Flight attendants are not happy about United’s new premium transcontinental service. In fact, they are up in arms.
I’m a blogger, an aviation enthusiast, and a very loyal United flyer. Over the years I have made friends with many FAs and been invited to certain online flight attendant forums. These password-protected or invite-only sites offer a “safe space” for which FAs and gate agents can vent about their airline.
And let me tell you: FAs are truly ANGRY about yesterday’s move.
Issue One: No Meals for All Economy Passengers
First, FAs are angry that only Economy Plus passengers and not all economy class passengers will receive complimentary meals on premium transcon routes. They worry about what they will tell regular economy passengers when they suddenly stop at row 22. After all, Untied Economy and Economy Plus are the same seats and there is no curtain or other barrier between cabins.
These FAs are not dumb: many pointed out that while American and Delta may only serve cold meals, they serve them to all passengers seated in economy, not just some passengers.
I dismiss this concern. Other carriers inside and outside the USA have no problem with a differentiation between service in premium economy and regular economy. For example, Alaska offers free snack boxes to its “Premium Class” passengers (first few rows of economy with extra legroom). Eurowings and SAS also offer meals/snacks to full-fare customers and skip around the cabin to distribute meals. It works just fine.
Issue Two: Inadequate Staffing Levels
Second, FAs are angry over staffing levels. They reason that flights are already “meagerly” staffed and that adding additional service will be too much work. FAs have already formally requested an extra FA on the 757 and 777 to warm meals and assist in the galley (United has already denied the request).
FAs further argue that this service will be so time consuming that it will take “two hours” to reach the last row of the aircraft.
I also dismiss these concerns, though more on ideological grounds than practical grounds. Provisioning additional staff would be welcomed, but is it really necessary? Let’s face it, if your transcon experience on United is like mine, it goes something like this: after-takeoff beverage + snack cart, 1-2 water runs mid-flight, a second beverage service prior to landing. That leaves a lot of time in between to sit in the galleys.
Thus, I believe (and know) there is more than enough time to do the additional service. It is indeed more work, but isn’t that your job? Carriers outside the USA manage to serve full meals on 1hr flights to the entire plane. Surely FAs have time to offer one meal service on a 5-6hour flight.
I don’t simply dismiss staffing concerns. For example, the new 777-300 has only eight fewer seats than the 747-400 but two fewer FAs, including only one pursuer. On the 747-400 there is a “Chief” purser and “aft” purser. Not so on the 777-300. The question again, however, is what is necessary.
Issue Three: 1K/Global Services Handling
FAs first worried that 1K/Global Services members sitting in regular economy would no longer receive free snacks and drinks. United quickly clarified this would not be the case. FAs then speculated how poor it would look for customers in regular economy class when 1K/GS members seated around them received free food and they received nothing.
Talk about talking out of both sides of the mouth…
United has already offered 1K/GS members a free snack and drink for over a year. Already these members are seated throughout the cabin and we have heard of no backlash.
This final issue seems the most petty.
CONCLUSION
FAs are angry they were not consulted and predict disaster. I don’t see it happening. My concern, however, is that if FA morale drops due this additional workload customers will feel the brunt of it. Let’s hope that does not happen either.
If an economy passenger asks a flight attendant why they aren’t getting a meal, I would just tell them that the passengers in economy plus paid a lot more for their tickets (or perhaps quote an average dollar amount). People would certainly understand that if someone paid an extra $100, they would be entitled to something extra. United should do more to differentiate (visually) where economy seats stop and economy plus seats begin.
Reading between the lines, the major issue may be less time in the galleys for FAs for chatting, bidding and or reading.
Many will remember when there used to meals for all passengers on most flights including the opportunity to order special meals.
Its amazing how entitled and lazy US FAs are. The unions just make this issue so much worse. On a short hop european or asian flight the FAs can serve meals and multiple drink services to the entire plane. On US carriers you might not even see an FA after the take off and safe checks unless you are in a premium cabin. Even on long international flights many hide away in the galleys and rest spaces instead of actually providing service to customers. This is a reason why I stopped booking on US legacy airlines when possible.
Hey when you’re on my flight I’ll let you put on my apron and walk a mile in my shoes.
YES!!!!
Next time you fly those European and Asian airlines look at the staffing for something as simple as an A320
Or 737 .Wonder why you get a meal with 6 flight attendants on a narrow body on an hour flight? Their companies actually realize they need proper staffing and provide it. Sorry you feel that cabin crews are lazy…
As you stated, European and Asian carriers serve meals on a one hour flight. They are also government subsidized in which US carriers are NOT. They can afford to put staffing and meals on their flights. I’ll gladly let you work my 16hr flight with 3 meal services, work the 16hr flight back after a 27hr layover, then get up the next day and do it again, then you can tell me how lazy I am.
Lazy? You should see how much they have to do in one days work. Try to be less ignorant. They work hard enough with short staff for 18+hrs a day though multiple time zones and deal with hundreds of passengers a day.
I’m not a lazy US FA. I work upto 16 hours a day. On my feet the whole time. I deal with passengers of all kinds. We know that as a whole most passengers are just happy to be going wherever they are going. However, there are those passengers that feel they are entitled too more than the ticket they purchased. Also deme graphics have a lot to do with certain destinations are in the higher maintenance bracket and need a lot more attention. So. Since most of you that have left your comments on this blog live in my shoes everyday. Really have zero clue what I do for a living.
Oh one more thing. I have been in this industry for 43 years and love my job, love my passengers and am very happy to take care of you while we are together.
I started with another international carrier. I flew Concord for 20 years.
So not lazy, your just clueless.
Wow!! I never knew that in US FA have so much power to influence company’s policy. And they way you compared items of their issues to another airline seems to show that those FA are simply lazy. Added to the info on your other article that is not a custom for them to assist or manage carry-on placement in overhead bins (contrary from my personal experience in travelling in asian airlines economy – some are lcc), I’m simply amazed.
Flight attendants aren’t slaves to stow your heavy carry on that you should have checked anyway. I m a 45 year veteran FA. Our union has fought hard to get us safety standards that involve lifting and toting. Several years ago I helped an old lady lift her bag and she decided to pull as I lifted . I ruptured 4 discs in my Neck. Besides the life long agony and lost income because of time off and not being able to pick up extra hours, do you think she cared.? No…and I do t hold stinky babies anymore, as well… go fly Asian subservient airlines as my guest.
Lol. If you consider helping a customer makes you a slaves, then you should never work in service business. If your union has fought hard, why the public opinion is not in favour of FA? Why your union didn’t negotiate a better insurance from work injury, as in your case? And those subservient asian airline have FA that do their job with a smile on the face, not some grumpy person like you.
Now you know why some of us avoid United Airlines whenever possible. The employees hate their company and it shows up in everything they do.
The fact that these FAs think they should have some say in the service policy speaks for itself. US legacy airline FAs have gotten huge raises as the airlines having become more profitable but they somehow think adding additional FAs to flights to “heat meals” has no impact on profitability. The simple fact is they’ve gotten comfortable hiding in the galley for 75% of the flight and this is an inconvenience to them, much like those annoying people who pay their salaries to fill the seats are (not to all FAs, but to shockingly too many).
Lol- they dont have any say and I can’t think of a single FA I have ever worked with that thought they did. He is listening in on so-called closed groups and private spaces where FAs can vent their concerns and acting like it is some widespread riot by us. It isn’t, the vast majority of us don’t care at all. We know what management thinks of us (and their customers, btw) and we just try to do what they say while trying to avoid being on TMZ and having personal FAA fines levied against us. We dont affect ANY CHANGE WHATSOEVER. Most of us are under no illusion that we do. So, other than the handful of people b*tching on these facebook groups, none of us care. We do what they want, if it works it works, if it flops it flops. Next!
Touché
I’d like to know where my “huge raise” is sir? Please show me. Since 2000 I’ve only gotten about a $7 raise… I hardly call that huge.
I’d like to know where my raise is too? I started in 2005 and made 19.5k my first year….
What a joke. There were never any issues before in Delta Comfort (prior to starting meals to all). They even provide a small amenity kit! United is in the dumps. Done with them.
Just flew Thai, Garuda, Korean, and EVA and the quality of FA service is night and day difference compared to US FAs. The Asian carriers are top notch and they have so many FAs even on short haul flights.
That’s the difference though isn’t it. They have so many more flight attendants staffed. Would I love to be able to get on a personal level with a select few of my pssangers and make them feel special and give them the best service I can provide? Absolutely. But when we are staffed with two FA’s in the economy class section of the airplane, it’s nearly impossible. And now we will be heating up, stocking the carts with meals, hot and cold snacks, and drinks before we make it into the isle. Then we will be handing out meals and drinks to the first ten rows, then snack and snack for purchase to the continuing ones. The people in the last rows are going to be waiting forever. One extra person would help immensely and improve the quality of service.
You are absolutely correct, Matthew. FA’s on USA transcon flights are not time pressed. I guess I can understand human desire to spend more time “on break,” but is sitting in the galley really that enjoyable? If I were working the flight, I don’t think I’d mind handing out a few more meals. It might make me happy to provide the service.
How about next time you are on a transcon flight you sit in one of the last rows of economy and experience how long it takes to be served? It’s not about doing extra service, it’s about doing the service in a timely manner for ALL the passengers, not just the few at the beginning.
Amen, Dee! Love how the passengers think they could do our job better than we can. They have no idea.
You work a flight from. SFO to BOS those are the neediest self entitled passengers ever. But I just smile and do my best for them. However it’s nonstop for the whole flight. Again your clueless.
I have to go with the FA’s on this one. Peak load labor is different than base load. Increasing the stress load of FA’s can hardly improve the experience in flying in economy and stress is generally contagious, so degradation of all passengers’ experience is certainly a possibility. One way to deal with stress is to go into “hibernation” so I would expect a serious degradation in customer service, not that many readers of this blog will actually have much “coach” experience in the future. Typically, management that treats employees poorly does so with customers and this airlines management can’t seem to stay out of the news on that regard.
@Brian
have you looked a the details of the new FA union agreements? Widely available if you just google it. “management that treats employees poorly?” The deals look pretty rich to me for part time work.
Part time work lol! We check in 1 1/4 hr before departure, do paperwork, perform a briefing, check emergency equipment, then once we close that door and back away from the gate we start getting paid. Then we fly our 15 hour flight, perform 3 services, waters every hour, and if we’re fortunate, we don’t have a medical emergency on board. So lazy doesn’t get very far in my world. God forbid you ever actually need us to get your butt off the plane because believe it or not we’re trained to do that too! Once we arrive at our destination the clock stops once that door opens but we’re still helping our customers get in their wheelchairs, get to their next gate, find customs and immigration, with smiles on. Sorry bout ya but I love my job !
You are clueless.
He is TOTALLY clueless.
I’m with the FAs on this one as well. They’re being asked to do more with less, less compensation, and no doubt not looking forward to the backlash from passengers. The abuse they receive on a daily basis is unfathomable.
The issue is not whether flight attendants can physically complete the extra task of serving a meal. It’s that they are being asked to do more work for the same (low) pay as before.
Everyone I have ever known in every occupation in the world complains when their job responsibilities increase without a corresponding pay increase. Some of you need to get off your hypocritical high horses.
The comparison to a Sri Lankan airline where flight attendants pamper their passengers again ignore differences in economic conditions. Do you also think American factory workers should live in dorms and get paid 64 cents an hour like in Sri Lanka? How many airlines from wealthy countries provide the service you demand in economy class and still stay profitable?
With the way the airlines nickel and dime passengers is a disgrace
I myself worked in the airline industry years ago when the meal was complimentary and one could order special meals. Meals at that time cost the airline only $5.00 with no charge,not even for a special meal
The worst mistake made was when Continental merged with United,of which was a “bad marriage” so to speak
People do have options of flying other carriers. Travelers need to do their homework before choosing an air carrier and to see what amenities are available
Matthew, I am not sure where you source this information.. However, as a FA with united, I can assure you that your facts are baseless, or represent a few, rather than the majority.
We are revolting!? Certainly not.
Please, do not pen articles on topics you lack any facts about.
Regards,
Your Friendly United FA
To be sure, you are not revolting people, but lovely people. But as for a “revolt”…well, I can assure you that I did not make that word up. Many of your “co-workers” (as Jeffy used to call them) are rightfully angry that they were never consulted about these changes and that management has already said there will be no increase in staffing levels. I still think the additional hot meal service will end up taking less time because there will be no more asking pax what they want then ringing up their credit cards, but I realize that is just my opinion. You may agree or disagree. Indeed, with over 15K United FAs viewpoints will be varied.
I agree fully. I’m not hearing any complaints from my UA co-workers. We all knew this was on the way for a long time now. This article is a bit confusing.
As a flight attendant who takes pride in my job I have to say the want for extra staffing isn’t because of the extra work meals will cause, it is about the time. I like to provide a friendly service, but with 2 flight attendants for 160 people, you will sit there with trash and dirty trays for over an hour as it will take that long to just do one service. I don’t mind the work, I am thinking of the pax sitting there with a food tray for 1 hour wanting to work while we are still in the aisle with the cart serving drinks to the back- not yet picking up.
No flight attendant is revolting anything. It hasn’t even started yet. Flight Attendants discuss new products all the time, as you know since you spy on flight attendant blogs. United has so many flight attendants, just because a couple express concern over a new product, on a blog for flight attendants, doesn’t mean we’re planning some dramatic revolt. LOL.
I’m sorry, what? I’m a United flight attendant and the first I’ve heard about us being “up in arms” is this article. Who’s your source? One flight attendant that was having a bad day? I mean let’s be serious, this additional service is pretty much what we do on an international route. We don’t care about stopping the fresh food service at 22 because that’s the cabin class you purchased and that’s the service provided for that class. Premium customers will continue to receive their benefits.
The only point I agree with you on is the fact that we’re understaffed on some of our aircraft. An extra person helps out greatly when trying to get everyone drinks, snacks and food in a timely manner. Also, to your point about having plenty of extra time between services, the complaint isn’t that we don’t have time, the issue with adding in any additional service at all is the amount of time it takes to serve the customers in the very last row. You may not care that a service takes almost 2 hours if you’re in economy plus, but if you’re in that last row and are waiting till the 2nd hour 2 to be served then its not a good feeling. I’m not speaking of the new service, I’m speaking of service in general and why you’re point about there being “plenty of time for additional service” and us not wanting to do it because it’s more work is false.
Luke, thank you for commenting. I can assure you that my source was not one FA but many.
Whoever let you on ‘galley gab’ (a really bad bitch-fest page) needs to remove you. I am thinking that is that page you are referring to. That page does not represent all of us, and is literally a bitch fest. Just saying.
Who did you schmooz to get into an industry blog? A new hire? You are sounding like such a diletante…
Anybody will tell you, the employees have ZERO input as to initial service change decisions,
I am an employee but I am not a spokesperson for United. My above thoughts and opinions are strictly my own.
My I ask why there isn’t a single direct quote from an actual United Airlines flight attendant in your post? Maybe you should entitle the article “Possible concerns of new United trans-con service”. Might not get as many clicks as your current title. But I can say, as an actual United Airlines flight attendant, the views expressed in your post do not accurately describe how most flight attendants feel about the product. It’s a very large work group and everyone is not on your secret chat group for flight attendants only. I know I’m not. No revolts are planned. Everyone relax.
I’m happy to quote you directly if you’d like to chat. Do I have permission to email you? If a follow-up story is appropriate, I will gladly write that most FAs are happy about these service changes.
I can’t speak on whether most flight attendants are happy about the product or not. So sorry, I cannot be the one quote in your next blog post. I’m just letting you know that even if you had hundreds of flight attendants telling you a certain opinion, you have to realize there are thousands of flight attendants who may think differently. As far as staffing goes, they will very likely increase it. The next time you fly from IAD to LHR count the total flight attendants who serve meals and drinks on that 7 hour flight in economy. Next fly from BOS to SFO 6 hr 30 minute flight, count the flight attendants on that flight. Different number, for an obvious reason. On a 777 aircraft there are 2 aisles. Doing meals means 2 extra carts on these new premium trans-con routes, which mean you naturally would need two flight attendants to use them. So it’s not about 2hr service taking away from our Galley hangout time, it just that most passengers just like to have their food and drink at the same time. FYI the same flight attendants who may be confiding in you also work international routes that have sometimes 3 meal services in economy. I just landed in Beijing, 3 meal services in Economy, with 1Ks, no complaints. So concerns are definitely not out of laziness. Please don’t email me.
Also, we’ve had similar discussions about Polaris and Basic Economy. No revolts. You are just using overly dramatic wording to increase clicks. I get it. You have to make a living.
I hope you will be “disinvited” from private flight attendant groups, since these gripes are meant for flight attendants ONLY!
I think it is important for the public to understand these. Just because I dismiss these concerns does not mean others do. In fact, many non-FA readers are sympathetic. Who else would have written about this? It puts the “good news” of this new announcement in perspective and helps others to better appreciate FA concerns.
I have to agree. Apparently the author doesn’t understand his own statement of ‘…“safe space” for which FAs and gate agents can vent about their airline.’ By discussing a topic publicly that was discussed in a “safe space” he has now violated the whole purpose of that “safe space”.
Right. Please, Flight attendants or Agents, Do Not invite outsiders to an industry blog!
I think you are using FAs frustrations to get your opinions out. There is no revolt, we don’t care about food, who gets it are not. We realize people don’t want to pay for a ticket that gives them any type of extras. And the ones that are in first or economy plus is on their company dime not theirs.
Revolt? What revolt? Maybe UA fa’s should be told about the revolt. Because this guy talks to a few fa’s, they don’t speak for the whole group. And he certainly doesn’t speak for the group.
Mathew you article is full of crap. Once again spreading alternative facts !!!
I don’t think we as UA FA’s can be angry about the move until we experience the new service. Having 4 FA’s on a 757 when American staffs their A321T’s with 6 goes to show which airline really values premium service.
It’s simply not fair for the folks in the very rear of cattle class to have to wait a full two hours from takeoff to get a beverage. You won’t be able to expect a FA from business class to be able to help, either, since they’re going to be stuck parading around new signature drinks and a cheese and dessert cart. They should’ve just offered free sandwiches for everyone in Economy and done away with buy on board on these routes.
Ha ha ha this is a spoof right? You sir obviously know nothing about my job. Nor do I believe you have so called fa friends. Tell us please who these so called angry united fa’s are. This is the funniest thing I have read in quiet some time. Thanks for the laugh!!! Have you ever flown?
8-year 1K and MillionMiler. I have definitely flown…
Yeah, but you haven’t worked as a Flight Attendant or have been employed by an airline. You do sound like a total dick.
I think the changes United is implementing are only about their bottom dollar and have nothing to do with people, be it paying customers or their employee fas. They seem only concerned with keeping the shareholders happy and making them happier and happier each quarter. You’re off the mark Matthew.
Yes, you are spot on.
I think Matthew was dumped by a United flight attendant. So bitter, stilll. Ha!
Dumped by a united flight attendant. Still bitter. Ha!
Handing out a snack box to a 1k seated in row 33 is a lot different than bringing back a hot meal to a 1k in row 33.. maybe shadow an economy flight attendant on a trans con instead of sitting in 3A to see how it all really works. You’ll wish you had time to sit in the galley on your bum.
This guy isn’t a 1K/million miler as he says. He is a guy who will obviously be purchasing a basic economy ticket or one via Priceline. Stick to spirit or frontier seems more fitting for you and your “status”. I haven’t seen one revolt as we just found this out days ago. We are discussing things as we do with any new product. Please cite your sources. This article is just as relevant as your airline status. T R A S H.
And even if he was, they are a dime a dozen. Look at the boarding gate upgrade list..his status will get him zip.
These sites are private. Why are you trolling flight attendant Facebook sites? Creepy. I hope whatever private site you are on, the admin kicks you off. Get a life.
It’s not a good thing to make it seem like our workgroup is upset about these changes. We have know for some time that they were coming. The people that are upset about the changes are in the minority. It’d be nice to have an article written about us that was true and in a better light. Always crapping on us… unfortunate.
I’m a United flight attendant. Many of my peers were excited about offering a competitive product. We are concerned about the staffing because a simple beverage service as it is, can take up to an hour easily.
You mentioned that it might take less time because now we don’t have to swipe credit cards but we will still have food for purchase in addition to these hot meals. So now it will take additional time, not less. On international flights, on the 757, there IS an additional flight attendant.
Here is the flow of service currently on a domestic transcon (might vary slightly) with two FAs:
-Flight attendant 1 distributes snacks while the other sets up the beverage cart.
-they both pull the beverage cart to the top of the aisle
-flight attendant 1 starts serving drinks while the other flight attendant preps snack and fresh food cart (mind you, this cart is totally full already with our current product). She goes through the aisle to sell food and snack items
-meanwhile, each flight attendant has to run back and forth between galleys to do things like refill the coffee pot, or anything else missing. This means multiple trips up and down the aisle which slows down service. For example, we do not carry decaf coffee on the cart itself so I’d have to run to the galley to make that if you request it.
-once flight attendant two is done on the snack cart, she hops back onto the beverage cart.
-when service is over, flight attendant two restocks the beverage cart while flight attendant one picks up the trash and then they do it all over again.
On international flights, we do not sell the snacks and fresh food choices. But since we are not offering this product to the entire cabin, I imagine we will be expected to do both. Which would require something different with the food cart because as it stands, it just wouldn’t fit in the cart. Would this mean another round with a meal cart? I don’t have a problem with taking out a separate cart after the beverage service is done but one of the biggest complaints I’ve heard is from passengers is that flight attendants spend too much time in the aisle with a cart. With free food, that means you’d have the beverage cart, the snack cart, the free food cart, and the trash cart. With only two flight attendants on a 757, that also means you won’t get your hot meal until maybe an hour after you got your beverage. By now you’ll want another beverage so here we go again with the beverage cart which means: beverage cart, snack cart, trash cart, hot meal cart, trash cart, beverage cart, trash cart… and then pre arrival beverage cart. That’s a lot of carts in a single aisle aircraft. With a 3rd FA in economy, she can start the service from the back while the other two start it in the front until they meet in the middle. Everyone gets served timely. Everyone is happy. It’s so simple.
Everyone I have spoken to wants the product to be successful. We WANT a competitive product. But it won’t be competitive if the next post on your blog is going to critisize the fact that you have to wait an hour after your first bevegerage to get a hot meal.. or something like that.
The idea was JUST introduced to us. I’m sure all the details will be ironed out and described clearly soon. For the most part, no one is against the new service. We are just discussing, in our “safe spaces” as you put it, how it’s actually going to work and how it could be better. Because that’s what humans do. They discuss. Some other humans, like you, exaggerate to create click bait.
This guy violated the trust afforded him in the private groups. He lied about who he is to gain entry. Lies in Lies out. What name did you use to get in? Scoundrel on the prowl? Wanna be a flight attendant? Mr. Boring with nothing else to write about? As said above…get a life and not something in a position of trust-maybe someone who digs through trash cans looking for names to steal
identities.
Spare me your faux-outrage. The issues FAs have with the new service is something that the flying public should be aware of. You’ll always have people calling you lazy, but the point of this post is not remotely related to that false accusation. This is an important discussion that implicates United’s frequent flyers as well…
It’s not “faux-outrage”, you can’t speak on issues that a FA is facing if you’re not a FA plain and simple, POINT BLANK PERIOD. How on earth can you tell me about a job and how I feel if you have never even done the job! How in the hell can we have issues with somenting that hasn’t even been implemented yet? It might not even go through! Airlines change literally by the minute and coming from an “avid” traveler like yourself (allegedly), you should know that. Who are you to sneak into a group and expose private thoughts and opinions potentially even security sensitive information from a work group that YOU are not apart of. The only RIOT I am seeing is us coming together to put bloggers with nothingness to say like you in your place! And let me be the one to find out you’re in a group that you’re not supposed to be in, I consider that a direct threat and security breach of the sort since you’re not an employee of our work group. And it will be handled as such. Now quote that.
Signed,
A FA who is definitely going to handle you.
And Dr. Dao had what was coming to him, right? Another “security threat”.
I meant faux outrage over venting this concern in public, not outrage over the new service protocols…
I won’t speak on that situation, because it’s clear once you run down a secured jet bridge what you are. So keep that “bait”, let’s stick to the subject at hand. The fact that you “light heartedly” threw that in there speaks mounds on your character and airline status/loyalty. With that being said let me get you together real quick Mr. Million Miler, the “Faux-outrage” as you call it is justifiable. As you are exposing individuals thoughts and concerns in a group that you aren’t even supposed to be in and I quote
“These password-protected or invite-only sites offer a “safe space” for which FAs and gate agents can vent about their airline.”
A SAFE space, so every FA on your elementary written blog has the right to be outraged. Because you are secretly violating us in every way by lurking like the lurker you are, in our password protected sites waiting for the one FA who doesn’t speak for the majority to show one ounce of distaste in something so you can expose them and make a quick come up and another measly penny for this tired blog. Seems be the theme with the airlines now a days huh. Quick come ups….. But don’t worry if you’re on my flight I’ll treat you super special regardless of what row you end up in with your “status”. I love love love my passenger and even more so my flight attendant groupies. 😉 Feel free to keep your reply. Hate to be the reason you make a quick buck.
Have a blessed day & Safe travels
I have never had a passenger call me lazy in 30+ years. I have only been told how hard our job looks and how hard we work. You are really part of the problem, not solution.
You make your $$$$ by criticizing airlines/flight attendants/gate agents, etc. I can’t imagine any flight attendant group letting you in on FB. The likely scenario is that you pretended to be someone sympathetic to their cause. In other words, a user. Being a passenger most certainly does not make you any kind of an expert. In fact I will wager that you only look for the negatives because that’s what people want to hear and it’s what you get paid for. It enables people who become passengers to get on their next flight and feel empowered to degrade and complain about nearly anything. I was hired with Continental in 1969 and retired from United last August. I have seen these types of self-serving articles many times from various authors. I have personally been the victim of ignorant and uninformed passengers. Many of those people think because they “read an article” that they know exactly what is going on. I urge any FA group that has allowed you access to their pages to remove you immediately. I would also urge any FA that has you on a flight to not discuss anything with you that has to do with the industry.
Read this–
http://liveandletsfly.boardingarea.com/2016/12/13/love-affair-united-airlines/
I DO care and LOVE United. I do not only look for bad news…
Your assessment is wrong, even though I still don’t believe the concerns are valid for this particular service change on premium transcon routes.
You are NOT A CREW MEMBER. Repeat that to yourself over and over. I don’t care if you fly everyday. I sure don’t know who invited or allowed you into any crew chatrooms, but I would put you right out if I had control over any of them. Your comments show that you are quite ignorant of the Dr. Dao situation, and what we have had to tolerate since that situation went down. I suggest you keep your seat.
And change your profile pic, or grow a mustash…
Increased clicks and posts = mission accomplished? 😉 Thank you UA FAs!
I invite you to come walk a mile in my heels. I just worked a 777 FULL with 8 FAs from IAD to SFO. With the beverage service alone we needed more hands. This “sitting in the galley” you speak of rarely happens. We have a constant flow of call buttons, people coming to the galley requesting things and preparation for service. We rarely sit, and rarely do we get a chance to take a breath without know-it-alls like yourself coming to the back critiquing us. Other countries are able to get you a full service because they don’t staff minimum crew. We domestically on trains con have the bare minimum, meaning one flight attendant per passenger. People will be asking in Economy why they’re not fed and it will be an issue. People jump from Y to Y+ all the time without our knowledge. United is giving us one more thing to keep an eye out for during boarding (our most stressful time of the day) Instead of writing a post slamming us flight attendants, maybe you should actually listen ntonus and show us empathy. Just because you buy a ticket does not give you the right to run us ragged for your flight.
Yup. I spend a lot of time just sitting in my galley doing nothing. Sounds right. (HARD EYE ROLL).
I literally came out of the airplane lav the other day to see someone was waiting at the door to hand me trash and ask me a question. I’d love a few mins to sit in the galley! We don’t get breaks and customers don’t allow us to take a few mins to ourselves. It doesn’t work that way creep. So don’t make it sound like after a bar cart we take a nap. We work very hard for many more hours than most people! You should go ahead and name all these FA you’ve been snooping on so we can all block you. SO, SO creepy.
Let me guess, IAH-based?
and what exactly does that comment mean ? Sounds like you think less of fa’s if they are based in IAH. Where are all the fa’s who agree with your story? I only see comments from fa’s who disagree with you here . I am also UA fa , 33 years , and if it matters I’m based in ORD. I find your story totally inaccurate
I’ve noticed a number of postings, pertaining to this article, whose authors stated that they were flight attendants. It appeared that in a majority of the postings, the FA’s were complaining about their jobs (i.e. taking away dirty trays, serving demanding passengers, dealing with passengers who press the call button, etc.). One FA actually wrote “If you don’t like it, go fly one of the subservient Asian airlines”. The attitude of those posters actually sums up the problem in a nutshell. It appears that USA flight attendants (especially those in a union), have an entitlement mentality. In other words, it is “us” versus “them” (the flying public). It seems that the flying public is perceived as “the enemy” by many FA’s. Once upon a time, prior to deregulation, there were standards for FA’s. Now, it appears that flight attendants with personality disorders, mood swings, those with mental problems, etc., can now become flight attendants. They complain and gripe, and have bad attitudes towards the flying public, even before the passengers actually board the plane. I remember flying on Braniff Airlines in 1966, over 50 years ago. Then, the flight attendants (they were called stewardesses in those days), treated every passenger with courtesy and respect, and didn’t have the attitude, which is prevalent in the industry today. Incidentally, there was one individual who alleged that airlines in the USA are not subsidized by the government. The airlines may not be directly subsidized, but indirectly, the government bends over backwards to keep them in business. For example, following the terrorist attacks of 9/11/01, the government did everything in its power to protect the financial integrity of the airlines. If it would have allowed the thousands of lawsuits to have gone forward (instead of setting up a victim’s compensation fund), from the families of the victims against the airlines, the discovery process would have shown the gross negligence and incompetence of the airlines, regarding security. Even the 9/11 Commission report was watered down, and didn’t even address the role of the airlines, which could have prevented the terrorist attacks. I’m convinced that either American or United Airlines, or possibly both, would have folded, if the latter was the case. In summary, regarding the complaints of the distinguished and esteemed flight attendants, whom we all adore, I will repeat the immortal words of President Harry S. Truman, when he stated “IF YOU CAN’T STAND THE HEAT, GET OUT OF THE KITCHEN”.
P.S. Oh, yes, regarding the comment about “the subservient Asian Airlines”, it should be noted that on Japan Airlines, and other carriers in Asia, the flight attendants constantly walk up and down the aisles to see if a passenger needs anything, even without the passenger asking for anything. Also, they bow to the passengers. I could just see some of the charming flight attendants on this site, bowing to passengers! As Buddy Holly once sang “That Will be the Day”.
You, Sir?, are an idiot.
To: Jason-I try to keep this discourse civil, in an effort to respect the opinions of others. However, I’ve found that there are occasional provocateurs, such as yourself, who use this site to personally attack others, with names. It is truly sad that this discussion board, which ostensibly caters to well educated members of the flying public, sometimes gets into the gutter. Tell me, if you disagree with your friends and family, do you also refer to them as “idiots”. Do you even know what an idiot is? I don’t think so.
Oh, what a wonderful life it is for a man his job is to critique and analysis other people’s job and livelihoods.
Give my regards to Wi Tu Lo.
To: Sum Ting Wong (or whatever your real name is):
Tell me something, is it prohibited to criticize members of the airline industry on this site? If the NTSB and the FAA followed your ridiculous philosophy, they would never criticize the actions of pilots, co-pilots,flight engineers, airline mechanics, gate agents, ticket agents,and flight attendants.