wills

Southwest has become the most popular airline in the US. They don't serve food, don't give seat assignments and pretty much operate as a bus in the sky. That is apparently what people want, so why hate the airlines for giving it to you? And why complain if you have to pay for better service i.e business and first class? Answer: Because you have to pay for it. Airline travel has become a Greyhound bus in the sky unless you pay to sit up front. The fact that people can't accept that is why so many grouse like the above posters. Also what is it that you really expect from airline staff? They are there to drag your person off of a burning airplane, by directive of the FAA. Do you really think that the airlines would have them there otherwise? My FA friend says that every plane you get on now has the absolute minimum of staff required. I would imagine that they do not have time to kiss your ###. As for the American crew that endured the five hour delay along with you and then worked an eight hour flight, have a little sympathy, their official day started two hours before that flight departs, and that would make them on duty for fifteen hours by the time you landed in London. Factor in jet lag and I would say that's a bit much for people paid about 20,000/year. Yes, it would have been nice for them to offer something complimentary but you demonstrate your lack of class for demanding it.

Judyrem

Wills, Why is your friend a FA? Is it for the money? Travel? To meet people? Would she treat passengers badly? Is she getting paid to provide a service? If not enough, why does she do it? No matter what happens there is NO EXCUSE for surly and rude behaviour by any EMPLOYEE. In any other business, the miserable FA I encountered would not last long, and you know it. As for my lack of class, you show yours by pointing it out on a WEB site.

petlover

With enough flying time we WILL all experience difficult times regardless of the airline of choice. I was confined in one of the tiny United Express Jets for 3 hours at Dulles last August....not allowed to leave the plane and walk back in the terminal. The AC was not on, we were not offered any water and it was 95 degrees with 95% humidity. It was really unbearable and beyond claustrophobic. As unfortunate as it was, I survived and ultimately got to my destination safely.

The airlines have changed for sure. I am old enough to remember when flight attendants were actually RN nurses, pilots were treated with awe amd respect of celebrity status. Passengers were quite dressed up and would never have considered wearing jeans,shorts or sandals. The stewardesses (as they were called then) use to walk up and down the isles with a basket of free cigarettes in little 4 packs, and each passenger received 2 mini-bottles of liquor free....now that's how much things have changed.

Those days are long gone so we need to adjust and try to cooperate with each other to prevent air rage and the skys friendly. Airplanes today should be considered as an air bus in the sky. On international flights I will fly business or 1st class but domestically I sit crunched in coach and survive!

For those who can fly on private planes or always always 1st class...consider yourself very lucky!!

Jen

QC:

Right on!