A first class American Airlines passenger was kicked off of a flight after requesting a predeparture beverage. He refused to leave after being told to do so a flight attendant and a pilot, so police were called.
He wants to know what he’s done. It doesn’t matter, he’s been told to leave and in the moment there’s nothing he can do about it. The request does not have to be reasonable. He’s going to have to comply.
About four minutes into video of the incident, the passenger’s phone was taken because he was recording the incident. Ironically video of the whole incident was shared online and it was clearly taken by an employee. Eventually he’s pulled from his seat, led out of the aircraft, and handcuffed on the jet bridge.
Since we don’t have video of what was said before the passenger was told to leave the aircraft, let’s assume he was rude when his request for a drink was denied:
Man forcibly removed from flight after refusing multiple requests to leave from attendants, pilot, and police. All started over being denied a pre-takeoff gin and tonic.
by u/losfathead in PublicFreakout
The passenger is largely being roasted in the comments on social media because he’s in first class and the altercation is over a drink. And it’s pointless to argue – escalating the situation only ends badly. But surely the airline ought to be calling the crew in here. Even if they weren’t going to offer predeparture beverages, they shouldn’t have escalated this either.
One of the key service elements of American Airlines domestic first class is the predeparture beverage. Passengers are supposed to be offered something to drink during boarding. The airline has emphasized how valuable this is for customer perception and handed out fortune cookies trying to convince them to do it.
Many flight attendants just don’t bother to do it, and the airline doesn’t actually do anything about it. The most important thing for the airline is an on-time departure, and sometimes there just isn’t time. If a flight boards late, and passengers are pouring down the aisle into the plane, flight attendants aren’t supposed to slow things down. And if ever questioned, all they ever have to do is suggest that they didn’t want to risk delaying pushback.
Since there are no consequences when they don’t do this part of the job, many crewmembers just don’t do it. Others are openly hostile to the idea.
- Their pay is calculated on flight time after the boarding door closes, so they don’t want to work before then.
- They don’t receive enough profit sharing, so don’t care if customers are happy and the airline profitable.
This is a comment about predeparture beverages an American Airlines flight attendant once left on this website,
You bought the seat in 1st. The service is optional. FAs are on board to save your ass not kiss it. …Are there no drinking fountains or restrooms in the terminal? …[Y]ou are so self absorbed , you whine about everything. Walk a day in someone else’s shoes for a change. Tip your flight attendant. They make less than minimum wage working double the hours they get paid for. You tip the waitress that brings your food why is this job any different?
It’s absolutely reasonable for a first class passenger to request a predeparture beverage. In fact it should be proactively offered. However if you’re a frequent traveler on American Airlines you know not to expect this. And arguing with your crew is never going to end up the way you want it to.
(HT: @bags)
For all the experts out there , just to clear your tiny thinking cap.
Airlines have to have flight attendant on board. Even if they didn’t want to have them and even if you birdbrains wanted them off because of low or no service, that will not happen because it’s is required!!!!!!
14 CFR § 91.533 – Flight attendant requirements.
§ 91.533 Flight attendant requirements.
(a) No person may operate an airplane unless at least the following number of flight attendants are on board the airplane:
(1) For airplanes having more than 19 but less than 51 passengers on board, one flight attendant.
(2) For airplanes having more than 50 but less than 101 passengers on board, two flight attendants.
(3) For airplanes having more than 100 passengers on board, two flight attendants plus one additional flight attendant for each unit (or part of a unit) of 50 passengers above 100.
(b) No person may serve as a flight attendant on an airplane when required by paragraph (a) of this section unless that person has demonstrated to the pilot in command familiarity with the necessary functions to be performed in an emergency or a situation requiring emergency evacuation and is capable of using the emergency equipment installed on that airplane.
So there it is in a nutshell, I mean if a drink is that important get one before hand!!
Omg I didn’t see nothing about service !!!!
Poor service is precisely why I now fly shared charter whenever possible. It’s usually not much more than 1st class and saves significant time.
Airlines will continue to mistreat customers as long as customers allow it. Crazy that airlines have been given the power to make criminals out of any passenger by capriciously demanding passengers exit the plane.
This whole “we’re not getting paid until doors are closed” is such an abusive, misleading and infuriating statement. It’s been repeated over and over again to the point that even FAs now believe it. You ARE getting paid and the component is called a “per diem.” You are on duty and you must serve pre-departure drinks in First. If you don’t do that – you’re breaking your company policies. The self-entitlement of those FAs is demoralizing and appalling. It’s really, really disgusting. Imagine: in order to get to work you have to commute, you have to pay for gas, drive or take public transportation. Using this “logic” of “not getting paid until the doors are closed” you all would have to stay at home and never even get to work, because you’re not getting paid for getting to work. FA job is a unique one and it’s not all about the damn money. There are quirks and unusual aspects to it and you all ARE getting paid for doing a job that many people truly passionate about customer service can’t get, because you are all blocking their spots while all you do is complain, threaten pax and be miserable. This attitude is so gross, it’s beyond. Management should terminate those FAs but they can’t, because they’ve allowed unions to literally sabotage the whole industry, especially in the US. This is so, so sad and infuriating.
This whole “we’re not getting paid until doors are closed” is such an abusive, misleading and infuriating statement. It’s been repeated over and over again to the point that even FAs now believe it. You ARE getting paid and the component is called a “per diem.” You are on duty and you must serve pre-departure drinks in First. If you don’t do that – you’re breaking your company policies. The self-entitlement of those FAs is demoralizing and appalling. It’s really, really disgusting. Imagine: in order to get to work you have to commute, you have to pay for gas, drive or take public transportation. Using this “logic” of “not getting paid until the doors are closed” you all would have to stay home and never even get to work, because you’re not getting paid for getting to work. FA job is a unique one and it’s not all about the money. There are quirks and unusual aspects to it and you all ARE getting paid for doing a job that many people truly passionate about customer service can’t get, because you are all blocking their spots and all you do is complain, threaten pax and be miserable. This attitude is so gross, it’s beyond. Management should terminate those FAs but they can’t, because they’ve allowed unions to literally sabotage the whole industry, especially in the US. This is so, so sad and infuriating.
Mac On a flight some passengers in coach was obsessively demanding service. We were sitting across from the galley and could see the flight attendant attempting to compose herself. My husband got up and went to the offending passengers and told them to lay off. And they did. I guess it would be dangerous to try this in the “me first, me only ” sort of jack*sses we have in all parts of our country. He told her what he did and she said “you didn’t” My husband told her his call button didn’t work. She responded I turned yours off!
Interesting. Don’t think I will challenge them on it tho.
“ It is not a violation of federal law to ‘fail to follow crewmember instructions’ (common misconception). It is a violation of federal to to “interfere with a crewmember in the performance of the crewmember’s duties” .
@Crandall J – those are the minimum legal requirements to satisfy the government to operate the aircraft. Those are not the extent of the job duties. The government requires flight attendants, airlines hire people to satisfy that requirement and perform other activities.
And while you say “Omg I didn’t see nothing about service !!!!” the government doesn’t require service, or an airline to sell a first class product (some do not). American Airlines first class isn’t ‘supposed to be’ Frontier (where they… also offer a drink service)
I earned 200,000 points last year in order to get to the Executive Platinum level on American Airlines. Last week I flew coach from New Orleans to Chicago. No upgrade but that’s OK. I asked the flight attendant for the snack box that A.A. promises to Exec Plat passengers in coach. This was a complete surprise to her. Then she said there were no snack boxes. Then she said the snack you receive is actually the same pretzels that everyone else receives. Then she used the word Covid. A universal excuse for everything. I asked when are snack boxes going to be re-instituted and she has no idea. Can I get the $200,000 I spent on credit cards and flights back? I’m not asking for anything for free, in fact, the snack box is a very small token in exchange for the money I’ve given them.
AA doesnt pay flight pay until btakes are released although they have the technology to do so..
Other airlines start flight pay at door closure
Hard to draw conclusions since there’s no video from before the arrival of police. But I hold these truths to be self-evident:
1. There is never any justification for a flight attendant to demand that a passenger stop recording an incident, or to demand or confiscate a passenger’s cellphone while recording an incident.
2. If a passenger is asked to leave, he should be told the reason why.
If the order to leave was not justified, and if wasted time was not a concern for the passenger, it could have been strategic for him waiting for law enforcement to arrive if only because it would totally screw up the departure time, which is the only reason for refusing predeparture in First. But once law enforcement arrive and asked him to leave, the game was up and he should have gotten the first time law enforcement asked him to for his own benefit.
@Gary
If so then tell me Mr Gary what do you think is taught at flight attendants training school across America.
Do you actually think its food service or beverage service or even customer service. That part of their training is minimum to none.(maybe in the 60s , 70s and early 80s.)
The main focus is SAFETY.
The airlines are in the business of moving people from point A to point B. And making a profit doing it.
Anything else is second. The days of fine dining in the sky and having your favorite cocktail is far gone.
The airlines have to hire and comply with the minimum government requirements if not they could not run a major airline. So they have to pay these flight attendants to be there (because of government requirement). so instead of just standing around as safety professional , lets give them something to do !!! That’s the reality of it !!! Think about it !!!
When I travel I eat before I get on the plane ( airline food really) Have a drink at one of the many bars / restaurants/ Clubs (if your a member)..Grab a bottle of water and a good book.
And kick back till I reach my destination. Simple !!!!
Me: Objection. No foundation. Inadmissible hearsay. Not material to the issue at hand.
Judge: Sustained. Jury will disregard.
I am appalled at the gratuitous insults and hate being spewed by some of the posters:
“Must be a Republican” — clearly out of bounds. The politics of the person being responded to are not apparent.
“Jewish professor” — clearly anti-semitic. Doesn’t matter who the professor is, if true they should be reprimanded. But the only reference is something unspecified (and likely hate speech in and of itself) the poster read.
What do we know? That the person removed from the plane confronted the FA. There is some evidence that the FA was performing other duties. Whether the FA felt threatened or trapped in the galley, or felt otherwise intimidated is unknown. I woud hope that the FA had previously asked the pax to return to his seat before having him removed, but we don’t know that either or what was said. In short, there is no evidence either way about what really happened.
BTW, @Gary — you missed the statute governing this: 49 U.S.C. 46504: “An individual on an aircraft in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States who, by assaulting or intimidating a flight crew member or flight attendant of the aircraft, interferes with the performance of the duties of the member or attendant or lessens the ability of the member or attendant to perform those duties, or attempts or conspires to do such an act, shall be fined under title 18, imprisoned for not more than 20 years, or both. However, if a dangerous weapon is used in assaulting or intimidating the member or attendant, the individual shall be imprisoned for any term of years or for life. (Pub. L. 103–272, § 1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1244; Pub. L. 107–56, title VIII, § 811(i), Oct. 26, 2001, 115 Stat. 382.)”
How much must the ability of a crewmember be lessened? Probably not much. Any appreciable amount would be sufficient to get prison time or a hefty fine.
@ronald damsel : This exactly the main problem with passengers . The flight attendants have no say in what elements , service levels , snacks are loaded on the plane , yet fas get blamed for everything .
No snacks are loaded on flights under 1300 miles or less, and last time I checked , Msy to Ord is way under that bracket . It has nothing to see with COVID . The only fault on the fa is not knowing the reason why that flight did not have any snack other than pretzels or cookies .
it might have something to do with the ‘helicopter parenting’ trend that emerged in the 1990s and early 2000s that emphasized the importance of constantly praising and rewarding children, regardless of their behavior or accomplishments. 20+ years later, it probably leads to a flood of adults who believe they are above everyone else.
@Crandell J “The airlines are in the business of moving people from point A to point B. And making a profit doing it.”
American Airlines, the subject of this video, can’t make money moving people from point A to point B at low fares. Their costs, including labor costs, are too high for that. In order to make money American Airlines needs to do two things:
(1) sell frequent flyer miles to credit card issuers (passengers have to prefer their miles, so the brand matters)
(2) sell travel at a revenue premium – get people to spend more than the bare minimum for travel. They do this by offering a premium experience.
No, a carrier with the cost structure of American Airlines cannot survive by providing mere basic transportation. Now, American doesn’t emphasize service properly in its flight attendant training. But the did run folks through ‘Elevate’ training (“Elevate The Everyday Experience”), right?
Chris says:
April 7, 2023 at 12:08 pm
This whole “we’re not getting paid until doors are closed” is such an abusive, misleading and infuriating statement. It’s been repeated over and over again to the point that even FAs now believe it. You ARE getting paid and the component is called a “per diem.”
WELL PAID PER DIEM IS ABOUT $1.75 AND HOUR AND NO OTHER PAY UNTIL THE BRAKES ARE RELEASED. YOU ARE SO WELL INFORMED. hahahaha WALK IN THEIR SHOES JUST ONCE AND YOUR ENTIRE ATTITUDE WOULD BE A LITTLE MORE CIVIL.
It’s time to have cameras on the planes that records video and audio. There is a saying tape don’t lie in sports. Watch how fast FA actually do their job correctly out of fear the videos is watched by supervisors. People will behave cause airlines can boot them with video audio evidence of being a bad person. Solves 99 percent of the problems.
@Gary” But they did run folks through ‘Elevate’ training (“Elevate The Everyday Experience”)”
Most likely so , Results poor at best !!!
Out of the 3 major airlines Delta does focus a bit more and its inflight service.( A bit).
This is the realty we live in now. The hay day of bring out all the Champagne for the flight and cozy up to your premium passenger is long gone. A lot of those passenger want to be left alone including myself.
If you are seating first class or business class and most well travel passenger agree , you are paying for the comfort and tranquility !!! Nothing to do with whats being served!!!
Grow men and women crying over a pre departure drink is shameful.
I was on a southwest flight, short flight, but we sat on the runway forever. I was thirsty, no beverage service, no water. I finally landed and had to run for my connecting flight and due to the chance of turbulence, no beverage service, on that flight. Finally eight hours after my first flight, super delayed, I am incredibly thirsty and the small airport we landed in had no beverages to purchase.
Yikes, however, at no time was I disruptive. I just wish for better service.
AA is the worst. They’re staff seems annoyed to just be there. They are never helpful. I spent 3 hours changing a flight (because my son had Covid) on the phone with their customer service agent who was working at home and had a baby at home she was also trying to stop crying. She was rude and slow and complained about her baby and her supervisor. Last flight I had with them they took my bag and checked it because “there was no room left in the over heads”. I get on board and ask why there are 8 empty overhead bins and a half full flight. They yelled at me about it. I asked the attendants name and she wouldn’t give it to me! I asked nicely, never raised my voice. I took a picture of all the empty bins and was told I was breaking the law. Whatever, I can not fly AA – JetBlue is so much better – I always have a good experience with them! They changed my last flight in 5 minutes on the phone not 3 hours.
Ahhhh, Elevate — Virgin America’s FF program…still miss VX!
Yet flight attendent had become greedy with jealousy towards pilot and demanding salary close to pilot while they can be accepted just as a high school graduate without cost and flying hours etc. Go figure
The Captain briefs the entire crew before boarding. The fare for a FC ticket includes premium service including pre departure drinks. The only reason for not providing this would be late boarding and/or catering. The number of seats in a plane determine the minimum number of FA required for a flight.
A FA talking with a pilot during boarding is not a briefing or required. The focus should be on the customer. Crandell j sounds like a lazy FA who wants to rewrite the definition of premium service and have you drink the koolaid.
The level of professionalism for American FA new hires is in the toilet.
@Mike, my man. Google some of the current planes. You’ll figure it out. It’s not a bad idea though but be prepared to up that credit card limit as you’ll be paying a hefty price for your next trip.
Funny thing is the guy has been doxxed and it turns out he’s a major lefty. What a shock.
OK, to be serious for a moment, does anyone actually know the route of this aircraft? If it was solely within the US, domestic first class — while better than sitting in the back — isn’t that huge of an upgrade and the AA website says NOTHING about a pre-departure beverage as being part of the service.
“A First ticket gets you our highest level of service on flights between the U.S. 50 states.* On the ground: Priority privileges — Speed through check-in, security and boarding at the airport and get your checked bags first when you land”.
Neither is a PDB mentioned on aa.com for First Class Transcontinental or for First Class International.
Conclusion: a PDB on American in F is an option, not a requirement, and nothing is guaranteed. (That said, there is *always* a carton of water waiting at my seat in F on AS.)
Jason,
1. Route is not applicable to inflight service other than domestic/intl.
2. The highest level of service items mention are not part of inflight service..they are other items offered.
3. PDB has always been offered and never stated online.
Conclusion-Lazy AA FA’s are not doing their job and find excuses why not to. It should ALWAYS BE OFFERED. IF CATERING HAS NOT COME, THERE ARE ENOUGH SUPPLES FROM THE PREVIOUS FLIGHT. DO YOUR JOB OR QUIT.
@Izzy
No koolaid here.
To many miles under my belt not to be able to see how the airlines have changed from what it used to be and to what it is today !!!!!
But sounds like you are one of those whiny entitled passenger.
Like the one from this article, that was booted off the plane. Besides that you are the expert of hiring at American Airlines. And I quote “The level of professionalism for American FA new hires is in the toilet”.
We thank you for you professional insight.
By the way if you are really hungry and want some kind of airline service check out the Admirals Club. I find it to be pretty good !!!
@Izzy
Now we know who is really drinking the Kool aid..
Hope you were out there supporting your fellow flight attendants while they were doing their informational picketing!!!!!
Probably not !!!!
The FAA should require mental evaluations of FA’s and increase unexpected check rides. Many would fail and the airlines fined. Supporting evidence-Crandall J.
Lots of opinion and less factual information being shared. I wrote to AA regarding pre-flight beverage service inconsistencies and received the following reply:
‘“ Thank you for contacting Customer Relations. I am happy to respond to your concern regarding the offering of pre-flight beverages to our First/Business Class customers.
While we offer pre-departure beverages for our First and Business class customers, there are circumstances that may prevent our Flight Attendants from doing so. They use their discretion to determine if there is sufficient time – operational challenges may limit their ability to serve beverages before departure.
We take your feedback seriously as it gives us the opportunity to improve. We appreciate the time you’ve taken to share your perspective with us.”
So, it is up to the FA. Sufficient time covers all the bases, as the FA determines it. I have been on numerous flights with low passenger count and 2 (or more) FA’s in the galley area “greeting” passengers (sometimes) and there’s no rush, but they still self-determine not to offer any pre-flight beverage service.
It’s the inconsistency in the FA services levels that needs to be addressed. Some FA’s are cheerful, with pleasant and positive mannerisms while others reflect the characteristics of an aged, bossy schoolmarm.
As for salary…I am sure even junior-level FA’s receive fair compensation in todo, else they would find work elsewhere. There are valuable perks working in the airline industry. What seems to be more common is a rise of a “Do less but ask for more pay” attitude.
Thus I have to agree with those comments regarding FA’s not enhancing the customer experience. My current experience has been similar: During and post pandemic there have been more examples of negative enhancement than previously experienced. I now have the sense that what I am expected to do is to “sit down and shut up!” and be grateful I’m permitted to fly at all.
Passangers LOVEEE to blame the flight attendants for everything, delay in the ground and they didn’t get a drink? Shame! Turbulence? Shame! Flight cancellation? Shame! No space in the overhead bins? Shame! No wifi? No fresh food for sale? Tv not working? Bathroom smelling bad? Baby crying? “Big” passenger next to them? Window open? Just Blame the first face you see, the flight attendant, that’s getting paid $2 or less an hour to deal with all these problems they simply have no control over (before takeoff) If a flight gets delayed because they’re not doing safety duties they get on probation, you’re saying hello to people while 2B is asking for his jacket to be hung up, 17A is asking if there’s pillows, 22b asking for headphones, pilot is asking if he has meals, and coffee, trash bag and large water bottle, gate agent is asking if you need to check bags, a mom is trying to see if they can bring their stroller on board, another one is handing you trash, all on a loop with about 150 passangers (if it’s a max) coming in. All while trying to hold on to a little tray with water or champagne and people are making individual requests. Flights need more staffing, passengers need to realize that we WANT them to have it all, happy customers =decent treatment to us, but if we don’t have the tools it’s very hard. And their treatment of us only makes it harder.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many comments from people upset that they’re asked to do their job lol
Crandall J@Does it not state in your electronic AA flight manual that a pre departure beverage service is required unless boarding is delayed or catering is late?? It sounds like you are not following company policy.
Is it not AA HR policy to not make disparaging remarks about its customers on public web sites? That is grounds for termination.
No one should treat FAs poorly. We are all people who should be treated with dignity.
That said, I am fortunate to own my own business and be able to set my own travel policy. As I am often paying for first class, I have a strong preference for Delta. The FAs on Delta are usually much more friendly and try to go the “extra mile” for passengers. This makes for a more pleasant travel experience.
I will pay slightly more to fly Delta, because I know it will be a pleasant flight. For all those FAs on here who seem to think passengers are a burden they could do without or service is optional , just know that consumers notice these things. Those of us with the ability to do so vote with our wallets.
Delta FAs are pleasant and service oriented. That is not a governmental requirement, it is a culture. It is a culture that I choose to spend my dollars to enjoy when I travel.
Bobin@Alaska FA’s are friendly and offer great service. American was very strict with flight crews under Bob Crandall. Thru the mergers, the cabin service has migrated back to the America West mentality.
Why by an expensive product that does not exist? When you do not have a consistent product, customer friendly attitude, the customers will leave.
1. If I paid for a first class seat, I’d probably be frustrated if they refused to provide a service that is part of the package.
2. There is really no value in refusing to get off the plane once you have been told to leave. Time to get off and follow the company complaint process.
3. They probably didn’t need to drag him off. He [finally] agreed to get off the plane, and all their response does is convince the next person that doesn’t listen to #2 that they might as well not give an inch because if you do agree to leave they are going to drag you off anyway.
@Izzy
Wouldn’t know about all those items you are referring too.
But I’m sure you know all about it.
Again you are the expert!!! I’m not !!!
And the way you bash your fellow co workers pretty sure your HR wouldn’t be happy with you !!!!
Your comments on the professionalism
Of new hire flight attendants your comments on lazy flight attendants..
Seems to me you have and inside 1st hand scoop.
I just happened to fly a lot and have seen the decline in the Arline industry..
All 3 major Airlines are going through these growing pains.
I routinely fly first class on all of the 3 big airlines, unfortunately mostly Delta because of its dominance at my home airport. I refuse to acknowledge the surly flight attendant crones. They’re uniformly idiotic and never, ever can offer anything I want, either because they’re too stupid, too lazy, or a combination thereof. I can’t wait for robotic attendants. These walking examples of human excrement should have been replaced long ago. I will continue to fly first class DESPITE them because the seats are more comfortable and I can exit faster. The sooner on and off these filthy flying buses, the better. First class is meaningless to Delta, American, and United. Nothing about first class sections on any US airline is remotely first class compared to Virgin Atlantic, Emirates, or Singapore.
Let FAs bolt themselves to the wall in a jump seat and play with their phones, or yak in the galley and ignore the passengers for the entire flight. It’s what they want anyway. Put in a drink dispenser, make the dispenser serve a max of a certain amount of beverages depending on your fare class via a QR code on the airline app,. and be done with all this crap.
American Airlines stinks. They treat both their customers and employees poorly. I will pay twice as much to fly just about any other airline.
I have experinced this (being threatened ejection due to requesting a beverage during a delayed departure), and have documented it with AA and shared it with @Gary.
Sadly, AA First service is up to the flight attendants. While “there’s not enough time for beverage service”, it seems that there is still a lot of time to liisen to their conversations of schedualing, bidding, their preferred international routes due to longer layovers, how ther last layover went, etc.
Sad.
Thanks for the dose of daily entertainment. They would not serve a drink, but were happy to video this nonsense. Doesn’t this illustrate the point that frequent flyer programs is where money is made, but flying planes is unprofitable. American Airlines probably should stop flying, and just focus on selling status and miles and keep fooling people about the great benefits that come with status, such as upgrades, and priority de-planing with the help of police.
Also AA FAs: “The captain has asked the flight attendants to remain seated for the duration of the flight due to turbulence so there will no service. We “apologize”…..” And as you’d expect….not a bump. The second and third time that I’ve been on a magical turbulence flight with no turbulence (and no service) I caught on to the bs. AA sucks. They deserve to file for bankruptcy, downsize and can 20% of flight attendants. Maybe only then they will return to the AA of the 80s and 90s.
Unfortunately this is a case of “it is what it is”. Best thing to do is avoid flying with an airline that has poor standards,be it safety or service. To expect high standards at any class level on flights is the airlines employees responsibility and not the passengers delusional expectations. If you are asked to leave you should comply and after that call an attorney and sue them.
I always fly in First on AA because I pay for the difference between first and economy while traveling for work and my employer has their contract with AA. I’m not forced to but I am quite loyal, sometimes illogically. I am also Exec P. My home hub is LAX so I uniquely can choose from DL, UA, AA or even AS in theory.
These are my observations:
1) inexperienced FAs skip the beverage because most people want to get liquored up. Boozed up **First** passengers are easier to deal with. Pros do the service.
2) AA sells a “premium” service in excess of the minimum safety and transportation. I pay for it and its usually less than a thousand but more than $500. I expect to not fall out of the sky but you get for basic Economy fares.
3) I always bring a bottle of water with me because you can’t rely on the service. The worst flights are the ones without my own water bottle.
4) The AA union has failed the FAs. DL pays during boarding.
5) If you are running late, just make an announcement that you will do the bev service once you are in the air. It’s not hard.
6) Everyone is at fault here, but if you are a passenger you must comply.
7) Insert generic complaint about Doug!, America West!, or Gary!
This guy is typical Democrat entitled trash. No decorum ever. Saw a clip today of their leader AOC talking about ignoring court rulings. Look it up! Trash all of them.
FORMER FA says:
April 7, 2023 at 2:02 pm
Chris says:
April 7, 2023 at 12:08 pm
This whole “we’re not getting paid until doors are closed” is such an abusive, misleading and infuriating statement. It’s been repeated over and over again to the point that even FAs now believe it. You ARE getting paid and the component is called a “per diem.”
WELL PAID PER DIEM IS ABOUT $1.75 AND HOUR AND NO OTHER PAY UNTIL THE BRAKES ARE RELEASED. YOU ARE SO WELL INFORMED. hahahaha WALK IN THEIR SHOES JUST ONCE AND YOUR ENTIRE ATTITUDE WOULD BE A LITTLE MORE CIVIL.
Well FORMER FA, you just confirmed my point: FAs are getting paid $1.75/hr for per diems and no one forced them to sign the contracts in the first place. You don’t have the right to agree to something and then immediately start complaining about the quality of pay and terms of conditions. It’s rotten to the core. This sense of entitlement and threats to pax are just obscene. And re: “walking in their shoes” – these are my shoes as well that I’ve been waking in for 6 years, thankyouverymuch. My pax are my priority and their comfort has the same importance as their safety. I know my role in the system and I don’t question the rules I had agreed upon. I love my job and I do my best to deescalate every inflammatory situation, because I have no clue what baggage or drama my pax board with. Regardless of their behavior, they’re still human beings and deserve respect, no matter the circumstances. I have offloaded one pax in 6 years due to severe alcohol intoxication, but I did it gently and assertively, without causing drama or getting law enforcement involved. It’s doable, but only if you care…
No one puts a gun to a flight attendant’s head and says they have to be one. I know flight attendants put up with a lot while trapped in a metal tube with 200 sets of eyes scrutinizing their every move, but this is what they signed up to do. Customer service is not for everyone because many who fly up front are jerks. I’d say those who are this unhappy and burned out from the airline industry should switch jobs instead of polluting everyone’s karma. This attitude of “we’re not getting paid until the door closes” is not why the airline hired them- they knew about that way before their very first flight and it’s no excuse not to serve their revenue customers who paid thousands of dollars to sit in the front when their company specifically advertises pre-departure drinks. I’ve flown enough times with American to know these drinks occur at best at 50%, but I would be mortified to ever make a scene over a beverage.
It’s funny to observe these flight attendants with an attitude yet when they read their inflight announcement their company makes them say “you are why we fly” through gritted teeth. Actually, even the most ornery flight attendants know how to crack a smile. You see them do so while peddling their “special offer” airline credit card towards the end of every flight because they get paid for every application filled out.
It’s really sad to fly American (and I’ve been executive platinum with them for years) when you fly international with an Asian or middle Eastern airline and it immediately hits you that US airlines are terrible! There is no spirit of customer service at American Airlines. On the rare occasion that a flight attendant acknowledges me and thanks me for my business I go, “Wow you are amazing!” only to remember they are all supposed to say that, but most don’t. Isn’t it sad? I spend $30-40k flying each year as my job requires travel yet most of the time their flight crew don’t even say hello when I board because oh yes they’re not getting paid when the door’s open.
With all that said, it is absolutely gratifying to see a privileged self-centered man sob like a little dog against the wall then on the floor. That was epic.
AA worst airli ne.
Bad crew, with bad attitude.
Tip you? What are you a group of beggars with your hands out all the time?
And tgrow out a passander just because he expets ypu to do what you should?
Wear your shoes? Passamgers are paying for those shoes, in case uou didnt know. Your jobs are because of passangers, not the other way around