Comments

1. Another “Clean. Your. Planes.” post, so here’s the rest: “hire and properly train enough cleaning crews” and “pay your cleaning crews better” and “properly manage and allot cleaning crews enough time to actually properly clean” your planes. FTFY.

2. I’ve had free wifi on American for years with my carrier, t-mobile.

3. I wouldn’t fly United Airlines or pretty much any other USA airline internationally unless there wasn’t any other way to do it economically. Several USA airline companies are known for forcing the checking of carry-on luggage. Hard shell luggage takes the most beating if the baggage crews are prone to throwing it around (many USA ones are). Due to that, I have adjusted my luggage accordingly. I have one checked soft shell roller bag. My other checked bag is a military style top loading duffel bag with a backpack inside. The combination is lighter than a roller bag by quite a bit and the backpack can be put on for walking longer distances and/or over rough terrain. It is also hard to throw and can be fit in my roller bag if there is enough space. My hard shell carry-on has been retired. In it’s place I have got a somewhat smaller (but internally the same size and lighter) day backpack with hideable shoulder straps and compression straps. It fits in the overhead bin easier. It may be less likely to be force checked. I have a small nylon duffel in it to put my stuff (medications, power banks, food for trip, set of clothing, etc.) in if it ever is forced checked but it has never been force checked. My personal item is a small backpack with a laptop.

4. Atlanta airport’s corruption would make Boss Tweed blush.

   As to AA’s mishandled luggage improvement, those are big numbers even if it’s easier to make such big strides when you have more room for improvement. Just as it’s important to call out American when they do one of their spectacular boneheaded moves it’s appropriate to praise them on areas that they’re genuinely improving.

5. Cleaning crews might have 5 minutes to clean planes between turns. You could pay them $40 an hour and they’re going to miss items because they don’t have adequate time. It’s this simple. Carry wipes in your carry on. It’s not that hard. Unless you are happy to miss your connection.

6. @George N Romey — This isn’t Japan; perfection will never be the standard; yet, we deserve better, and excellence is achievable, especially within the context of a clean aircraft (like, no trash, surfaces wiped, floors vacuumed, lavatories restocked, etc.)

   Yes, a livable wage with benefits to retain talented and motivated teams. Depending on the location, $20/hour minimum seems reasonable for this. And if time is the issue, then airlines should hire/properly train additional cleaning crew.

   And I do bring wipes, 70% alcohol, do a brief clean of surfaces at my seat, every flight. I also have masks ready in case someone behind me is hacking. Fortunately, haven’t been sick from traveling in a while. It works.

7. @George N Romey — Sir, you are more ‘progressive’ than I am, because I just read: “Some companies like Southwest Airlines and United Airlines pay above the national average, with estimated average hourly rates of $22.88 and $22.09 respectively.” So, it can be done. This isn’t that hard. Pay, train, manage better, get better results.

8. 1990
   and yet, WN and UA might pay aircraft cleaners (their own employees or contractors – and the answer is not the same for WN and UA) more than market average but UA pays its own baggage handlers worse than other carriers and their contract will become amendable in weeks. and UA’s baggage handling results is well below DL and WN’s.
   AA and UA hang out together in the basement of baggage handling results.

   paying top tier isn’t necessary to get the best results but it should come as no surprise that companies underperform if they underpay their people.

9. @Tim Dunn — Well said. It certainly is more nuanced than the typical quib like ‘nobody wants to work anymore…’ *facepalm*

   All people want and deserve dignity in work and life. Yes, even cleaners. (I know, that’s shocking to some here who consider them as ‘untouchables’ or some other underclass, sadly.)

   Most folks tend to ‘act their wage,’ too. Minimum wage often becomes minimum effort.

   I, too, would like to see better investment from the bottom up, instead of the top down. Executives are already overpaid enough as it is–C suite should hop on-board a 737 every now and again to do a deep-clean with the crews, you know, ‘Undercover Boss’ style, because even performative humility is at least a ‘start.’