Do you view flight attendants like waiters?
 

When I fly, I expect flight attendants to be somewhat like waiters/waitresses, except (obviously) much more skilled. I order and pay for drinks, they bring them. They bring food to my "table." I also ask them to bring me magazines (if they have them), a blanket/pillow, and perhaps playing cards. If I've had to stow my bag away from my seat, I also ask attendants to bring me my carry-on if I need it (I don't abuse this request). I usually ask whichever attendant is walking by, or sometimes I light up the button above my seat to get their attention. I am always polite, but since the goal of every airline is to keep passengers in their seats as much as possible, I comply by having the attendants bring me whatever I may need during my flight. <BR><BR>I recently flew with a friend who was appalled by my behavior. She thought I was taking advantage of the attendants. I maintain that when the fasten seatbelt light is on, it means STAY SEATED, and the attendants are there to "attend" to the passengers' needs. I also maintain that most attendants would rather wait on passengers than have them wandering around the plane all the time, clogging the aisles. <BR><BR>Who's right here?

Can't say that I'd disagree. You might be taking it a little further than I would be comfortable with, but I don think that they're basically glamourized waitresses.

I prefer to treat stewardesses like sex slaves.

You sound like you go a little over board. If you view them like servers I sure hope you also tip them!

I think you go a little too far. Bring your own cards and magazines. I for one would not want anyone but myself touching my carry on. to easy to reach in those pockets a little too quickly.

Are you a frequent flyer? Your friend was right to be appalled with you. Your behavior is VERY provincial!<BR><BR>If you flew frequently, you would be aware that flight attendants are there mostly for security reasons, not some sort of glamourized waiters.<BR><BR>A question of my own: Why is it that non-frequent flyers are the ones that gripe and bitch the most about air travel?

Sorry ISTHIS-FA's are NOT there for SECURITY reasons but for SAFETY reasons and they do a poor job at that. Most of today's FA's are no more than glorified waitresses....

I agree with IsThis.

I agree with frequentflyer. But I also have some rules for passengers that makes the relationship between passenger and FA more comfy wumfy: <BR><BR>* If you can't lift it over your own head, CHECK IT, you geezer.<BR>* If you don't like the food, don't complain.<BR>* If you are pouring over the arm rests, book two seats.

wow:<BR><BR>Security, safety... so sue me!<BR><BR>They are there to give instructions for people who don't pay attention when they give the SAFETY briefing before take-off. They are trained on what to do in the event of an emergency. Are you trained to do that? Can you do a better job?

I hope you at least say please and thank you before monopolizing all of their time. <BR><BR>

Most flight attendants would have moved up a rung in my estimation if they could be viewed as waiters. (not ALL, of course) <BR><BR>When I recently asked for a magazine the FA said, and I quote, "We don't DO that anymore". My seatmate and I burst out laughing simultaneously and so I did acquire someone to talk to, although no mag!

I suggest you read "The Air Traveler's Survival Guide : The Plane Truth from 35,000 Feet" before pushing that call button to frequently.<BR><BR>As the author indicates, there are some rather interesting ways for FA's to get even with those who they deem to be difficult.

I bet it has happened to frequent ([email protected]) more times then he/she wants to count! <BR>

ff@q, if you are going to treat them like your personal waiter/waitress, then you should TIP them 15% - 20% of the cost of your flight at the end of the flight!

My mother was a Pan Am flight attendant during the days when traveling by airplane was considered glamourous...of course the airplanes were smaller and the number of people aboard a flight was less...nowadays it compares with riding a city bus or train...they are there primarily for safety reasons, and to help the trip proceed smoothly and comfortably in the cabin...I can't believe how rude and demanding many people are toward them...although it's a little off the subject, ask any flight attendant one of the "things" they dislike most and they will tell you it's passengers being allowed to bring a carry-on bag on board to place in the overhead bins...many people abuse the privilege and have no consideration for the other passengers who would also like to store a bag on board...imagine what it must be like to have about 200 people demanding your attention at their command with little or no respect.

I'm with frequent, and Danna. I'd like to view them as waitresses, but with that attitude of "let me see how little work I can actually do on this flight", you'd be lucky to get the waitress, I mean stewardess to do anything for you.<BR><BR>So they know safety and security measures. Just what are they expected to do the 99.9% of the time when that knowledge is not being put to use? Would it kill them to go find you a magazine or a pillow? Most flights stopped serving food, a lot don't even stock magazines so what are the Flight attendants purpose, other than to be ready to use their knowledge?<BR><BR>Give me a good waiter or waitress any day. At least most of them do their job with a smile and some effort, instead of acting like they're doing you a colossel favor just to answer a question.

What is a security guard expected to do with his time? Shine shoes?

I ask them to rub my feet, massage my back and brink me my blankie to tuck me in when I'm really tired.

Isa, Are you a moron? Don't you see the difference? The security guard doesn't have free time. The FA isn't doing any security work for the duration of the flight. <BR><BR>The original purpose of the FA was to make the flight more comfortable for the passengers by attending to their needs(hence the name Flight Attendant). <BR><BR>Their job was to serve food, drink, bring pillows and blankies, answer questions and yes, have knowledge of emergency prodedures in the event one should occur. They were not hired to stand around and do nothing, just being ready in case some type of emergency should pop up.<BR><BR>Do you honestly believe that we should expect them to do nothing more then point to the emergency exits and demonstrate the life vests and oxygen mask for 5 minutes before take-off? In fact they don't even do this anymore as now most filghts just show a video of the FA going through emergency procedures.<BR><BR>Again I ask you, what should they be doing for the duration of the flight if you think waitressing duties are beneath them? I'm fascinated.

Yeah, alsoa, tell the flight attendant who caught the Richard Reid trying to set his shoe on fire that she wasn't doing any "security" work during the flight. Clearly flight attendants today have to be more alert for suspicious behavior than ever before. People distracting them with frivolous requests don't make flying any safer for any of us.

I have a new respect for flight attendants. They deal with looking out for suspicious characters, drunken fools, crying babies, puking passengers and wannabe first-class coach seaters like Frequent. <BR>Frequent- you sound extremely demanding and it sounds as if you don't receive enough attention at home. Leave the FA's alone and please get a clue from your friend.

Alright, so when they aren't looking for people playing with matches (by the way, another passenger alerted the FA to Richard Reid, she didn't notice it while on a reconnaissase mission), what are they doing? I don't call getting someone a drink or a magazine a frivolous request. I call it part of the job.<BR><BR>I notice them all chit chatting in the back for most of the flight, or thumbing through a magazine. They must be excellent spies, because to the untrained eye it appears that they are doing absolutely nothing. Damn but they're good!

Is or is not air travel a service industry?

Renee, honey, air travel hasn't been a service industry in years. Can you say "deregulation"? Its just another form of public transportation.

Ryan, I'll never read the book, so tell me: What are the rather interesting ways for FA's to get even with those who they deem to be difficult?

I EXPECT great service from my flight attendant. I then give them their expected tip. If I were to be as demanding as Frequent Flyer was (which I have no problem with), I would have tipped about a $20 for a 3-5 hour flight.<BR><BR>I love to give a tip almost as much as I like to receive one. :-)<BR><BR>tHe hApPy wAiTeR

I'm not a flight attendant, I don't have to smile at you when you demand something from me in an impolite, obnoxious way.<BR><BR>Funny play on words by the way. Hadn't heard that one since third grade.

<BR>Ryan,<BR><BR>Now that you are in the fourth-grade, are you feeling old?<BR><BR>tHe hApPy wAiTeR

Is it just me, I have never seen a non-busy FA. They are always running around greeting people when entering aircraft, getting food, drinks, pillows and blankets, answering every conceivable question about the aircraft or travel in general, helping people with children, explaining safety procedures at beginning of flight. Making sure someone has a good supply of puke bags and making sure we are all buckled in before taking off and all upper carry on compartment are shut tightly. They also try to find space for all the carry on luggage brought aboard, running furiously up and down the aisle placing excess luggage somewhere. You must be kidding, a waitress doesn't not even have to deal with drunk and obnoxious people like an FA. Grow up.

Stephanie, It's just you.

The tasks Stephanie describes take about 30 minutes max and are completed by the time the plane takes off. Hint, they are working, they should be busy doing SOMETHING. <BR><BR>What about the rest of the 2 to 8 hour flight? If you've never observed the FA's chatting, reading or sleeping you obviously don't fly much.

This is one of the nuttiest threads I've ever read. <BR><BR>Until you have actually worked a day as a flight attendant, I would reserve your views that flight attendants are lazy and spend their time doing as little as possible. My friends are and I can assure you they are not sitting on their butts. <BR><BR>Given the events of September 11, these overworked and underpaid folks now have even MORE responsibilites than they did before. Now they have to be able to recognize terrorists and suspicious passengers while taking care of Mr. Attend to My Every Need. <BR><BR>By the way, frequent, do you tip ALL the flight attendants? Because you can bet they all had something to do with keeping you safe, making your coffee, giving you that pillow, pouring that drink, serving your meal, hanging up your coat, etc. I somehow doubt it. <BR><BR>If everyone held your views that all passengers deserve such service, you'd have four flight "waiters" serving over a hundred "tables" on a business flight. I think even the most courageous restaurant waiter/waitress would quit in light of those odds.<BR><BR>If you want personal attention for all your flights, I suggest you get a private jet with your own valet.

underpaid? I am curious what FA salaries are these days. 15 years ago my neighbor was FA and was making lots more money than I was. She took her job seriously, worked hard at staying attractive for her position. She traveled to wonderful places, as well as some boring routine spots. She didn't work full time but would have days away from home. She didn't have kids and was happy to travel. She was making much more than me. At the time I had a masters degree and a good paying professional position at the time. It was a good match for her and I certainly did not feel sorry for her. She had a good financial experience.<BR><BR>Any idea what salaries they are getting now? Of course they're in a risky situation but so are police and firefighters and teachers, it's their choice and probably they don't consider flying frequently risky. <BR><BR>How many hours do they work for their salaries?<BR><BR>I'm not trying to be demeaning. I'm wondering what they are getting paid and for how many hours. <BR><BR>

When we travelled with virgin airways the f.a's were like servers ,they were always hovering to serve us some thing and check that everthing was o.k <BR>united airlines couldn't even find a blanket on a night flight for the small child of the lady sitting next to us.<BR>some airlines train better than others.

All the people who complain about FAs and how much work they really do, have an empty life. I am not obsessed with what FAs do during a flight, just observances. If you want someone to cater to you, get a wife not an airline employee.<BR><BR>

Being a former flight attendant, we received no training on serving the passenger. I think a bumper sticker said it best: Flight Attendants are there to save your A#$, not kiss it" There is so much time in training dedicated to evacuation and emergency situations - not on how to mix a drink. If your plan is in trouble, I don't think you will be looking to them for pretzels or peanuts.

They must not train the FAs in spelling either, if my plan is in trouble I call my travel agent...if my plane is in trouble, I count on the experience of the pilot.

Acutally I find wait staff to be nice. Most airline personnel to be rude, must be the unions.

What's really amusing are the FA's who think they were hired for security reasons and not to serve food and drink. Who wants to break it to them?