutchman
(Post 20105752)
While I have never been treated wrongly by the NW FAs that I used to fly with, I subsequently avoided flying DL and now that *A is my main alliance, I try and avoid UA as much as possible.
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Originally Posted by Santander
(Post 20105826)
The NW MSP FAs were the best of any US carrier imo
Used to enjoy the courteous and often funny NW FAs. DL was a deception after that... |
The US would be a great country if not for the crappy service of its air carriers.
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Originally Posted by Santander
(Post 20105826)
The NW MSP FAs were the best of any US carrier imo, followed by CO's CLE crews.
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Originally Posted by BadgerBoi
(Post 20104547)
Doubtful that is a factor at all.
Go look at what LH is doing (FR has been around longer than AK)- they're eliminating mainline and going with their own LCC on a bunch of intra-Germany/non-hub routes. Go look at what's happening on the Kangaroo route with EK against competitors (and in that case, they're losing C/F pax too to EK). SQ has an LCC subsidiary now, in no small part because of AK. I think discounting the effect LCCs have on the airline industry is a mistake. For many people, given a choice between a reheated from being blast-chilled meal that you could get frozen at the grocery store for $2-3, plus a free drink on the one hand, and $20 USD on the other, as part of a Y ticket on a 1-3 hour flight, they'll take the $20 USD. IMO, state-sponsored carriers have been using shorthaul to prop up longhaul (by making sure the feed exists into a megahub like FRA or SIN), and LCCs see an exposed spot and are naturally going for it. |
Originally Posted by moondog
(Post 20073325)
SFO lounge better than anything in China
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Originally Posted by pinniped
(Post 20074162)
A United Club isn't too different than a lot of the J lounges around the world. Some a little better, mainly because they don't serve American beer :p and have better food. Some a little worse because they're shared lounges and don't have an agent who can really solve issues related to your itinerary. I think the U.S. carriers are *close* when we're talking about J - close enough that I wouldn't significantly reroute my travels to avoid them.
United lounges are horrible when compared to: *Qantas clubs *MLLs *Air NZ lounges *LH Sen and Bus lounges etc... NO showers, No real food etc... |
As long as there is the constant demand for cheap tickets, U.S carriers will likely never improve their in flight services. Its become a sub par service industry where you get what you pay for.
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Originally Posted by kkjay77
(Post 20106197)
Better than UA's BKK and SIN crews?
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To answer the OP's OQ (question ...)
Oh YES. As we say these days, absolutely. I have known some great crews on little US regionals, and on some transcons, and some wonderful handicap-helpers, but in general, US airports and airlines are a fine reference for the old expression "Everyone has their weak points". But there they, free-traders as they are, they have no competition. Internationally, I would choose a non-USA carrier, if I had the choice. The likelihood of having poor food, poor service, and terrible C-seating, and clapped-out long-embittered staff (pulling seniority for the jaunt trips) is higher, much higher, on a US carrier. When I audit an organisation, I check out how its kitchen and staff catering is organised. When I audit a nation, I check out how its airline is run. Night night, USA. (Except, bien sur, the Netherlands, which has no internal flights -- IIRC, this resulted from a now-shrinking commitment to reduction of CO2 emissions. OT.) |
Originally Posted by eponymous_coward
(Post 20106572)
You don't think that losing critical masses of Y pax to LCC competition makes a difference to an airline's operations?
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