A passenger who paid to upgrade his family to American Airlines Flagship Business Class for an overnight flight says the lie-flat seats proved nearly useless because the flight attendants talked loudly throughout the night.
When Flight Attendants Are Too Loud To Let Passengers Sleep
A passenger recently took to reddit after an overnight American Airlines flight from Chicago to London aboard a Boeing 787-9.
He had upgraded his family of four to Flagship Business Class (I reviewed that plane on that route here), largely so they could sleep on the overnight journey. Instead, he claims the flight attendants held full-volume conversations, laughed, walked through the aisles talking, and repeatedly clanked dishes and glasses in the galley.
The family was seated near the front of the cabin, which certainly did not help. But the passenger says the crew was also talking loudly in the aisles and made little effort to keep the cabin quiet.
He described it as the loudest of at least 20 overnight international flights he had taken. Earplugs did not solve the problem, nor did noise-canceling headphones.
“We did not get the opportunity to sleep for more than 10 minutes at a time due to loud flight attendants having full volume conversations all night long. We were near the front of the cabin, so that didn’t help, but they were walking through the aisles talking at full volume, clanking pans and dishes, etc. They were not even trying to be quiet at all, and it made for a miserable night trying to sleep.”
His question was simple: should he complain to American Airlines, or was this merely bad luck?
Yes, Flight Attendants Need To Keep Their Voices Down
Yes, he should complain.
Flight attendants have work to do overnight. Meals must be served, carts must be moved, and the crew on duty must remain awake and alert. Some noise is unavoidable, particularly for passengers seated near a galley.
But sustained personal conversations and laughter at full volume are different. There is no legitimate reason for crew members to treat the galley like a break room when passengers are trying to sleep a few feet away…and I experienced this same thing on my recent redeye from Los Angeles to Boston on American Airlines, so it’s hardly surprising. I even wrote a post about it.
> Read More: Why Are American Airlines Flight Attendants So Loud On Redeye Flights?
This matters even more in business class. Airlines market flat beds as one of the principal benefits of paying thousands of dollars or redeeming a large number of miles for an overnight flight. A flat bed is of little value when the people responsible for the cabin environment make sleep impossible.
American’s 787 is also a relatively quiet aircraft. That is ordinarily a benefit, but it means conversations and galley noise can carry farther than employees may realize.
Speak Up During The Flight, But Complaining Later Is Still Fair
Several people criticized the passenger for not simply asking the flight attendants to lower their voices during the flight. That would have been the best first step.
A polite request such as, “I’m sorry, but your conversation is carrying into the cabin and we are trying to sleep,” may have resolved the matter immediately.
But I also understand the reluctance. Passengers should not have to confront a group of flight attendants, particularly when those same employees control service for the remainder of the flight. A reasonable passenger may fear that even a polite request will be interpreted as hostile or entitled.
The fact that the passenger did not complain onboard does not make the behavior acceptable. Sending American a calm account of what happened, including the flight number, date, cabin, and approximate seating area, is entirely appropriate.
AA must remind crews that maintaining a reasonably quiet cabin is part of providing good service on an overnight flight.
CONCLUSION
Some galley noise is unavoidable, and passengers seated near a galley must accept a certain amount of disruption.
But loud conversations and laughter throughout an overnight flight cross the line. Flight attendants are entitled to talk with one another, but they should remain conscious that passengers nearby may have paid a substantial premium for one thing above all else: sleep.
A lie-flat seat cannot deliver much rest when the crew keeps the cabin awake!
Is there an actual reason service on airlines in America is so horrible compared to much of the world? More often than not when flying United, American, etc. I encounter flight attendants who are rude, distracted, or simply don’t care about the passengers. Yet I’ve seldom, if ever, experienced the same in Asia, Australia, etc.
This assclown buying upgrades is why Systemwide upgrades certificates are about worthless. F this guy and his privileged kids.
Did he ever hear of earplugs?
By the way it’s Reddit so it may or may not be true.
When you were a 19-year-old ‘kid’ working in the industry, did you not have people paying to upgrade your flights to Budapest or Copenhagen?
Ooooh…deep.
Yes God forbid we let businesses operate in the free market and sell something people are willing to pay for. We need your socialism airline where things are free for all…what feckless nonsense. Sorry you cannot afford paying for flying up front. Those of us that can subsidise you anyway. Now go wash your Che shirt the patchouli is smelling.
Eye-mask, earbuds or earplugs. This is the way.
You need to ask them to tone it down.
I’ve had two in the 737 jumpsuits on a redeye pulling this caper and I’ve had a flight attendant playing video games on iPad at full volume in a jumpsuit on 787. Both times I told them they’ve woken me up and asked them to stop what they were doing…… that worked.
I had the exact same thing happen on my Cathay Pacific flight while in First Class! I was seated in the first row and even had my ear plugs but the FA’s were speaking and giggling very loudly. Trust me when I say, I thought about getting up many times hoping they would keep it down but after 15 minutes…. I got up and told them that they were keeping me from sleeping. They all scattered, shortly after the in-charge came and apologized.
Flew back from London to DFW on American a few weeks ago in Flagship business and had the same experience. I was woken up because of how loud the FA was. This seems to be a uniquely American Airlines thing. Never had this issue on United.