A viral resignation letter from a (soon-to-be former) American Airlines flight attendant helps us to understand that being a flight attendant is not all glitz and glamour.
American Airlines Flight Attendant Resignation Letter: Poignant Reading
Let’s first take a look at the lengthy letter, which has been widely shared on Facebook by the author and her friends:
I always thought I would be a flight attendant until I retired from the work force, but here I am writing my letter of resignation 9 years later. As of March 1st, I am terminating my employment with American Airlines.
I feel that this will fall on deaf ears, but on the small chance that my voice will be heard, I would like to explain how this happened, because things need to change and you need to do better. Right now, this company still has a lot of senior flight attendants who will stay until the bitter end. My generation will not, and we are seeing that already.
This job appeals to a really idealistic group of people who want to travel and think this job is a great way to be able to do that. I was a 24 year old bartender with a sense of adventure and a half an English Literature degree when I applied to American Airlines.
7 1/2 weeks of unpaid training should have been my first red flag. We all went to the “charm farm” after leaving our jobs, apartments and lives with no guarantee we would even make it to graduation. In training, we were told to be palm trees over and over again, to be flexible and bend with the wind. What that would really come to mean later in my career was “accept unacceptable things and just deal with it.”
After almost 2 months of unpaid training we were thrown right on reserve after being assigned one of the most expensive cities in the US as a base. My first few paychecks were $500. Despite the salary, I used my benefits and enjoyed my first few years. I stayed in hostels on vacations in Europe and I enjoyed my layovers.
It took me about 5 years to be financially stable. Soon after that, Covid happened. It hit right after I had just had a woman go into cardiac arrest on the tarmac on my flight from CLT-JFK. I did compressions on her for 10 minutes by myself. I was exhausted and she died. Going though that was only the beginning of what I would deal with over the next few years.
A few weeks later, Covid hit us full force and we went though that collective trauma. The personal details are irrelevant, because it was personal to all of us. We lost people we loved, we were afraid, and all of a sudden our livelihoods were at stake.
We got stranded all over the country with no food options, both at the airport and on layovers. We hoped we wouldn’t get sick while we continued to work flights. We were asked to be the mask police and and tried to calm everyone else’s fears.
Passengers lost their minds. While we were afraid of losing our jobs, we were being verbally and physically assaulted every day.
We were asked to take voluntary leaves of absence if we were able to, so we could save a few people from furlough. A lot of people decided to take long leaves and make other commitments, and a lot of us got furloughed anyways. Essentially, it was all so short lived that furloughs were basically paid time off, and the people who unselfishly took long leaves and made plans with that time were forced to come back immediately or lose their jobs.
Many flight attendants coming back were displaced from their bases and forced to commute. As if all of this wasn’t horrible enough, one of the most money hungry companies in the world decided to stop charging passengers to revenue standby on flights, making our flight benefits practically useless besides the limited jumpseats available. The lack of support was so blatant, it was hard to even try to dismiss.
It has been downhill since then. Passengers got angry and more violent. “The friendly skies” have been anything but. We do not feel supported by management.
Delays, sit time, irregular operations, and time generally spent at work while being unpaid has increased exponentially. I have spent 5 hours (more than once) on a plane not being paid. I have to constantly scrutinize my schedule to make sure I’m being pay protected and paid correctly.
I can’t even recount all the times I have been stuck in blizzards and hurricanes on hold for hours with tracking and hotel limo waiting for hotels or transportation. I’m tired of doing other people’s jobs especially when I don’t get paid for half of mine.
I spent 9 years here with a spotless record. I have tried to be the best flight attendant I could be. I held babies for moms who were traveling alone, I comforted nervous fliers and people who had lost loved ones and were heading to funerals. I tried to be as loving and caring as I could, despite the mounting pressure and stress that’s been created in this job over the last few years. The good thing about being “just a number” is that you can fly under the radar here and not have to deal with overhead very often. The bad thing about being “just a number” is that no one really cares about you, you’re just a cog in the machine.
I found myself needing some time off recently. My 97 year old grandfather moved across the country to spend his last years with my parents. He needs hospice care that the VA is dragging their feet to provide him. Between working my schedule and trying to have a life, I’m also driving back and forth to Virginia a lot to help with his around the clock care. The pressure was mounting up and I did something I hardly ever do: I asked for help. After getting stuck and delayed almost every trip, I was at my breaking point and I knew I needed some time for my own sanity. I am a human being, after all. I asked for a POLA (my first one ever) and was promptly denied via email the next day. I didn’t get so much as a phone call asking if I was ok. If I had a drug or alcohol problem, I would be granted time off to go to rehab. I know of a flight attendant who was recently granted time off to be on a TV show, but as a healthy person who is dealing with some heavy life stuff I was told no. Something needs to change there.
Last winter, one of our own, who had just had a baby 3 weeks prior, drove to the PHL airport and threw herself off of the top of the parking garage to her death. If that doesn’t wake you up and force you to take the mental health of your employees seriously, I don’t know what will. I think it’s very interesting that she came to the airport to end her life. Please wake up.
I will end this with a final thought: Good luck finding people who will work for scraps and care for such a large number of unhappy customers every day. You treat them just as badly as you treat your overworked and underpaid employees, and then leave us all to clean up the mess you don’t give us the resources to fix. I am one of the many who are done being part of the machine. I know that no one will care, but you are losing a really good employee, and I know of many more who will be following me. I deserve better. We deserve better.
– Angela Andrechyn 687248
First, let’s all agree this is a sad letter.
Second, I share in her frustration that American workers are often asked to make unreasonable choices when it comes to care for loved ones. My wife, for example, was told to come to work when everyone was sick at home with COVID-19, or else forfeit her vacation. She too has a union that supposedly guards her and we live in California, but it did not matter. Being denied lead to care for your grandfather really demonstrates the disgusting balance between work and life endemic in the United States.
Third, suicide is absolutely horrible. What a devastating occurrence.
But there are parts of the letter that make me roll my eyes too.
View From The Wing brought my attention to this matter and rightly argued that her quibble over free standby (“one of the most money-hungry companies in the world decided to stop charging passengers to revenue standby on flights, making our flight benefits practically useless “) is misplaced. While that may lead to flight attendants having to catch early morning or late night standby flights (since revenue passengers will standby for preferred times), there is no reasonable expectation of empty seats on flights. Period.
Second, the issue of being paid during boarding or flight delays is reasonable, but we must not forget that it was unions who negotiated that tradeoff so that senior flight attendants could be paid more during actual flight time. Rightfully or not, the union system penalizes junior flight attendants.
Andrechyn says, “Right now, this company still has a lot of senior flight attendants who will stay until the bitter end,” and she is right, though the keyword is bitter. Starting pay is modest, but flight attendants who stick it out can earn a very handsome living under work conditions that are taxing, but arguably no more stressful than many lines of customer-facing work.
What I like about her letter is that I think it presents an accurate picture of the way many junior (and of course, at nine years on the job you are still very junior) flight attendants feel. Being a flight attendant is not for everyone and early on, being on reserve and not even knowing when you are going to work can be even more taxing.
CONCLUSION
Andrechyn’s letter is sobering and sad. At the same time, the idea that being a flight attendant is not as glamorous as it seems is not a surprise. I commend Andrechyn for having the courage to move on and wish her soft landings and a great new career wherever she ends up. I wish more flight attendants would take her approach.
image: American Airlines
This is between her and her employer. No need to publish for all to sympathize.
When I resigned from the company I worked for I kept it private. We all have our grievances.
Hi Fathiss, Did your employer expect you to sit around for 5-8 hours and not get paid? Are you sleep deprived? Are you being threatened at your job? And by the way, you can’t say a word because your manager will write you up?I feel what Angela did was great and I hope others do follow. Shame on AA for doing what they are doing. AA should be looking how they can boost the morale of the employees. I date an FA, she’s been with the company for 36 years. It’s very disappointing how the company and lack of union treat the workers. Where in America do you work for 14 hours and only get paid for 4? So before you share your thoughts live in their shoes!!
Bf-we do get paid for being on duty, btw. Not flight pay but duty pay, for hours away and one hour (domestic) prior to flt departure, known as check-in. Its contractual that can but barely does increase. Then we get expense pay(again not much) that aligns with how long the trip sequence is. Then, we get position pay depending on aircraft. #1 F/A (first class), rear galley position, then International pay…
Ok still not million dollars. A junior person often can’t control these options on position, trips, equipment type etc.
I was paid expense money while in training. Most meals were provided. My initial uniform was payroll deducted then allowances provided for replacement and new orders. I am only noting my experience with my airline (s). 1979-11/22.
Did you really just say we do get paid for sitting around? Oh, not actual flight pay, but 2.50 cents per hour. You sound like a bitter child. You know that what she said was true, but you want to play tit for tat. I’ve been doing this 24 years. Every single thing the author wrote was accurate. Stop being ridiculous
All jobs are compensated by supply and demand. If anyone is unhappy with their pay and working conditions then resign. Someone else will fill the void.
They filled my engineering job quickly after I resigned. I resigned because I was unhappy with my employer. But I would never be so petty as to air my grievances with the company publicly. They never did with me. Each time I got paid I was even with the company.
If the FAs think they have it so badly, look around the world they fly within. Look at their working conditions and pay. Then come back and gripe some more. Jeesh, everyone is entitled!
Jobs are payed differently in every industry and in every country. The part that claims that Flight Attendants don’t get payed until the plane takes off and until it lands, began with rules for trains. Current Flight Attendants pay rules come from Al old Railway Act. Clearly, so old, it should no longer be applied. No one should have to work for free.
I agree that no one should work for free. Then don’t! No problem with anyone quitting when the job doesn’t work out. I did the same. But being so petty to air grievances publicly against the employer who paid you for years under the terms you agreed is just wrong.
By the way… it was aired publicly. It was actually leaked from a private flight attendant group. Don’t be so quick to judge. The author has only now, completely owned it
There are valid concerns from FA workgroups that have not been addressed fully by contract negotiations, like minimum rest. MR is still not enough for many of the pairings and duty days that are scheduled.
Everyone is different so not allowing someone else to speak their mind while being respectful is selfish.
See my comment above. After looking around the world at most people’s working conditions and pay, then griping about your privileged position, tell me again who’s being selfish.
Keep your privileged gripes private.
That is the same as telling you to keep your comments private silly! Hypocrisy is so unbecoming of a person.
How very manly of you.
Please note that someone else published this, NOT the writer .
I consider this letter worth knowing. Your leave it to beaver attitude is not.
The author and friends went public with it. They got their wishes for a viral moment. The FA put the half lit degree to work and wrote something as worthy.
The entire reason this went viral was to get the company to see how low morale has become within its work group. To hope it would acknowledge and do better. She was in no way thinking 1)it would go viral like it did and 2) I’m sure she was in no way thinking outsiders would even begin to understand or empathize.
It’s very easy to say “hey if you don’t like it, resign. Find another job” however. A lot of flight attendants love the job. It’s the greed of the company and the audacity of passengers that are making a lot and by a lot, I mean hundreds of new hires who are barely graduated, quit. AA is experiencing a higher than normal attrition because of the way they are treating their employees. These flight attendants Graduate, then get on the line and realize the hours and pay don’t add up. Add the treatment of the company, the sometimes unmanageable hours your body has to endure, and the 16 hour days where you literally get paid for 8 and these new hires are saying no thank you. And rightly so. They can go get a 9-5 and be home with their families. Senior flight attendants are wearing the golden handcuffs. They make a very handsome wage, and most are at an age where starting over isn’t an option. So they stay. Nobody these days becomes a flight attendant because it’s glamorous. Those days are far from over. However flight attendants do deserve to be treated like human beings and should be praised by their companies for the work and effort they give daily. They are the front line. The face of the company. And I do believe THAT is what this young lady was trying to convey to American Airlines. Shame on them for bringing an employe of 9 years seniority. Which let’s face it, is an accomplishment these days, to her knees. They lost in this case, and unfortunately, their too busy filling their shareholders pockets to even see that.
Wow! If we all had the attitude we work to be “praised by their companies for the work….” then we all would be of similar low morale. I understand workplace discontentment. I understand quitting. I can’t understand publicly blasting the company who employed you for years in a job you and your employer mutually agreed to during employment. It is so petty.
How would the FA like it if called out publicly by the employer for every grievance they had? I can tell you I’ve experienced many FAs that should be called out.
You keep saying you understand but from all of your responses I can tell you, or your parents, did not originally come from America or American culture. You come from a culture where you just do and move on if you don’t like it. Thankfully that’s not ours. Thankfully people like her in the droves of others who leave these companies will at some point create change or those companies will not be able to have employees to get to their profit. It’s as simple as that. To sit there and be accepting of unacceptable treatment is idiocy. It is also the reason sweatshops still exist in very specific countries and cultures. People are unable to or are bread to think that is all they deserve as long as they have a job. If it is entitled to demand decent pay and decent work environments, then yes we under 45 Americans are entitled. And if you don’t like it you can leave.
You obviously have a reading comprehension problem. Are you a half Lit major too? I said I understand discontented with your employer. I understand quitting when you’re not happy. I don’t understand being so petty about your grievances to make them public. Direct towards your employer or union.
This is a one sided argument on her part. The employer is not going to bash the FA publicly for misconducts. It’s done privately.
Please get someone else to try explain this to you.
Btw, I’m pure American. I just have a broader perspective from extensive travel and immersing myself into different cultures. I know how spoiled we all have been in our privileged positions. Instead of being thankful for our positions, dime wouldrather ignore how good we have it and whine when things don’t go our way.
I keep hearing about walking in their shoes. Well all the complainers here should walk in the shoes of the women in most the countries of the world. If you did you might stop whining, but probably not.
Are you an AA executive or own part of the company? You sure sound like one of those guys, greedy guys. If you’re not saying anything nice, just keep your mind to yourself. Who are you anyway, to dictate if Angela is wrong about her thoughts towards AA?
I’m far from greedy. I quit corporate America and have been travel hacking and living on a budget for years.
You also don’t comprehend the written word well. I have no problems with her thoughts toward her employer. I’ve said a number of times that she is petty to air them publicly. We all have our grievances, but to express them publicly after you accepted the terms of employment for years is petty.
Read slowly to comprehend.
Thank you for understanding. The suicide rate is high for American Airlines for a reason. They could care less about any person even the paying passengers. This company left me sick in a foreign country and they didn’t even help me. But they were sure to punish me for it. This treatment has to stop. We are being bullied, threatened and downright disrespected as human beings. I hope people read this and understand, we are not looking for sympathy. We just want people to look at what American Airlines is doing and help the people that do want to stay but just want to be treated with dignity. I’ll probably loose my job for saying this but I don’t care. We are tired and fed up!
I don’t mean to sound callous when I say this, but I ask from curiosity: why don’t you find another job?
She did not publish this for all the world to see. She sent the letter to her FSM (Flight Service Mgr aka Supervisor) and sent it to a private FA FB page for her fellow FA’s. Through sharing it went viral. She did not go public for a “woe is me” effect. It was to open the eyes of the owners of this company.
That’s great, GOOD FOR YOU, maybe, just maybe you worked for a better company than AMERICAN AIRLINES!!! I was a flight attendant for 26 years, the last (6 or 7 years for AA, as that is when THEIR MANAGEMENT AND CORRUPTION took over!!!)! USAirways was a GREAT company and really a pleasure to work for. But AA SUCKS ASS!!!! I too left there. I didn’t get into my reasons because 1. It was going to fall on deaf ears because CLEARLY AA IS NOTHING BUT A MONEY HUNGRY AND CORRUPT COMPANY that doesn’t care one bit about its employees OR PASSENGERS.
And 2. Because there wasn’t enough paper to write everything I wanted to say!!
So kudos to this beautiful person for writing what so clearly needed to be heard!
I think it should have been written, and placed on the front page of the New York Times for everyone to read!
Matt you nailed it with your commentary, which was very similar to my thoughts as I read the letter. Of course the suicide is horrific but without context, blaming AA or the job is misplaced.
And taking the airline industry out of it, most everyone who has been frustrated at a job could find similar points to make. I wonder what her next career choice will be? And will that half an English Lit degree come into play?
Maybe, just maybe we have another individual blaming everyone for how her life is turning out except the person responsible….the one in the mirror.
Hey Dave Did you get paid for your initial training at your present job? If mc D s and Burger King have to pay their employees for training all the us airlines should. Pilots and mechanics get paid for training. Flight attendants don’t . This falls on dot faa Congress and citizens of the great USA not caring if employees are paid during training . I ve 23 years as a f a . Don’t judge us til you ve done our job .
Didn’t blame you, the job or AA. I blame the seemingly lazy entitled individual who it appears couldn’t finish college and quit this job. The problem is her and her need for attention. Face it, her rant will do nothing to change the environment.
Odds are she will also fail in her next career choice and she will find someone else to blame. But hey, the world needs bartenders too and only in America can one become a horse faced Congresswoman.
Dearest Dave,
She is not to blame. I have also worked for a major airline and the utter disregard for quality of life is astonishing . While they pack their pockets and pensions with loads of money, they’ve squeezed us dry and still look for more ways to screw us to make a buck. She is not lazy . She’s just sick of being taken advantage of as we all are. But you wouldn’t know that unless you walked in our shoes . Just one trip and you would be crying foul yourself. They promise you one thing if you give up everything else and then leave you high and dry. Sounds like what a company run by men would do !!! .
Save your insults . We’ve heard it all on board and quite frankly we’re done caring. The author always picks on flight attendants and is jealous we fly for free. But that perk is nothing but an anxiety attack waiting to happen. I pay full fare on another airline to get where I’m going . Give us a break . This job is unlike any other and it’s not what it used to be back in the glory days. We are treated so bad that I can see why she jumped . If I had to do it all over again, I would never invest my time in a company that doesn’t invest in me as a valued employee . I wish her the best of luck . As for you? I hope you work on your capacity to have empathy for others. You sound like a jerk! Kinda like our CEO’s.
“Sounds like what a company run by men would do !!! .”………then quickly starts next sentence with “Save your insults” Pot meet kettle
Geez Dave, aren’t you making a ton of assumptions here? Lazy? Couldn’t finish college? What if she couldn’t finish college because she could not afford it? Or if she was helping her parents or grandparents? Anyone that works for an airline as a crew, works like a mule and at all hours of the day. Some days as long as 17 hours with a minimum of 8 hours rest from landing time to take off time the next day . Try that schedule for 9 years and see who’s lazy and add some perpetual jet lag to the mix.
WOW!!!!!!! You know nothing
I didn’t. I had to pay 40k for my degree and work to pay my bills for 4 years. Heck, I actually do sympthize with her to a certain degree until people start making it more than they should. FA’s should be paid from the moment the enter the airport till the moment they leave. But let’s not pretend that Matt wasn’t mostly correct here.
You are a jerk! Perhaps your phone never makes mistakes when typing…. Maybe you have a better phone than any of the rest off us….oh look, my phone made a spelling mistake. It isn’t like you didn’t KNOW what she was typing.
Let me ask you this, ARE YOU A FLIGHT ATTENDANT? HAVE YOU EVER BEEN A FLIGHT ATTENDANT?
Maybe you could walk a mile in someone else’s shoes for a minute. And YES, I HAVE CONTEMPLATED SUICIDE OVER THIS JOB!!! And YES MY PSYCHIATRIST HAD TO TALK LONG AND HARD TO MAKE ME LEAVE THE INDUSTRY because it was NOTHING like this in the beginning! A job that I LOVED and was so passionate about WENT TO HELL because of a company named AMERICAN AIRLINES!!! So don’t judge her or anyone else in this industry until YOU YOURSELF have walked in our shoes, thank you! I will treasure my time as a Flight Attendant because 26 years ago it was AMAZING. I was there for 9/11 and it was bad but after Covid, it just became unbearable. And the things that AA asked of us were DISTURBING and UNREALISTIC to say the least. I loved (until AA joined the picture) being a flight attendant. AA with their “in-house Union”… all they did was launder money to keep the façade up for AA. That “union” did NOTHING for any FLIGHT ATTENDANT there, all they would do is say “oh the company is right”. Then while we were all furloughed, the “union” sent out payment reminders saying that we were still required to pay dues because (this was PRICELESS) they somehow did something so great for us “by working toward our best interest to get the furlough for us”
I’m sorry, DO YOU REALIZE THAT NO OTHER AIRLINE EXCEPT AA FURLOUGHED FLIGHT ATTENDANTS!!!! So HOW EXACTLY did that “benefit” any of us?!??
Ok now my blood pressure is up and my head is ready to explode, all from just talking about how corrupt and uncaring AA is!!!!
I want to always remember and reflect on my good years in aviation, but AA DID NOTHING to be part of that [good in] equation!!!
As long as there are thousands of idealistic and willing candidates behind her, and there are, AA (and the other airlines too) could care less for her reasons to leave.
That’s the job. That’s always been the job. If you don’t like it, quit.
At least she has the integrity to be an adult and make a rational decision for herself.
Good luck to her
Not really. “That job”? was better years ago. It has progressively deteriorated over the years since deregulation. And airlines try to hire you? They promise you the moon. They lie. I’ve seen it. The pay is complicated. So it’s easy to inflate the numbers. They say “if you fly so many hours, you’ll make so and so”. They don’t tell you “we won’t let you fly that many hours when you’re on reserve, so you will qualify for food stamps”. So no. It’s not what you say. There’s way more to this story than what you seem to know about the industry today
You do realize you are arguing with men who probably have no one to sleep with and that is why they have a deep hatred for women. Arguing with men on the Internet is such a waste of your energy. I never looked at it like this before well the arguing I did, until the minute my life drew me to the attention of the statistics of how many men have no one to sleep with or date them, they haven’t realized how u likeable they are now that women have more choices OUTSIDE of marriage. Enjoy your weekend. You have VALID points
I know that the unions are not protecting and giving support I had a experience working for the government and now I regret they didn’t intervene, it seems I file for harassment and the case was transferred to inside ventures,what makes this so ridiculous that the case was of twofold he was Asian and I was Afro American, he got a reprieve and I got demoted and he got a promotion, my manager railroaded me , I can mention her named was marva Belser, I hope this get on the internet saying , I hope your conscience will give you no rest and no forgiveness on my part and also say that you were unjust of what you did , I never forgive you til I live this earth and even then I will haunt you til demise will happen to you
she should talk to her union. maybe they should actually try to strike a balance for all workers, instead of being worthless schills….
Apfa? sorry, it is all about good contracts with airlines. This one for AA, fails.
I know, been there. 44 years. I date back to Allegheny Airlines. Lots of mergers and not all happy ones. But the unions holds a vital key for a decent working rules. Reserve is rough. Its all about senority. The union does offer employee assistance for such needed leaves. Assistance. Pay IS rough. One should be aware of work rules, pay, domicle, possible closures, schedules and daily changes, dissuptive pssgrs….one doesn’t go into this highly competitive career without asking (I would think)? I can reach out to my contacts if she would like to talk her issues..
Sadly the unions for airline workers have little or no bargaining power these days. So, though they are fully aware of the horrid working conditions for their work group, there’s little they can do to change them. Each time the contracts are up for negotiations, the company threatens to reduce even more any benefits they receive. And they actually do. That’s the current situation and reality in this industry today . They train massively new workers at a huge expense and their attrition numbers are in the 80%. Most quit very quickly once they discover the lies of false promises. Some even quit while in the middle of a flight, they are that disgusted with the
Company’s treatment of their employees. It’s the dehumanizing treatment by the company and
The truly difficult and physically punishing work hat gets to these new workers. I’m surprised she lasted this long. Most leave within the first year or two.
I can see her point of view in that this job is geared towards people who want to enjoy the perks of standby travel in exchange for a stressful, low paid job. The suicide of the new mother was especially telling because I can’t imagine someone, male or female, handling being a parent and trying to continue that lifestyle.
Does she believe teachers,health care providers,food service workers have an easier workday?
Interesting comparisons. Teachers are usually unionized and although their starting wage is low, they do eventually do quite well for themselves. Health care providers also tend to make good money for their services compared to other fields. Food service workers, however, work darn hard for little pay much of the time and that’s why our society is addicted to cheap labor immigration where indentured servants do the work for peanuts until they qualify for citizen benefits.
FA’s do a combination of all of these skillsets in their position: Babysit passengers like a teacher, be expected to provide emergency healthcare, and provide food and their incentive is the free travel.
Your point? She a only describing her situation. To perhaps, contribute in some way to make it better for those in the future. Comparing one bad to the other, does not make it acceptable.
So tired of these whining FA’s.
Entitled and obviously not meant to take this career choice.
You say you wanted to stay until retirement yourself……. Yet, you are driveling about how senior FA’s will stay to the “bitter end.” Double standard, crying “it isn’t fair” like a child.
Grow up. Change jobs.
I have been with American for 35 years and your little sob story was but a bump in air for your co workers. We have been through a major strike, countless unfair practices, preferential treatment and most heart wrenching was 9-11.
You a clearly not meant to be a FA. No one promised you anything, they owe you nothing and yes, everyone does have an employee number-take it or leave it .
Mary Gerdes
Hi Mary, Love your picture! My friend made that statue
I think we should let them whine all they want at this point. They are dealing with a lot. They had to be the mask police and most were coerced to take an unsafe experiment by the Biden Administration and their companies to keep their jobs. Furthermore, working in a pressurized environment is very hard on the body, and now some have to deal with major health issues from the COVID experiment on top of it. We need to have some empathy for what many aviation workers are going through.
Today the Florida Surgeon General wrote to the FDA and CDC. How is only one surgeon general standing up for the truth? “To claim these vaccines are “safe and effective” while minimizing and disregarding the adverse events is unconscionable.” https://www.floridahealth.gov/_documents/newsroom/press-releases/2023/02/20230215-updated-health-alert-letter.pdf.
Studies mentioned on Florida Health website today–“Health Alert on mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine Safety”:
1) Fraiman J et al, Vaccine. 2022: mRNA COVID-19 vaccines were associated with an excess risk of serious adverse events, including coagulation disorders, acute cardiac injuries, Bell’s palsy, and encephalitis. This risk was 1 in 550 individuals, which is much higher than other vaccines.
2) Sun CLF et al, Sci Rep. 2022: found increased acute cardiac arrests and other acute cardiac events following mRNA COVID-19 vaccination.
3) Dag Berild J et al, JAMA Netw Open. 2022: assessed the risk of thromboembolic and thrombocytopenic events related to COVID-19 vaccines and found preliminary evidence of increased risk of both coronary disease and cardiovascular disease.
Pilots should have never been required to violate the long standing norms of obtaining a first class medical certificate. Truly unconscionable. One can only hope that the aviation (and medical) professionals who were forced into this will have some type of recourse in the future. What is stunning is the silence from the medical community and other state surgeon generals on this matter. It’s very confusing why so many are silent on these important matters. I guess many are still following the political science, instead of the actual science.
Overall, we need to make sure our pilots and crews are healthy and getting the treatments they need to be safe in the air. Our safety depends on it.
“How is only one surgeon general standing up for the truth?” Oh, I don’t know, maybe because the Florida Surgeon General is regarded by many as unqualified and unethical, if not a quack?!
https://cbs12.com/news/local/dr-joseph-abiodun-ladapo-florida-surgeon-general-gov-ron-desantis-university-uf-health-covid-mask-coronavirus-ucla-nyu
https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2023/01/04/ladapo-surgoen-general-university-florida/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2022/10/11/florida-surgeon-general-ladapo-covid-vaccines/
He is demonized by the mainstream media and medical establishment because he’s speaking the truth–no surprise there, similar to America’s Front Line Doctors, who have only been correct in their COVID response and predictions.
He is demonized by the mainstream media and medical establishment because he’s speaking the truth–no surprise there–just like America’s Front Line Doctors. They have only been correct in their COVID response and predictions.
Also, the CDC/FDA already confirmed what the FL Surgeon General is saying during their meeting on January 26th, 2023–CDC Deputy Director Tom Shimabukuro Admits COVID Vaccines Are Causing “Debilitating Illnesses”: https://twitter.com/TheChiefNerd/status/1618739451878080512
“We are aware of these reports of people experiencing long-lasting health problems following COVID vaccination. … We understand that illness is disruptive and stressful, especially under those circumstances, and we acknowledge these health problems have substantially impacted the quality of life for people and have also affected those around them. And we hope for improvement and recovery. We will continue to monitor the safety of these vaccines and work with partners to partners to try to understand these adverse events”
Your source is Washington post. The comment wasn’t really relative to the discussion, but you using Washington post as an accurate source is even more comical.
Okay boomer. I’m so SICK of this “suffer me, suffer you” mentality. I hope I never work with you
Mary Mary why ya buggin? AA f a s never honor their seniority. Us Airways had their seniority no rotation of reserve. Mary weren’t you a Laura Gladding fan? Labor shenanigans by Laura G and AA mgmt screwed our hard fought seniority. Wake up you should have voted for afa union. Apfa is corrupt and originalAA f a s are hypocrites about union seniority.
Foxy! Thank you!
I represented my fellow flight attendants through several AFA committees -PROUDLY!
HEALTH & SAFETY& INCIDENT&ACCIDENT, LTD( Long Term Disability), SYSTEM BOARD of ADJUSTMENT alt member, MONTHLY BID CLOSING, & more.
Serving through volunteering, PROUDLY!!!!
Mary please remember that you true AQa girls don’t have your seniority. The usairways stews always did and weren’t subject to the reserve rotation. Why didn’t you vote for afa instead of the corrupt hypocritical apfa. If you pay union dues the seniority should be there at all times. Aa sucks .
Foxy. Bingo! I couldn’t have said it better! AA, the only airline that forces us to give away our hard earned seniority 3 times a year! I earned my seniority but this crummy union has the nerve to steal it from me and give it to a junior person. The best part is that I am forced to pay for this “representation”!
Your reply screams of the type of horrible (and almost ALWAYS the much older) FAs that make a lot of us swarm away from AA unless they are the only available option. Just the entire tone of your response screams of the lack of empathy, customer service, and humanity I have encountered repeatedly on AA flights over the past decade or so. The times I have encountered polite, upbeat FAs on AA who actually made it a positive experience, over 90% of the time it was a younger FA, likely because they haven’t become part of the group of bitter shills like you seem to be a member.
I applaud Ms. Andrechyn for her courage to call out the mistreatment of FAs by her airline. Perhaps if more people would call out the mistreatment companies seem to dole out in greater and greater servings, we might have a happier, healthier workforce.
Wow, talk about assuming. Perhaps those senior FA’s begun their careers with better pay? Better contracts? Better schedules? Better benefits? That is why they were able and willing to stay? “new hires”, as they call those most recently hired, receive half the pay to start for their first 5 to 7 years, than those that begun before deregulation. And that. Is to do the same exact work inside a plane. Yes. There are two and even three scales of pay for the new hires, and each time the pay is less as the airlines try to squeeze more out of their workers for less pay and more work hours. Inform your self on these particular airline pay nuances before you crucify the new workers. There’s plenty unfair in the current work conditions of new hires that differ from the old ones, to make her claim very real and valid
I pray that recognition be granted and that her family be blessed. Hopping the Joy she once seen in a prominent role as an FA be more rewarding in her future endeavors.
Amen
just transitioning to being a stay at home mom doesn’t sound bad. Why put up with this? You’ll hear the same complaints in every other sector.
This is not just AA. This is how flight attendants at every US airline feel. What used to be a fun job is now an incredibly demoralizing one. We have no support. It’s sad to see yet another helping profession be squeezed and stressed by corporate politics.
I think many workers across industries feel similarly. The whole system is broken.
COVID really changed the industry it seems, and not for the better. The energy on planes with masks was insane. Political hotboxes. Plus burnout is real.
Yes! I was an FA for UAL for 37 yrs. I started in 1984, fresh out of college. Figured I’d fly for a couple yrs. then use my Journalism degree. In spite of the long hours, short layovers, horrid treatment by supervisors, I had a lot of fun and really enjoyed caring for my customers. But gradually management chipped away at benefits. Frequently we we were understaffed, shorted of customer meals, eventually NO meals depending on length of flight. These directly affected our customers. Management was more concerned about weight check (which was eventually eliminated), length of uniform dresses, color of pantyhose, color of lipstick and size of earrings!! Could not be bigger than a quarter! Did our passengers care about these things? I doubt it. I have not been able to fly “free” for about the last 10-15 years because of overlooking, which also affected revenue passengers, who were denied boarding. I have paid full fare on other airlines because I can never count on getting a seat on my own airline, in order to fly from Pittsburgh to Nashville to take care of my mother every month. I have seen how abusive customers can be toward flight attendants forced to be the mask police the past 3 yrs. I understand their anger, but not when they physically assault FA’s. No one signed up for that. I’m not going to “whine” about my flying career-i chose it, I stayed until it physically became impossible and I truly miss it. Some of the decisions made by Management negatively affected my passengers more than me and I felt very empathetic when UAL kept adding more seats for more revenue making flying more uncomfortable and stressful. I frequently wrote letters and spoke with my supervisor about the impact on our customers, which fell on deaf ears. All decisions were based on more revenue, rather than our flying public. I don’t think today’s millennial and Gen X or whatever will ever make a career out of being a flight attendant, which is fine, but there is something to say about years of experience and high turnover. My mother passed away after my 4 years of caring for her, and I’m grateful I was able to do so. But I don’t think I will ever step foot on a plane again@
My brother recently took a job at a large-chain grocery store. Just by chance (or some internet magic) I stumbled across a reddit thread about what it’s like to work for that company in the grocery store. There were hundreds of responses.
Some folks say it’s the worst job they’ve ever had, others say it’s the best– even when comparing the same position and the same company.
Seems the key is to shop around until you find a job where you’re one of the ones saying “this is the best job I’ve ever had” and then try to climb from there.
Too bad you left Angela..I say this because.. at nine yrs seniority? Your making good flight pay.. you won’t make $40-50 per hour else where unless you have a sweet gig lined up. Eventually the senior mommas and poppas will retire.. I personally would love to watch them in recurrent yearly training, opening over wing exits and climbing through them. Its not a perfect job, nothing is and FA only work 80-90 hours a month. Anything over this is overtime.
The nice this, your young you may decided to try again, but in my mind you wont and that cool. If you love take off at 0525 on a Sunday you will stay. Seniority is everything. That why senior mommas and poppas are still flying at $60 per flight hour plus hourly per diem.
Exactly! This was a waste of energy and will fall on deaf ears. Good luck Ange! Your seniority was at the point of making over $50 an hour(what an awful job). Being a FA isn’t for everyone, but this sad letter seems misplaced. It’s really not that bad. And yes unfortunately you’re a number that will be filled instantly by the thousands standing in line eagerly waiting to replace you. If you hate it so much leave gracefully~Buhbye
$40-$50 per flight hour….
12 hr duty day
6 hrs actually paid
I’ll let you do the math
I know so many AA flight attendants that now work for United. A lot of them are saying AA abuses you.
Depressing letter and no doubt it’s her time to move on. However her sad experiences are not unique to American Airlines. The world has changed. We witness uncivilized behavior as the new normal. As both corporations and individuals struggle, everyone attempts to adapt in their own manner. Baffling at times it is.
The employee who committed suicide three week after delivery, most likely suffered post-partum depression .. sad her Dr never saw this.
“The employee” who committed suicide has been more than one employee through the years. It’s more common than people realize. https://medium.com/@reneebull/why-flight-attendants-are-committing-suicide-and-nobody-cares-d941ae624cb
A late colleague was adamant that turning the Flight Attendant job into a career was the biggest mistake they ever made.
This is why the Asian carriers have better service…the FA’s are hired with clear expectations that their employment has an expiration date.
FA’s should take what they can from the experience…travel, health insurance…all with an eye to their next professional step.
Spot on. The job was never meant to be something people did for 35 years. The skills needed don’t really qualify it as a ‘career’ – yes, you get better at it over time, but it doesn’t offer the incremental growth and professional development that a career is meant to give. The 65-year-old battleaxes holding ORD-LHR rotations three times a month know this is true, and it’s just one of the (many!) reasons most of them are such unpleasant people.
Bloody move along, you are just another number @ AA or UA or DL or Amazon or FeDex or any company
Any job comes with downfall
Please wake up darling
EMPLOYEES AND CORPORATION ARE NO LONGER WHAT THEY WERE IN AMERICA. THESE POSTINGS SEEM TO BE IN MANY WAYS THROUGHOUT CORPORATE AMERICA. I WORKED FOR PAN AMERICAN WORLD AIRWAYS 1958-1991, THINGS SURE WERE DIFFERENT THEN WHAT I READ HERE.
THE WORD LOYALTY, LONG SENIORITY SEEMS TO NOT EXIST ANYMORE.
VERY SAD.
It has a lot to do with the worsening to breaking point of American public and the corporate too .. so bad combination and only heading to djsaster
It appears the job has overwhelmed you and leaving may be the best for all concerned.
However, any career has its ups and downs, and based on my 40 years as a passenger, the airline industry has been and will always be a roller coaster for management, employees, and passengers. If in doubt, think Eastern, Pan Am, TWA; the multiple consolidations of the 80’s & 90’s where droves of employees were let go; and the numerous post deregulation airlines that have come and gone.
Its the nature of the beast.
Get over it.
I’d like to correct your assumption about boarding pay. That is a vestige from the RLA (Railway Labor Act) that was penned in the 1920s, saw the airlines folded in during the 1930s, and has only been modified in minute ways 4 times since; the last time was in 1984. The RLA set standards and rules for how what is included in airline contracts and dictates how airline unions can negotiate and resort to self-help, i.e., strike. With these limitations, it is very difficult for flight attendant unions to fight for change and fair treatment. Until the RLA is opened up and either amended or thrown away entirely, we are fighting an uphill battle. As far as her complaint about not being able to get a seat on a plane, even the early morning and late night flights are packed, due to reductions that are still in place from COVID and a pilot shortage. When your company closes your base and relocates you to a new city, you depend on those “free seats” to get to work, the airline doesn’t arrange it for you. It can turn an already exhausting schedule into a nightmare. I, thankfully, have never had to commute, but I feel for the ones who do…especially when you’ve been displaced from your base.
There must be workarounds to this. Couldn’t they offer a variable or static stipend every month for boarding?
AA also uses “flight privileges” as an excuse to pay its employees far less than other companies.
True, the job is not for everyone, policies change in time, downsizing, relocations happen in the majority of businesses. Major World Events happened,
Most of us FAs have a second career as a backup plan. I actually enjoy my job, yes hiccups happen, A Rose Garden was never promised.
24 years here!
Thanks for saying that you do enjoy the job despite the hiccups! I was just hired by PSA airlines and I am looking forward to the journey. I am older (52) so plan to do it for a couple of years and then find something else within the airline jobwise. I have a Masters Degree so I have options, but I want to travel, serve customers and make some new coworker friends. I cannot wait to start!
The comment section screams boomer and someone dragged in fake antivax info, so not sure if it’s possible to knock any sense to people. Just because you’re willing to suffer for peanuts doesn’t mean it’s humane or should be the norm.
It’s hilarious how people here say she’s entitled when they think they’re entitled to FA service while their pay is low and they get abused by passengers.
The standard should always be rising as we are in a changing world.
Whether it’s a problem with the airline or union, the reality is we need FAs. You can hate on her now until your flight is delayed or canceled because there’s a shortage of cabin crew to operate your flight. Keep cussing and belittling the FAs then and see flight schedules become sparse from lack of FAs.
The tenured ones are going to retire at some point and the young ones won’t put up with old-fashion thinking. Treating FAs better and supporting them is an investment into the future of travel AKA your future vacations and/or business travel.
Please advise what info is “fake antivax info”. Calling it that doesn’t make it so.
Or better yet, refute the actual studies..I love how studies that you don’t like have turned into “fake antivax info”. Such a joke at this point.
1) Fraiman J et al, Vaccine. 2022: mRNA COVID-19 vaccines were associated with an excess risk of serious adverse events, including coagulation disorders, acute cardiac injuries, Bell’s palsy, and encephalitis. This risk was 1 in 550 individuals, which is much higher than other vaccines.
2) Sun CLF et al, Sci Rep. 2022: found increased acute cardiac arrests and other acute cardiac events following mRNA COVID-19 vaccination.
3) Dag Berild J et al, JAMA Netw Open. 2022: assessed the risk of thromboembolic and thrombocytopenic events related to COVID-19 vaccines and found preliminary evidence of increased risk of both coronary disease and cardiovascular disease.
Or refute the CDC/FDA: January 26th, 2023–CDC Deputy Director Tom Shimabukuro Admits COVID Vaccines Are Causing “Debilitating Illnesses”: https://twitter.com/TheChiefNerd/status/1618739451878080512
“We are aware of these reports of people experiencing long-lasting health problems following COVID vaccination. … We understand that illness is disruptive and stressful, especially under those circumstances, and we acknowledge these health problems have substantially impacted the quality of life for people and have also affected those around them. And we hope for improvement and recovery. We will continue to monitor the safety of these vaccines and work with partners to partners to try to understand these adverse events”
Fly private
I feel this young lady’s pain and I do understand. Just because you have certain perks associated with your profession (standby travel, reduced rate hotels and rental cars, occasional local or national business discounts just because you work for the company) shouldn’t give the employer the unchecked ability to take advantage of you or purposefully make your work life a living hell. I’m a retired Delta employee who was given outstanding pay and benefits while employed. But, while employed, I was subject to a very hostile work environment that HR or the Union could not help me overcome. When my wife had open heart surgery and I had the maximum allowable sick leave, I was not allowed to take care of her unless I took time off without pay. Others were given the opportinity to care for loved ones but I was not. During covid, others were given time off if their spouse was more suspect to infection from covid. I was not. I had numerous examples of mistreatment by management that company sponsored counselors told me I needed an attorney for, not a counselor. And all of this stemmed from my rejecting a male boss’s sexual advances. LGBTQ+ was king and rejecting unwanted advances and going public meant being made an example. Life isn’t fair and it’s frustrating when bad things happen, but I fully understand this young lady’s frustration. Congrats to her on her exit! All God’s blessings to her!
“Senior flight attendant”
This is exactly why big U.S. airlines suck in addition to the demographics of U.S. flight attendants compared to Europe, MENA, South American, or Asian carriers. There should be no senior flight attendants other than a pursuer who leaves the job at 50 if M and 40 if F. Having “seniors” whether that means literal 65+ seniors or people who have been flight attendants for 20 years guarantees service will be dismal, subpar, and phoned in. Flight attendants should be young below 35 and leave the job to raise families and pursue careers suited to the age. This is a service job. Having fresh faces is healthy. Air traffic controllers must retire at 56 and move on to other careers. Airlines should do the same: 15 year maximum with stringent testing for speed and strength so we don’t have old ladies signing up at 50. All these flight attendants who stay on do so to abuse the position to get free vacations and free non rev tickets that lead to so many problems.
Ok boomer
May every flight attendent to serve you in the future be 55+…. Better yet, why don’t you stay off planes and take the bus. You don’t deserve to be served by anyone with such BS attitude.
As a male I would expect you to have such an antiquated view of who should leave their job. Funny how you don’t mention the elder m’s just “old ladies”. I’m sure you have a problem with gay males too. When you reach 50 you want to be told you now have to leave the job you’ve done for 20,30 years! Let me tell you about this young generation now joining the force. Most will do their one beverage service and then sit in their asses in the galley for the rest of their flight on their tablets or phones watching movies, playing games or texting friends. Have had a Junior FA tell me she doesn’t pick up trash! That’s the work ethic a lot of newbies have. Notice I say “a lot” not all. I have flown with some fantastic newbies that work just as hard as the seasoned crews. One day buddy you will be old too! Jackass!
Platinum status with American Airlines. I hate them.
It’s said that Amazon is close to having no one left to hire for its open positions because anyone that would have worked for them already has and is still there or quit. Perhaps the airline industry is approaching that point as well.
I like that Ms. Angela Andrechyn wrote a letter that listed her grievances. It is a shame that her dream job didn’t live up to her expectations. Unions often cater for those in for the long haul as they are the ones voting for the union leaders time after time. I suspect that if she had stuck around for ten more years, she would have supported maintaining the same structure where senior flight attendants have it much easier than junior ones along with higher pay. The complaint about unpaid training is questionable. I actually paid for my training (a college degree) over four years and had no job immediately available because of it. Then I went through several low paying jobs until I got the career one. Ms. Andrechyn may now have to do the same thing to land a good job.
Training is unpaid at American. “Although training is unpaid, food and lodging are provided.”
#4 here: https://jobs.aa.com/go/Flight-Attendants/2537300/
As with most things you read “on line” your pay info is incorrect. It’s been a long time since I was a new hire so I can say exactly what they make. I believe it’s around $30K. If I’m wrong someone can correct me. Senior pay is based on years of longevity, type of trips you work (domestic or International) and how many, position (Lead FA, Purser, etc) and how many hours of course. My pay as a 36 year FA has never reached the numbers you posted, not even close. For someone to reach 60- 70k is working A Lot!
Part of the problem with new hires is they don’t think they need to “pay dues”. They think when they get on line they should be able to jump right to International or prime trips. We all had to do the grunt crap when we were new. That’s why it’s called “paying your dues”. We worked 12hr duty days without access to proper meals and some AA FA’s had to do 22 years or more on Reserve. If you don’t know what RSV is…its sitting at home (paid) or at your airport base (paid) on call to replace a FA that is sick, injured or irregular ops when weather affects the base and flights are late. So 22 years vs. 2 years on RSV. (Per the contract) That’s what new hires are now required to do…2 years. If it were the “old airline days” this young lady would likely still be sitting RSV at 9 years in Philly. With this contract 30 to 40 year FA’s are now doing RSV 3 mos per year depending on the size of their base. She brings up valid points of what has happened to flying these past few years with the pandemic (people are very quick to anger now days and lash out) both our company and Union have failed in taking care of us. We have worked 13hr days without a proper meal or time to get one. I Am Sorry that her base Sup. didn’t work with her to give her the needed time off. ALL of us have suffered thru the pandemic, teachers, grocery store clerks, food service. The list goes on and on. I am extremely grateful I had a job, many did not. Since we all went thru this maybe we could ALL be a little nicer to each other.
“…there is no reasonable expectation of empty seats on flights”
You’ve chosen to frame this in a biased way, for while “empty seats” can’t be expected, perks of employment are a common expectation in many job sectors.
Importantly, many careers are based on a mutual employer-employee understanding that, in exchange for a less-desirable wage, employees will gain in some other way, such as a solid retirement system, above-average health benefits, flexible hours, etc.
While such trade-offs aren’t always rigidly-defined, they are certainly well-established in the corporate culture. And this is the case here; flight attendants are recruited, hired, and offered low wages and/or unpaid hours with an understanding that a certain amount of travel perks will be available. So when the employer changes the circumstances surrounding that perk, knowingly impacting its availability and usefulness, it may not legally be a breach of contract, but it certainly is an act of bad faith given the circumstances in which the employees were hired and paid.
Granted, situations change and there are few guarantees in life, but that misses the bigger picture; this letter was written on behalf of people who would probably bear the reduction in seat availability had the airline(s) made up for it with some sort of
compensating increase in pay and/or benefits.
As a senior flight attendant, I was also a 24 year-old bartender when I started the job. We all have to start somewhere. All flight attendants are junior in the beginning.
No job is perfect but if you really want it then you’ll keep it. The job provides lots of reasons to quit if that’s what you want to do. I still provide excellent service to my passengers and still love my job.
Her resignation letter was very passionate but I think she made the right choice and wish her well.
Well i got sad news for you , no company really cares about you , that dissappeared a long time ago , when corporate greed to over america . No job is gonna be stress free , and its rare for a comoany to give 2 cents about you in any industry in todays world . Your just a number , a body to fill a spot . Good luck on your new adventure
May the trolls have mercy on me, lol. I have a slightly different perspective I’d like to share. Just hear me out.
Yes, it was a sad letter. And yes, Matt was right as well. The thing is: most everything she said is either relative or common knowledge. Standby is standby. Post pardum deserves counseling….they tell you in the interview they won’t pay for initial training. Youtube has so much info on FAs that its unreal…including the FA that got jalapeño popped by a passenger (Funny, it yielded to showing what happened right before the slap, but I digress.)
The point is many of us who wanted this highly coveted position did do the homework. We watched the videos. We practiced and studied; even started in this industry on the ramp and worked our way up…and make it all the way to panel, multiple times, just to watch a company pick the ones that have “the look” the senior FA’s decided thy want to be the future of their field. Underqualified, underinformed, minimally committed. but allegedly trainable.
You see them later the same day in the airport, telling you how qualified and amazing YOU were, and how they don’t understand why YOU didn’t get the CRO.
Then if you’re fortunate to still work in the industry, you get to see these same ones (with the same sentiment as this lady) show up to the flight 10 minutes after boarding time with Popeyes, Starbucks and not a care in the world that 250 people will now not make it their destinations today.
Or listen to them tell you about how they got so wasted the night before and partied on the beach with intent, causing even more delay or even a cancelled flight because “they weren’t ready to leave yet”.
And you sit there and think to yourself: This is what you left me for.
I’m not saying the young lady doesn’t have some valid concerns. However, you knew what it was when you accepted the job. No gun was put to your head. If you need to step away to take care of family: it’s admirable. Go take care of family. And let it be.
As for the airlines that hire this way: you brought this drama on yourself. Make better choices and you won’t have these problems.
And for you who share my sentiment personally: keep your head up. It was NOT you, it was them. They’re all hiring now. What’s meant for you, you WILL receive. How do I know?
I just received my CRO from a better company.
I am with Matthew here.
Look, I hate America West as much as the next guy, however, expecting executive level perks and flexibility and pay is laughable at best.
“Half a lit degree” and bartendung sets you up on a tough path lady. I am sure you “had to” take that path and “there was no choice”, but America West offered you a path out of it
It was a tough path, but it has excellent pay and perks at the end of it. They materialize after 10-25 years, not 6 (beginning of covid).
Life is not fair, jobs are hard. We all have hard days (although not everyday a person dies in everyone’s care….but then, nurses?)
I hope she finds a fulfilling career that gives her what she wants with howmuchever little she wants to out in.
Peace.
That was a lovely letter. I do agree with her feelings.I worked for a major airline and it was hell. Passengers screaming about you when they’re flight is delayed, missed connections and overweight bags. And who sufferers. The front line personel.
The airlines need to wake up. The cabin crew is your company. They arevuour customers experience point. As with my business you could have the best airplane in the world without a great cabin crew you have nothing. How many times …how was your flight…ok. very rearly I hear the flight attendants were awsome.
This letter reflects the attitude from mgt that I experienced during my 30 years with the company. Summed up it would be , if only we could operate the aircraft without flight crew.
Wow the comments! Definitely looks like an argument between generation X against the millennials and Gen Z.
Wow, the response seems like this doesn’t really apply to more “senior” flight attendants . It does. In fact reserve is over 30 years at some bases
News flash: Companies are in business to provide a service and make a profit. They’re not in business to provide employment, benefits or anything else to people. I know this comes as a cold shower to some people but honestly the complaining and entitled attitudes are nauseating. We have the freedom to quit and move on. We have the freedom to start our own airline I’d we choose and run it the way we see best.
If you can’t take the heat, get out and find the snowflake job that awaits you.
To all the really mean spirited folks on this blog, what a shame you are to society. But really, the people writing such trash haven’t a clue what it’s like. If all the new flight attendants quit, your service (that I’m sure you demand) would certainly be much worse than what most of you complain about continuously. It takes a lousy human being to disparage a person who did more than her job in such a rigorous occupation. So many people complain about airlines on this blog that I can’t believe some of you think that she shouldn’t complain too.
@T-….I agree. There are a handful of the same people that comment all the time on this site and on others. They just continue to bash and bully flight attendants. I enjoy reading the articles but really have to start staying away from the comments. I don’t seem to be doing a very good job of that. My husband who led a very large team of people until retirement read a few comments. He just laughed and said these people couldn’t manage their way out of a paper bag. Keyboard cowboys out for an exciting argument to make their day. True leaders, as he stated, do not attack people and then say get out there and provide a better service. They lead by example and these cowboys give a crappy example. They want a better service provided to them and yet they say these rude, idiotic comments. As if that’s going to put flight attendants in the mood to deliver a better service. It’s very obvious they don’t manage anything except where they’re getting their next meal from. Anyway, social media is a good thing but actually really terrible at times. T-, have a great day. 🙂
Sounds like this just wasn’t the career for her. It is an amazing job once you pay your dues but it take a long long time to get there. And the many that came before you did reserve, worked long hours, got stuck in places they didn’t want to be stuck, missed holidays, worked terrible trips and stuck it out. Many of the new ones want to skip the hard part and live the life of a senior today. It takes years for it to get good. And it does get better and better as the years go. Along the road to seniority you’ll have some great trips and fun layovers too.
I think it is wild how many people sympathize with FAs when they are being assaulted in airplanes but the second they note it and other issues everyone speaks negative. It is a job with many benefits and that’s a given but the reality is, like the public, airlines believe the benefits outweigh all of the short comings. And for some it just doesn’t. Being able to fly Dre doesn’t mean I should be okay with taking a punch to the face! Literally and figuratively
I expect most of the big tech companies and maybe even the small ones said goodbye in an email.
I interview a fair number of people. 1/3 don’t show up for interview and don’t respond to confirmations by phone, text, email….so it’s not just employers that are disrespecting people.
After interview I follow up with every one…and probably 1/3 of those ghost me as well.
Being a FA is a tough job….I’m sure it is not nearly as glamorous as most dreamed about.
I expect was we move forward thru the great resignation and quitting generation, we’ll see more letters like this….if they can write more than 140 characters….as of today, maybe she didn’t even write the letter. Maybe it was ChatGPT. Good luck to her. I do appreciate she wants some time off and willing to take it to take care of the Greatest generation. That’s admirable.
The saddest post today. I wish you could have hung in there. Alot of old timers will be 65 this year. That’s all we want is medical. The group ahead of me (i jave 43 yrs) will never leave. Try private or alaska airlines. Good luck and remember its not the job we love its the life style!
How many people applied to be FA last year, vs how many were hired? No idea, but I’ll bet it was 10 to 1 or higher. Maybe 100 to 1. At one time I heard AA only hired about 1% of the people who applied….so high demand of people looking to do this job, but very few get the opportunity. So the tough thing is, plenty of people willing to do the job, at least for a while. Probably the lie is that you should make it a career….maybe it is a starter job for the young at heart, or a retirement job after another career, for those who want a little adventure.
What I see online is average starting pay is about $40,000 to $50,000/year. Is that correct?
Senior pay is about $90,000/year from what I read. Is that correct? How many of the greedy HDQ people making 100K+ for 20/hr work week.
I don’t like the idea of not getting paid, when you are actually working, but likely that is in exchange for higher wages?
What do other airlines pay their flight attendants? How many FA transition to other jobs within the airline they like better….maybe gate agent, ticket counter, airport manager, or some HDQ job. I’ll bet very few, because they don’t like the pay cut, dont like working 40-50 hours a week, don’t like getting 2 weeks of vacation a year.
Interesting how the employees all see the company as greedy….especially when they loose billions. Airline CEOs and management are some of the worlds worst paid people when comparing to other company positions. Most of the execs could probably work anywhere….CFO is a transferable skill, CIO is a transferable skill. General Counsel is a transferable skill. Many of those HDQ positions probably pay $50,000 for 50-60 hours of work/week, but correct me if I’m wrong. Are they all working from home in shorts with dog in lap for 38 hours a week? If I remember right AA was one of the few big airlines that did not declare bankruptcy. They could have done that and wiped out their pensions.
Best of luck to her….hope she finds the dream job. Could she be a teacher? or does the 1/2 lit degree only get you Starbucks barista? How much do they make?
Obviously this was not the right job for her at this point in her life.
By the way….who ever said in school that work was supposed to be fun and stress free?
Her “half a degree in English” truly shines through in this turd of a screed.