It's hard to have sympathy for a group that is threatening to disrupt air travel and create chaos for everyone involved.

Now that some FA are on this, I have a question for workers in the airline industry. <BR> <BR>I've considered taking a PT job with Continental (or some other airline at EWR) just to get the free flight perks. Help. Which airline is best? I'm not sure which airlines 1) offer to PT emps and 2) have the better programs. <BR> <BR>A relative (in-law) works for Delta. He can fly his parents (who live in S. America) anywhere, anytime FIRST CLASS (standby). That is how they get to/from the US so often. His immediate family gets almost free flights, and he can gets an allotment of $25 (not sure exactly) passes he can give to anyone. <BR>Would appreciate information from people in the business.

Did anyone look at United's special "sale" on tickets? Their wonderful (?) fares out of DC include several for over $450 to the west coast, while offering Paris for about $100 less. And to get that WC fare, you have to travel Monday through Thursday noon, and stay over Saturday night. Going to Buenos Aires is only $200 more than SF. Is UAL nuts or what? When UAL merges with US Airways, I can imagine what UAL will do to those of us who fly out of DC.

I'm confused!!!! What exactly did Frequent Flyer say that was so bad?? AADeb made a comment about not being there to serve drinks but for safety when all Kim asked was is there going to be a strike. AADeb is obviously the one with the chip on her shoulder. I totally agree with Frequent Flyer - it IS part of your job to serve drinks or they wouldn't offer them. Everyone says that if the public was friendlier they would get better service. I agree that there are ALOT of rude people out there especially on airplanes but I also think alot of people in service jobs like AADeb have a preconceived notion about people and don't even make an effort to be friendly.

Thanks Laurie. It seems my words were totally misconstrued by AADeb. <BR> <BR>To Deb-I do not drink anything stronger than 1 cup of coffee AND my wife is an ex flight attendant who quit because she got tired of dealing with the c*** the airlines and the PUBLIC gave her. According to my wife, it is in the job description to serve drinks be they alchohol or soft drinks, meals etc. If someone has too much to drink--CUT THEM OFF!!! <BR> <BR>I stand by my comment, if you do not like serving drinks, (Which is part of your job and dealing with the public) get in another line of work, go back to school and get retrained. But, don't take your frustrations out here.

When people used to talk about working in "The Service Industry," there was a sense of dignity and respect in serving others -- such that clients/patrons were expected to behave with respect toward those who served them. <BR> <BR>Just because someone has a service-oriented job doesn't mean they should be expected to "like it or lump it," no matter what is dished out to them. FreqFlyer's attitude was pretty obviously: "lick my *boots* or don't take the job." I can't believe for a nanosecond that FreqFlyer would like the job himself as he has clearly defined it. So why would anyone else? <BR> <BR>As for passing on the pay raises? If a executive of an airline gets $1 million salary and $1 million in bonuses, how many raises for $40K/yr. flight attendants does that equal? Frankly, I'd much rather have $1. or $5. tacked on to my ticket price for nicer attendants than one DIME for those fat executive wallets -- these are, after all, the guys who gave us torture-chamber seating.

Woops, simultaneous posts (me and FF) - so he _doesn't_ like the definition of the job. Well, if it's a bad job and creates a bad situation in the skies, why not air the problems here? Enough public awareness might actually change something -- not immediately, and not right here. But it's worth having the public think about these things.

Dealing with the public today is no picnic. I agree with FF, if you can't deal with the public, you should not be on the front lines.

I thought recent vignette of mine might shed some light on this debate. Over the Christmas holiday I travelled on Midwest Express with my two boys, age 1 and 2. As most travelers know, Midwest Express is a great airline with fantastic service. Anyway, I got on with my boys and wife and after being seated a flight attendent from another airline (dressed in her uniform with a ID badge) sat one row ahead of us. When the Midwest attendent came by to check everyone prior to takeoff, the seated flight attendent pointed at my boys and said "I don't what to be seated next to those kids!" The Midwest attendent replied that this was a sold out flight, and since she was flying standby (thus assuming a deeply discount rate) could not move. This really seem to upset her. The flight took off and my boys were as good as expected (reading, playing with their trucks etc) while our flight attendent neighbor demanded pre-dinner drinks "to calm my nerves". After 30 minutes she dozed off (presumably from the alcohol). The in flight meal was served but the Midwest attendent skipped the sleeping flight attendent assuming she wished to be left alone. After dinner was finished the sleeping attendent woke up and went absolutely ballistic that she was not served her meal. She called the Midwest attendent (who was most gracious to my family) incompentent and proceeded to trash talk the airline the remainder of the flight. As I left the plane I thanked the Midwest Express attendent and I apologied for what ever inconvience I had caused. "No" she said, "I'm sorry for being in the same profession as her".

IMO, the smaller airlines, Midwest, Midway and Southwest have nicer flight attendants. I have encountered the rudest flight attendants on United, American and Delta.

Check out Ecomplaints.com. The worst airline? AMERICAN! The most common complaint--RUDE SERVICE! You make me sick AADEB!

Have you whiners ever heard of Trailways or Amtrak?

All this talk about serving drinks has made me really thirsty!

If the job of FA is pimarily that of safety, then the airlines need to change their approach. Stop hiring the pretty faces as FA's, and hire some burly security guys. Cut the number down from 4, 5, or 6 FA's to two specially trained security/safety personnel that sit in key locations on the flight, and whose job is to observe and handle any incident. The airlines could add a couple small vending machines at the rear for anyone desiring a soda or some peanuts during the flight. These changes would be value added for the passengers. <BR>

I find I can avoid the whole nasty experience of rude flight crews by just chartering my own flights. I pay well, I show up at the airport on time and my flight takes off on time. I arrive at my destination on time and everyone is happy. What could be easier? <BR> <BR>*LOL* <BR> <BR>Bill

Come on you FA's let's face it--you did not become FA's to insure passenger safety! ROTFLMAO at that one! <BR> <BR>You really signed up because it sounded (pick one) <BR>a) Glamorous <BR>b) you didn't want to or couldn't get into college <BR>c) You wanted the travel perks <BR>d) You wanted to meet MEN! <BR> <BR>I totally agree with the above poster--the airlines need to get rid of the pretty faces and perkiness and hire beefed up security/safety people. Until they do, smile when you push that drink cart FA's because that is part of your JOB!!!! <BR>

Frank, I'm a straight male, engaged already, & not looking to meet men or women for that matter. After graduating from college, I was smart enough to realize that a job that pays $45,000 for working less than 100 days a year makes it worthwhile to put up with fools like yourself. By the way, I'm just starting a block of 35 days off, which you might want to think about while you're in your cubicle Monday morning, wishing you could meet a woman by the water cooler.

Steward, there is NO WAY you make $45,000 unless you have several years seniority. Give me a break. Starting stewardesses earn poverty wages.

Steward's answer gives me some insight as to why AA flight attendants are the most snotty, rudest, worst attitude in the travel industry. It never fails; every time that I get stuck flying AA, I am reminded of this.

AA flight attendants should take a course with Continental FA's. They may make less $$$, but boy, definitely nicer, and much more class.

I do not enjoy flying American Airlines. I do not enjoy flying coach. <BR>I do not enjoy lousy service, or being ignored, by imperious flight attendants and gate crew. <BR>And all of these happen to me frequently. <BR> <BR>However, I also think attitudes like Frank's and "Frequent Flyer's" explain at least part of why FA's assume that passengers are going to be difficult from the get-go. The "it's your JOB" nastiness is so imperious, as if saying, you signed on to like my *boots* so you'd bloodywell better smile and like it. <BR> <BR>Everyone has parts of their job that they love or they wouldn't do it; and everyone has parts of their job that they hate, but that doesn't mean they have to like it or leave. <BR> <BR>Finally, leadership, as someone else said, is the key. If American placed a priority on how passengers feel about their treatment, and rewarded or penalized accordingly, the AA FA's would be the nicest in the world. It's just not high on AA's list of things they want to be to their customers. DFW is their headquarters, and it's the nastiest of all the stations they serve. That should tell you something. <BR>

Oh Please Battleweary-It is common knowledge and has been for years, that being a flight attendant is no picnic and passengers are increasingly unruly so why the hell would you take a job dealing with that kind of crap? And serving drinks is a part of the job description and is explained in the application process. If flight attendants don't like doing it, dealing with it or putting up with it--they should either not take the job or find something else. No one is forcing these people to work.

Actually, only wealthy people ever say "no one is forcing these people to work." And only upper management ever says, "if you don't like the job, leave."

I have flown a lot over the last few years on business and pleasure and have yet to come across a rude flight attendant. Granted, none of these airlines were American (I fly NW, United and Cont.) the flight attendants I encountered were professional, pleasant and polite. Likewaise, I was polite back. The demeanor you get from a FA may be a reflection of what you give. As for people like Frank, who think that it is other people's job to bow to him and serve him unconditionally, I think they need to get off that high horse and back into the low trailer. Such arrogance and animosity from fellow travelors makes me sick. Didn't one's mother ever teach humility and respect? Apparently not but I guess when you're hatched instead of born.......

<BR>From "Battleweary": <BR>... you signed on to like my *boots* so you'd bloodywell better smile and like it. <BR> <BR>Oh, but Ms. Battleweary, I DO love your boots. I REALLY like them. <BR>(They'd be much more attractive, though, if you could keep them out of other people's rear ends). <BR> <BR>

As as ex FA, I can attest to the fact that being a FA is not an easy job. But, when you dread going to work and can't be pleasant--it is time for a career change.

Can we stop this circular argument right now? Let's ALL treat each other with dignity and respect. FAs- please do the best you can in a cramped, poorly-ventilated space to service the flying public. And fellow travelers- drop the old-fashioned notion that traveling by air is some rarefied experience, with FAs there just to kiss your royal ring. It's public transportation, folks- so let's try to make the ride the best we can. It will never be like it "used to be"; if it were, we'd all be dressing to the nines in hats, gloves, high heels and hose- and it's obvious from the attire at airports these days that this isn't the case. You get back what you put out there. Be decent to one another, and kwitcherbeefin'.

Well, Thinker, IF it were like it used to be, then most of the FA's we see wouldn't have the job ... there would still be massive discrimination against people over a certain age, of a certain color, based on sex, looks, height, weight, you name it. Everything except ability would be considered. FA's who didn't measure up physically, culturally, etc. needn't apply. Lets not look back and think we're missing something good. And yes, for some of us, flying is still kind of special, and yes, that's true for some of us who fly more than the average. If it's just public transp. for you, so sorry ... you're missing some fun.

There seems to be quite a few F/A's giving their opinion on this post so I am wondering why none of them have denied giving preferential treatment to gold/silver/platinum card holders and also to members of the opposite sex. I am assuming it is true then. I certainly have witnessed this.

Ummmm....I think I'm missing something here, "Terri"....just why SHOULDN'T FA's give preferential treatment to their best and most loyal customers? <BR>That's how business works, dear. <BR>It's not much different than the 'volume discount' contractors get at the hardware store. They buy the most stuff, they get the best service and a cut rate. <BR>If you (or your company) shell out over $25,000 a year to one airline, don't you think you deserve something in return? Sure...a bunch of frequent flier miles, smiles from the attendants you've come to know personally, and an extra bit of service....well deserved.