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.

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.

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.
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.

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!!!

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.

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?

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.

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?

*LOL*

Bill

Come on you FA's let's face it--you did not become FA's to insure passenger safety! ROTFLMAO at that one!

You really signed up because it sounded (pick one)
a) Glamorous
b) you didn't want to or couldn't get into college
c) You wanted the travel perks
d) You wanted to meet MEN!

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!!!!

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.