Comments

1. A perfect expression of the AA service commitment.

2. Those flight attendants need to be fired on the spot as soon as the airplane lands, and let them find their own way home!

3. OP misunderstands. Those are fright attendants!

4. Hmmm I was just trying to recall the last time I had great service aboard an AA flight. Many ok ones, quite a few bad ones, but couldn’t remember a single great one. Can easily recall great ones at even UA.

5. Airllnes have created this mess. Their only goal is the financial bottom line. The minute that CEOs started receiving monetary bonuses based on stock value, it all started to unravel. What did people think would happen? The only goal was profit. Greed and avarice prevail. Everybody hates everybody … nobody can function in that kind of environment. Airline employees are no longer proud of their airline and themselves. FAs are the face of an airline; they are treated like donkeys by management. The CEO makes a billion dollars a minute, an FA barely earns enough to live on. FAs are out of control and management does nothing about it. Unions were a great theory but obviously unworkable in practice. There’s no communication, no cooperation. Airline people are incapable of working together. We wanted deregulation, we wanted lower fares, now we have an almost inconceivable mess,. I am always a little shocked that any airline employee is cheerful and friendly … they really have no reason to be anything but grumpy.

6. Nothing that pink slips across the board (for all the FA’s that took an active part in devising and setting into motion that lovely show of customer service) couldn’t solve.

   As to your 1% estimation, I believe you’re being way to kind.

7. jsn55,
   no, it’s not always someone else’s fault.
   Everyone makes their own choices.
   And the argument about executive compensation falls flat when you realize that the combined amount of exec cash compensation is minuscule compared to the amount labor groups receive. Much of exec compensation is in stock anyway.
   some people simply choose to do the bare minimum at their jobs and AA’s FA union regularly pushes the limit of how low they can go.
   and customers do pay the price

8. It appears that half of the four-point harness from the jump seats on each side of the aisle were connected to create this “barrier” – not seat belt demonstrators or extenders. I hope this results in a fine from the FAA.

9. @jsn55 so an airline doing what it’s in the business to do…make money is the cause of lazy-ass flight attendants? That dog won’t hunt. You know why? Because DL and WN are in the business of making money and you don’t see this kind of behavior over there.

   What’s so hypocritical about all of this is that the FAs constantly remind everyone how they are there primarily for our safety. I’m not sure how blocking access to two exit doors that might need to be used during an emergency enhances my safety as a passenger. Every…Single…Flight…Attendant on this flight should be terminated for cause, fined by the FAA and barred from every working as cabin crew on a commercial airline again.

10. This is a FAA violation as it impedes access to an emergency exit if there is a evacuation.

11. The fraternity/sorority mindset it requires for someone to do that on the job is simply mind boggling.

12. No; it’s to keep pax from standing in the galley or doing yoga stretches in an already cramped space. FAs may be trying to eat and suddenly there is a bit in their faces and since the curtain doesn’t work this is the last resort ‍♀️‍♀️.

    These sensationalized articles are once again inaccurate and doesn’t paint the correct picture of what was truly happening

13. Until a company can fire poor performers, expect nothing to change. Unions are 100% to blame. It has nothing to do with greedy corporations as the idiot above claims. Enjoy your leftist utopia.

14. Wait…. Who uses an aircraft exit MID FLIGHT.

15. It’s not necessarily appropriate, but they’re not blocking an exit if they’re inflight. Those doors can’t be opened inflight. I’m confident they would separated for landing so the crew can buckle in as those are their jump seats for landing.

16. The MD-80/88/90/717 has something similar installed across the aisle to prevent passengers from exiting thru the tailcone slide exit door until the FA verified the slide inflated properly and tailcone dropped away. It is actually procedure to buckle the belt across the aisle at the back of the plane during take off and landings.

17. I’ve got a AA flight coming up. These AA nightmares are making me wonder if I should return my loyalty to DL (despite DL’s occasional FA inoffensive but with attitude, and its atrocious Band-Aid ripper CEO.)

    ….I don’t recall seeing this staff/passenger barrier in the AA 1970s economy class piano bar TV ads.

    Why has the Golden Age of Travel morphed into this Dystopian future?

18. I’m with Eric. Fire them all now! I’ll take the job. I’m old school.

19. We were recently on flights to/from Toronto on United. We flew ORD>YYZ, then YYZ>DEN. On both, the FAs blocked the access to the front galley using a service cart turned sideways. They did this while they were prepping the first class service (lunch/breakfast), for about 30 minutes total each time. I’d never seen this done before and figured this is some new procedure. It was a bit frustrating because several people wanted to use the bathroom but were refused and told to go to the back of the plane.

20. Do people come into your office and start doing yoga or rummaging through your stuff??? Passengers do, so I side with the FAs on this. Passenger behavior has become abhorrent and there are no boundaries. If you are worried about an exit being blocked at 30,000:feet you are an idiot. Nobody is going to need to evacuate mid air. Team FAs

21. The horror of blocking exits that you won’t be using mid-flight because you can’t evacuate 30,000ft in the air. That might be the only few minutes they get to eat during a 12 hour day. Who wants to eat in front of a crowd waiting to go to the bathroom.

22. on the flip side, let’s see – pilots get what a 25% increase in pay. What have FA gotten? And who deals the most with the drunks + belligerents?
    not discounting the violation regarding exit doors though

23. I only fly AA when absolutely necessary which is thankfully rare. They are terrible at everything they do. Fortunately their international partners are good.

24. Are you 100% CERTAIN the FAs are avoiding having to provide service to passengers? Were you there, did you ask them, did they tell you that? Or are you ASSUMING? Or is it perhaps to prevent passengers from congregating in the galley, which is an actual announcement that is made but ignored? It would be a shame for these FAs to possibly get into trouble based on an assumption.

    Also, just so you know, contract negotiations are NOT just about pay (although that is a huge issue). It’s also about fair working conditions.. I’m sure that you are paid for every hour and minute that you work, unlike us. Yes, we chose this job – because most of us truly love it and love our passengers as well. We also deserve to be paid for our working hours, and not have to be on duty for 15 hours while being paid half of that, with a short layover followed by an early report and an equally long day. We’re also fighting for adequate retirement funds. Please stop making FAs out to be the bad guys all the time!

25. Somehow I stumbled upon following this one flight attendant. I believe she works for AA. She seems like she is wasted most of the time. So I doubt you often get decent service from her. If she isn’t talking about drinking, she is whining about her failed relationships which often seem to be due to not knowing her guy is married.

    Yeah, you need to be able to remove poor performers.

26. Would the author write about this if it happened on Delta or United?

27. This action really shows that the FA’s contention that they are there for our safety is complete BS. Every FA on this flight should be terminated immediately.

    Also, if the FA’s think they should be given the same raises and pay as the pilots, why don’t they quit their FA job, spend years in flight school, and apply for a pilot position with their airline? They will never be satisfied with their job until they realize what it actually is, and that it can be done by pretty much anyone right off the street given a few hours of training.

28. Had similar happen years ago when I needed to use the restroom and FA had put a cart across the doorway. I am slim and managed to get behind the cart and got my relief. It was short lived as he (the FA) was lurking behind the curtain and told me off saying I should have gone to the rear restroom. My seat was two rows away from the one I used.

29. There is no need to worry abouts exits free 30k feet in the air. If you had to evacuate a plane that high up you have more to worry about than other peoples business. I think this is more about a thirsty passenger still being thirsty creating drama for clout.

30. There’s terrible wars going on with people being slaughtered and here we are complaining about a stupid strap preventing you from entering an employee area. Are we also upset we can’t enter the cockpit inflight and complain to the pilots? How about accessing the kitchen of a restaurant? Unless the plane has crashed and you need to access the exits…..stay in your lane.

31. Gary… I have mix feelings about this. In one hand it is not aceptable what the crew did with the belts but now I’m wondering about the reason behind their thinking. In many flights i have seen passengers standing in the galley area just because they need to stretch their legs while the seats belt light is on. The galley area is a working area but …. It can be easily managed by instructing the passengers not to congregate in the alley or galley and…: here we go….people don’t listen. Again…. What they did … is totally not acceptable. Personally I will give them a pink slip and get other crew

32. They’re blocking the exit? FAA fine? For what? Which one of you idiots are planning on evacuating the plane at 35,000 feet?

33. Please inform your misinformed followers that FA are very intelligent people who have to go through 8 weeks of intense training. Not to mention, most FA’s have a college degree (BA, MA, and PhD’s). Just as every other part of society – FA’s are also very resourceful in their own ways. No it doesn’t make what they did right. But how about the doctor that no shows but patients have no say / yet if you’re late for your appointment you’ll be charged a fee or canceled.
    This problem of pointing fingers at certain work groups only makes the situation worse.
    Therefore – “people” – don’t add two cents of your lack of knowledge to the conversation.

34. Just flew AA Anc- DFW F class and then DFW to NYC. Good service. Food quality fair. Full flights. Both left on time and arrived early.

35. So passengers had to wait for the bathroom in the aisle like their supposed to? Would it be better if the flight attendants told them to move out of their galley individually?

36. I’m so sick and tired of you always bashing American Airlines. We know you hate the airline. Would you stop!!b

37. As mentioned before…..
    Why does anyone need access to an exit during a flight? Are they planning to evacuate at 35,000 feet?
    Give me a break people and let the flight attendant have a break too. Nobody goes to Burger King and bothers you at your job.

38. Flight Attendants get this small section of the plane for themselves and some how it bothers yall. Passengers go back there and go through carts, they steal FAs personal belongings. They start doing yoga and all sorts of other crazy things. They come back their with their crying babies. Would you take your crying baby into the kitchen of a restaurant. Would you stand and wait for the restroom behind the bar no. Give the FAs some space stay out the galley and they wouldnt have to do this.. Like get over yourselves.

    Team Flight attendants

39. The person writing this pseudo report, do he know he is not supposed to be recording Flight attendants in the first place. What a pathetic person with so much time on his useless life dedicate to look for negative things to write about????

40. To DesertGhost,

    I’d guess yes.
    It’s pretty outrageous stuff, you don’t agree?

41. I usually don’t comment on dribble. I know how difficult it must be to maintain relevancy. But this really? Wow. It is not a barrier to service. Or a stone wall to not be bothered. It is a way to regulate who stands in the galley as they wait for the lavatory. PERIOD POINT BLANK. I am a flight attendant for American. And no it was not me and no I would not utilize that option. I have over 37,000 points from Above and Beyond coupons from customer compliments. I can buy a whole flat screen television if I choose to based upon Service Awards. So again that was not me nor would I choose to exercise that option however. Insinuating that that is “a barrier to service” is a new low that I’m I should not be surprised that has been reached. I cannot count how many times I have come from the back while working the cart to find a customer rummaging through the galley compartments? Do you know how many flight attendants have had their purses stolen? Food items removed? Belongings rummaged through? Now I see a foot in this picture so clearly there is someone in the gallery. Maybe he got tired of having somebody’s barely covered behind in his face as they stood there barefoot trying to utilize a restroom that has a line eight deep. Maybe that “barrier” is to stop the galley yoga that seems to occour on every flight. The deep core stretching. I even had one man attempt to disrobe in the galley and Use it as an open makeshift TJ Maxx-esques. Dressing room. So the curtain tightly closed would be better? Some of your articles are relevant. Even a few entertaining. But please quit scraping the bottom of the barrel. Not cute. Again not my choice. But definitely not a barrier to service.

42. There’s nothing to defend about this. I can’t, so I won’t. But pay is not the only factor right that will cause anyone to walk. I said to you before, and I say it again. I don’t begrudge you your salary for being a gossip blogger, why do you have such issue with ours..

43. These flight attendants are there to serve the public. If they don’t want to have anything to do with their passengers – fine. They need to find another line of work. Granted, they may know something we don’t. That is, the safety of the plane they are on. But to block themselves off from passengers is simply UNACCEPTABLE. Flight attendant needs to be available and alert for EMERGENCIES and therefore should be keeping an eye out for trouble, or for a medical emergency. Needless to say, because of their reputation, I am never going to fly AA. The price of airline tickets are too expensive for me to be putting up that sort of nonsense. I might just go back East by rail my next trip.

44. Notice the juice, water, and cups sitting out in the open. The curtain that is aboard is open. The crew is available, they just don’t want someone doing yoga or a rear end in their faces.

45. @Maxine has it right. If there are no bathrooms beyond the ‘blockade”, who cares. The “barrier” offers as much protection and “danger” as the curtain separating first class does. If “service” is done, give these guys a break. If you need another alcoholic drink, ring the friggin bell…

46. @Desert Ghost. You’re confusing @Gary with @TimDunn.

    Now, Tim’s response would be that this would not happen on Delta (and he may be right!)

47. You guys commenting are idiots. You wanna know why this was probably done. Passengers are constantly being told not to stand in the galley to wait for the restroom.
    It violates FAA safety rules. Same as the aisle but you want to know what passengers do, they gather in galley. The beat way to prevent such occurrence is to create a barrier. There can only be 4 individuals standing in a galley at any point in time and that depends on the type of aircraft.
    If I was a flight attendant I would have done the same thing. Would you like it if a group of people are standing in your face while you are on your company issued meal break

48. I travel for work…..I fly American Airlines often.. The customer service their flight attendants provide now is horrible. Half the time no cart service because of non existing turbulence……but of course it’s the pilots call on that. Not providing water. Sometimes the powers that be will compensate other times they act like never would the FA’s behave in away.

49. Next post is passenger pissed they didn’t get a seat with the sliding barrier door in first class. You can’t win.

50. The service comment may be warranted, but the context includes dimmed cabin lights at cruise. So it’s difficult to tell if that’s really the case.

    Blocking the exits isn’t a thing though since one would need to expend a lot more effort than tugging the handle to open the door at altitude.

    This is analogous to any airline with a half galley or full galley with a curtain, or even a CRJ which has a curtain cover the main boarding door and stairs.

51. @alex
    Of course exits would not be opened inflight…similar to Hawaiian Airlines that suffered a explosive decompression and the flight made an emergency descent. The FA’s may be unconscious or lack of time to take down their trap that was not authorized by the airline or the FAA. This would or could impede access to the emergency access.

    The galley is not their designated rest area and all passengers should have access thru the galley, to walk around or to the bathrooms.

52. They should have a curtain

    (d) If it is necessary to pass through a passageway between passenger compartments to reach any required emergency exit from any seat in the passenger cabin, the passageway must be unobstructed. However, curtains may be used if they allow free entry through the passageway.

    https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/14/25.813#:~:text=(i)%20For%20airplanes%20that%20have,a%20distance%20from%20that%20exit

53. @bill

    There is no FAA reg that prohibits standing for the lav. What are you referring to?

    Flight crews do not have a designated crew break nor is the galley their rest area. Their electronic flight manual does not authorize either.

    Planes for long haul flights have crew bunks. This is the designated area for crew rest (not breaks).

    The crew members have probably been terminated and the airlines will be fined.

54. 25.813 Emergency exit access.

    Each required emergency exit must be accessible to the passengers and located where it will afford an effective means of evacuation.

    d) If it is necessary to pass through a passageway between passenger compartments to reach any required emergency exit from any seat in the passenger cabin, the passageway must be unobstructed. However, curtains may be used if they allow free entry through the passageway

55. You folks missed the golden age of flying back when the 747’s first came out with piano bars, huge seats with space between and open areas to walk around as soon as the wheels left the ground. And a flight crew who loved and valued their jobs.

    Now the job of the flight crew is to make sure you notice that you are in the steerage dark, cramped cavern in the rear and want to upgrade (for five times the money) to the front, where the seats do not compare to coach class of yesteryear.

56. Where is Robert Maclean? He could have patented this!

57. This is similar to an experience I had with an AA flight from LHR to DFW last month. I wanted to use the toilet at the back of the plane on the other side and needed to go via the galley. The attendants were not pleased with me doing this and velcroed the dividing curtains into place. They were even less pleased when I had to open these curtains to get back to my seat. Great customer experiences don’t seem to be a priority with AA any more.

58. Fire them all! Nothing brings me more joy than getting outraged about this on the Internet and simping for a big corporation, which I’m totally going to be the boss of one day and everyone like me will have to watch their step because this is best system in the world!

59. Not to excuse this behavior, it is wrong. But you deal with the general public loaded with Karen’s in a tightly packed aircraft, and tell me how your day/flight was. Not like the early days when I started working for the airlines.

60. Not surprising for American Airlines at all…..seems every time I see some headline about flight attendants doing bad things, or an airline being anti-customer, it’s usually American who is the airline in question. I haven’t flown American in over 20 years considering they stole 20k airline miles from me that should never have expired and pretty much told me I was SOL when I questioned them over it. They really need to consider renaming themselves Sh*t Airlines

61. @gene

    No they didn’t !

62. I think American airlines is the worst airlines by far. Spirit is pretty bad, as well, but at least they advertise as a budget airline, unlike American. I actually canceled a trip to Barbados because I found out that American was the only airline that flew there.

63. What a useless article. Must be a slow airline news day. It’s only intent is to stir-the-pot and rile up people. Useless

64. As a flight attendant I can tell you I have never seen this, ever. This is not protocol nor is it acceptable. However, there is very little space provided for doing duties and quite often flight attendants are trying to compose a meal from their coolers or taking a break after a 12 hour day before the next service. We barely get a chance at using the bathroom and have passengers using our tiny space to perform stretches on a 2 hour flight or trying to schmooze more alcohol out of us when they likely had enough. Try speaking to hundreds of people, 4 days in a row with very long days dealing with people clipping nails, trying to have sex in restrooms, arguing over seats, changing dirty diapers and handing them to you. The things passengers do would blow your mind. I still wouldn’t lock the seatbelts together but there is a huge misunderstanding of our job, duties and sacrifices we make to be there. Not to mention what people are like. People used to have class and be respectful. Oh, and they didn’t wear bikinis or pj’s either.

65. Well Gary.
    The exit has to be available to use while on the ground.
    Not 35,000. So the fool who stated “exits have to be made available needs to educate himself!
    Passenger come into galley attempting to exersize,fart,chit chat with bullshit conversation,etc.
    That is flight attendant space.
    Imagine someone coming into your cubicle,office,etc attempting this?
    I think not.
    Go suck some more Delta butt.
    Paid influencer!

66. Will the FAA do something about this or is it acceptable?

67. Flight attendants are onboard to help ensure the safety of the passengers. Yes, there is an element of customer service to their jobs but that doesn’t include letting passengers wander around in a work area because they need a fourth gin and tonic or want to hand off a dirty diaper.

    Fight attendants are always available either via their walkthroughs or with a call button.

    I’m a regular reader of your articles , so based on your position here I am sure you would be willing to engage and visit at any point during your business day – with no break or downtime.

68. I personally find this ridiculous, it’s not like you can exit the aircraft at 35,000 feet. The door isn’t opening for you to safely evacuate. Like I get that it’s tacky, but for someone to try to ruin their livelihood over this is so petty. Maybe they should have had a conversation and said how they felt about it. Wrote into the company with a complaint instead of posting on every platform possible for attention. They were still available and had a clear view of the aisle, despite its tackiness. The lights were still on. This was probably for a quick bite.

69. Was on AA today for 2 flights. First one the FAs sat and talked about their new houses until 5 minutes before the pilot said prepare for landing. I was served my drink and had one sip before they took it away. Second flight was better b/c there was a trainee on the flight who was doing all the work and she was trying hard. Her trainor did nothing but sit and read. But at least I was able to finish my drink.

70. Hello, a passenger doesn’t have to walk into a gally to get anything, in fact, they should never walk into that area in the first place. Use the call button, or simply say Hi… may I have..

    The writer of this article is an idiot who wishes he works for the Wall Street Journal.

71. To all the dolts claiming that a pressurized aircraft blah blah blah. What happens if there is an actual real emergency, like extreme turbulence that causes those FA’s to be incapacitated along with, I don’t know, maybe sudden cabin depressurization? Huh? Captain has to make an emergency landing and these butt heads are knocked out and 2 emergency egresses are blocked when every second counts? Safety regulation is written in the blood of victims. This is abhorrent behavior and the whole crew should be fired immediately.

72. Those are not seat belt demonstrators. It’s 2/5ths (one shoulder and one hip) of each of the 2 jump seat 5-point harnesses joined together. “The five-point harness is preferred as a safety mechanism for its high amount of safety compared to other designs. The five-point harness consists of five straps: two are located at the shoulders, two at the hips, and one at the crotch that all connect to a buckle release mechanism.”

73. The regulation is applicable for the entire duration of the flight.

    Flights that suffer decompressions with emergency descents or are on fire will land and need to evacuate immediately. There is no time for the FA to take down there illegal trap..let alone if they are alive or conscious.

    25.813 Emergency exit access.

    Each required emergency exit must be accessible to the passengers and located where it will afford an effective means of evacuation.

    d) If it is necessary to pass through a passageway between passenger compartments to reach any required emergency exit from any seat in the passenger cabin, the passageway must be unobstructed. However, curtains may be used if they allow free entry through the passageway.

    The galley is where the flight crew needs to stand and prepare drinks and food for the customer. Otherwise, they should be in the cabin tending to customers needs or buckled in their jump seat,

74. SO many combative excuses on the X/Twitter replies to that post. Oh well. The flying public DOESN’T have these FA’s back in the union negotiations, so keep letting the AA FA’s dig their own graves. I sincerely hope they get locked out and their replacements get better training, a mission statement, and a 15-20% raise. Plenty on new and experienced FA’s looking for jobs.

75. For all of those that say you don’t need the emergency exit 35,000 ft. You need to remember that Air France left 35,000 ft and hit the ocean in 4 minutes. That plane was almost recovered at the last minute and those exits would have saved people.

76. This is proof that the FA’s claim of giving poor service because they are primarily there for your safety is bogus. They are creating a safety hazard in order to be lazy.

77. Stolen miles, bad service, canceled flights. I could go on. but all airlines no matter which country they come from are the same no matter who you fly with .

78. The once classy AA FA has morphed into the lazy, careless America West syndrome.

79. Spot on, they should be fired! Safety first then service aspect is important. Some try to make a difference, others do nothing beyond what they have to. I have had many more impressive FA interactions with both UA and DL. It’s sad.

80. All of you customers are so entitled. Think about what pushed these flight attendants to this point. Could it have been the fact they have to help grown people count to find their seats during a hectic UNPAID boarding? Or the fact that during service you morons look like a deer in headlights when they asked you a simple question only to mot say thank you when another human hands you something? Could it be that it was time for their break to eat a meal and you intrusively shuffle in the galley and hand them trash/ask for water WHILE THEY ARE EATING? Could it be that their company thinks so little of YOU and THEM they sent the plane off the ground with several deferred items including the curtain?

    You miss the golden age of flying? Well flight crews miss customers that were appreciative, hygienic, courteous, and didn’t walk in the bathroom barefoot.

    Want to see the worst in society look on any plane and look at the person next to or beside you chances are you’ll get pretty close.

    Xoxo, pay flight attendants for the bullshit they put up with and maybe they’ll start caring again.

81. I think we should go to Gary Leff’s job go through his desk and in general see if he’s any good at it, and if not, write an article about it on the Internet.

    If this article is any indication, he’s not.

82. The quote “But threats about a Christmas strike are just about pay” tells me that there was little research done to find out all that is encompassed in a flight attendant contract. In my experience there are work rules that are equally as important as pay.

83. Of course, you post another denigrating article about FA’s with no context and no validation. Frequently, you slam flight attendants without any true evidence these acts ever occurred, never citing your sources. It is highly doubtful that someone would risk their career over such a blatant violation of basic safety rules. Your attack on flight attendants happens far too often and fuels the fire for passenger disrespect for those whose job it is to provide a safe flying environment. Salacious articles such as this are designed to get more clicks and help build your subscription base resulting in more money for you. Perhaps a conflict of interest?

84. Imagine being as lame as the person writing this. Lol get a life bro. You literally have nothing better going on in your life than coming up with meaningless stories? Go get some of those chins removed and leave the flight attendants alone.

85. Seen a few commenters suggest using the call button to summon that FA to ask for something. Have you tried this on a US carrier? Sometimes it may work, but more often than not you will wait forever, or encounter a grumpy FA wondering what the emergency is. If you need more water, taking your cup to the galley to ask politely for a refill is a lot more effective and easier for everyone. If the FAs are busy, they will tell you. If you are polite, they will tell you politely.

86. The galley is the flight attendants work space. No one other than the flight attendant should be there. And as far as a curtain goes, passengers do not respect the curtain. Do you go into the kitchen at a restaurant and hover over the chef? There is no break room for these people to go to to get away from the public for even a minute. Taking a break does not equate to someone as being lazy. They need a break from people like you!

87. If flight attendants would remember to SHUT UP AND POUR THE DRINKS then we wouldn’t have:

    *setting up obstacles to allow them to talk to each other (they should not be speaking to anyone, especially not each other)
    *people posting on here apologizing for their behavior with justifications about how anyone who expects them to do any work is a “Karen”
    *the absolute nonsense assertion that flight attendants are there for “safety”

    The cultural problem is so deep that it can only be solved by firing and replacing the entire FA corps, at least at American. They earnestly, openly believe that they are there to be given free travel and report mixed-race families for “human trafficking” and that asking them to do any actual work is horribly gauche. There’s no fixing this mindset, it has to be replaced.

88. @laura

    You have valid points and thank you validating how wrong the seat belt trap is.

    Anita..are you entitled when you travel for free as a nonrev? You do get paid and its called a paycheck. The money comes from passengers buying a product the airline sells (not entitlement).

    Your airline and manual do not provide you with s meal break. You sneak first class meals to the back. Your job is to accept/pick up trash and provide beverages.

    A deferred curtain per the MEL does not allow a FA to put up a seat belt trap and jeopardize the customers safety. Mx takes care of any items per the MEL. Your attitude towards the public is horrendous and you should quit or be fired.

89. To report a Flight attendant FAA violation, American Airlines POI may be reached at:

    https://faa-aae.my.site.com/s/hotline

    Kirk Baldin, P.E.
    Principal Operations Inspector at American Certificate Management Office

    8700 Freeport Pkwy #225
Irving, TX 75063

    Phone: (214) 277-8500
Fax: (214) 277-8569 / 8570 / 8571

    Anita’s and other FA duties:

    121.571 Briefing passengers before takeoff.

    (a) Each certificate holder operating a passenger-carrying airplane shall insure that all passengers are orally briefed by the appropriate crewmember as follows:

    (1) Before each takeoff, on each of the following:

    (i) Smoking. Each passenger shall be briefed on when, where, and under what conditions smoking is prohibited including, but not limited to, any applicable requirements of part 252 of this title). This briefing shall include a statement that the Federal Aviation Regulations require passenger compliance with the lighted passenger information signs, posted placards, areas designated for safety purposes as no smoking areas, and crewmember instructions with regard to these items. The briefing shall also include a statement that Federal law prohibits tampering with, disabling, or destroying any smoke detector in an airplane lavatory; smoking in lavatories; and, when applicable, smoking in passenger compartments.

    (ii) The location of emergency exits.

    (iii) The use of safety belts, including instructions on how to fasten and unfasten the safety belts. Each passenger shall be briefed on when, where, and under what conditions the safety belt must be fastened about that passenger. This briefing shall include a statement that the Federal Aviation Regulations require passenger compliance with lighted passenger information signs and crewmember instructions concerning the use of safety belts.

    (iv) The location and use of any required emergency flotation means.

    (v) On operations that do not use a flight attendant, the following additional information:

    (A) The placement of seat backs in an upright position before takeoff and landing.

    (B) Location of survival equipment.

    (C) If the flight involves operations above 12,000 MSL, the normal and emergency use of oxygen.

    (D) Location and operation of fire extinguisher.

    (2) After each takeoff, immediately before or immediately after turning the seat belt sign off, an announcement shall be made that passengers should keep their seat belts fastened, while seated, even when the seat belt sign is off.

    (3) Except as provided in paragraph (a)(4) of this section, before each takeoff a required crewmember assigned to the flight shall conduct an individual briefing of each person who may need the assistance of another person to move expeditiously to an exit in the event of an emergency. In the briefing the required crewmember shall—

    (i) Brief the person and his attendant, if any, on the routes to each appropriate exit and on the most appropriate time to begin moving to an exit in the event of an emergency; and

90. To report a Flight attendant FAA violation, American Airlines POI may be reached at:

    https://faa-aae.my.site.com/s/hotline

    Kirk Baldin, P.E.
    Principal Operations Inspector at American Certificate Management Office

    8700 Freeport Pkwy #225
Irving, TX 75063

    Phone: (214) 277-8500
Fax: (214) 277-8569 / 8570 / 8571

91. American is a marketing firm that flies planes.. Period… Delta is a close behind them with its current CEO. It’s all about the dollar..

92. American and Delta both are becoming marketing firms that are flying planes as a side business. It’s all about the dollar..

93. A couple of thoughts on some of the comments here…
    Correct – access to egress through the galley is not required while at cruise. However, it is required during an emergency and it may not be physically possible to remove that barrier under many situations with little time and having to secure galley carts, don oxygen masks, etc.
    I DO have people enter my workspace all the time to meet and confer with me. Why? Because it’s my job.
    And don’t give me the ‘safety is our only job’ routine…
    Safety related duties take, at best, 20 minutes of any flight. If were in a dive from 35K, go ahead and suspend drink service. Other than that… work for 8 hours like the rest of us. If it’s so impossible to perform safety duties and be service oriented – how do other flight attendants at other airlines manage to? Anyone that’s flown an Asian or Middle- Eastern airline knows what I’m talking about.
    Finally, if you don’t like people or understand the human condition or aren’t wiiling to actually work for 8 hours? I have an idea for ya… don’t sign on to be a flight attendant.

94. I can tell that Gene is a flight attendant in his dreams, and want to have flight benefit….

95. Julie… your restaurant analogy is very interesting….

    To answer your question: if I were eating in a restaurant and the wait staff decided to sit and shoot the bull with each other, play Tetris on their phone, text their boyfriend, whatever… and ignore me for hours on end while cordoning themselves off from restaurant patrons?
    Yeah… I would go to the kitchen to get some service.

96. @jim
    Your living in a fantasy world.

    Non rev travel is considered a privilege. Are all airline employees privileged and entitled?

97. Did you ask for something or ring the bell and not get service? Oh, I’m guessing not. Instead it’s easier to make up facts that suit your latest round of bashing. Try eating with someone doing yoga stretching in the galley or bouncing their screaming child. Get your facts straight before you write about it. And that goes for you commenting too!!

98. Geez, @Gary, I never realized so many of your readers were flight attendants.

    As an aside, it is interesting that this story picked up such a large and immediate angry response. Has something changed?

    My opinion? The optics are bad. Right or wrong, justified or not, it’s hard to argue that the optics are not bad. Sometimes good, intelligent people make bad optics. We all do from time to time. It’s life. Learn from it.

99. Apparently our “thought leader” does not know the difference between a jump seat harness and a seatbelt extension.

100. FA is a thankless job. Flights have become a greyhound bus on the air. Drunk and entitled passengers dragging on suitcases overpacked to stuff in bins. I’ll pay the extra money to fly business to not have to deal with the dregs in the back.

101. Everybody is blaming everybody else but no body wants to deal with the elephant in the room. The actual people that fly. The above situation is more likely to happen when the customers are badly behaved. You can put up a sign or single belt and you get people yelling,pushing etc. There’s always somebody on a plane causing trouble. That’s what FA are trained to deal with and it’s always been that way. But now there’s verbal and physical attacks, some kind of nut trying to kill everybody by opening doors that shouldn’t be open. It’s a jungle out there. I was an R.N. for 25 years and I see the same type things happening to Nurses. Threats,violence circling the wagons. That’s the problem I think. Now what to do about it. The first and easiest thing I suppose is some kind of behavior rules. People need to follow whatever rules or they walk. It would have to be tough. What it comes down to is flying a privilege or a right. Hard question. But something has to change.

102. Understanding what led these to flight attendants to behave in a way that deviated from protocol is crucial here. Employees do not work in a vacuum. Employees react to the system that is created by their employer. The two flight attendants need to be held accountable for their actions. However, the response of their leaders should follow a just culture algorithm. A just culture algorithm first seeks to understand what in the systems design led the employee to behave a certain way. Terminating these two flight attendants may be the answer, or it may not. Perhaps they need reeducation? Regardless of what the sequelae is of their action, American airlines needs to look at their organization, and analyze what in their system design lead these two flight attendants into choosing this at risk behavior

103. I can get passengers can suck and are demanding, that being said why are you in customer service if you can not handle the stress of dealing with people. However we do not know the whole story here….what pushed them to that point??

104. What about if they were having their meal? And they wanted some minutes to eat ? People is so dramatic acting like the hole flight they had the belt on oh please plus I do not see what is the difference between this and bottom up curtain same thing !!! I wonder if people in other jobs like to be interrupted when the are in their lunch break remember flight attendants they have no meal breaks so any time the can they will make time to eat plus they just connected one seat belt from the jumpseat to the other one I love how they said created a barricade super dramatic

105. Aren’t they working and isn’t their job to attend to the passengers? I guess the button is there to summon them but still -Aren’t they working and isn’t their job to attend to the passengers?

106. That is a 737-800. There are 6 oxygen masks in the galley that now can’t be accessed with the barricade. Passengers don’t have much time to grab a mask when cabin depressurization happens. Good luck to those passengers in the bathroom queue.

107. The REAL underlying reasons for increasing bad behavior and “revolt” against FA, Nurses and other customer facing employees is they are the bearer & enforcer of bad & frustrating news imposed by a faceless bureaucracy usually to designed to cut/minimize/deny costs at huge inconveniences to us.

     That is the real reason.

     Case in point, Mother needs to refill a prescription for her kid, CVS won’t fill it without paying $50 because the insurance company says its too soon to do so (an topical ointment). After paying $20,000 per year in Obamacare premiums. Guess who is going to hear an earful? Then the clerk says, let me see if I can find a coupon for you, lo and behold, its now $2 after 10 minutes of arguing.

     The system is dirty, the system is dirty…

108. We are in such denial about how ghetto and stupid we are in th US. We are fierce defenders of a capitalist system that eats our lunch everyday in every way. We deserve it really, especially when we think we are better than ANY other country.

109. We don’t know what was going on. There are rude passengers. That’s not a door. Some people make a big deal for an unknown reason.

110. I’m a Delta flight attendant and that would be a no no to block the galley and the exits. What if there is a fire or medical in the cabin? We do have curtains to block the galley when we’re eating but paxs can always peak in if need something.

111. I fly frequently on many different airlines, both international and in the US, but American is my preferred choice. In over 50 years I have had only one bad flight on AA. And everyone has a bad day occasionally. The blocking of the galley area with seat belts is actually a good idea. If the flight attendants are in the aisle you cannot see what is happening in the galley area. I am assuming this is where the money and alcohol are kept as well as flight attendant purses and personal items. The photo shows the galley is set up for service. All one needs to do is to ask. And everyone has a call bell to request service. I see this as a security issue and that this is an excellent measure that should be taken on every flight. Access to bath rooms is not blocked and you won’t be using emergency exits during the flight. If this is not a standard procedure the flight attendants should be commended for their ingenuity.
     My understanding of the cart blocking the aisle in first class is that anytime one of the pilots is using the toilet, the cart is moved into position to block access to storming the cockpit. Another safety measure I appreciate. American Airlines is an excellent airline providing outstanding service.

112. I drive a motor coach, and this is spot on. The amount of entitled and violent passengers we face is at a critical mass. Then you have a jerks like we see in these very comments who think pax are perfect little angels and the attendants should bow at their very whim. They demand respect without reciprocating, leading to this inevitable “shields up” mentality when minimal interaction with the public is the best way to protect your job, lest they want to be “cancelled” for any minor transgression as you can tell some of the jerks in these comments think they should suffer, even though they could never live up to this level of perfection themselves.

113. Removing the entertainment center is not a good idea. Flying can be fun but it can be boring. When I drove from San Francisco to Los Angeles. I had to bring cassettes and CDs to make the 6 to 7 hour drive enjoyable. I remember years ago paying $2.00 to $3.00 for a headset to listen to music and watch the in-flight movie. My guess it went the way of the 8-track tape player.

114. My experience with American Airlines flight attendants is they aren’t like foreign carriers. I avoid buying flights on American because of their customer service.

115. @Gary. A serious proposal: With all the comments saying people should just push the call button, why not collect some data on this from your readers? Start a thread on “Call Buttons” and when we fly, if you need an FA, everyone should first push the call button and report what happens (1) do they respond, (2) how long does it take, (3) what was your request and did they address it? Note the airline, date, flight, and flight number.

116. No, this is not about “bad” passengers. The passengers simply are not happy because of the way they are treated at the airport and on the aircraft. It’s hard to have a happy face when you are treated like a criminal the whole way through the process. And don’t forget, the l passenger is the customer. It’s not the customer’s job to make the employees happy.

117. Lazy, don’t care, first service done, no need to speculate or justify this any further. I work for An Airline, unfortunately it’s the new culture but this was a dumb move which will result in an unpleasant conversation with someone.

118. This is totally unacceptable. Flight attendants are on board an aircraft for SAFETY. Not only are they keeping the passengers out, but they are keeping themselves in. Suppose there is a medical emergency. Wasted minutes trying to UNLOCK their seatbelts. And EVERY flight attendant shouldn’t be taking a break at the same time. No excuses. AA is known for their many unhappy flight attendants.

119. There is absolutely no reason for them to not be doing their job! If you can’t handle dealing with the public as in customer service attending to passengers get another job!! I’ve noticed this time and time again flight attendants that hate their jobs and probably their lives. They take it out on passengers. Who have to pay a lot of money to fly. They have a job to do either do it or find another job don’t take it out on the passengers end of story!!

120. I saw F,A,s on Indigo airlines recently , pull a whole beverage cart across the aisle to stop passengers trying to use the bathroom when want close off the galley, to have a drink themselves or even eat a sandwich. I think its very commonplace in south East Asia.

121. I see that as keep he F out from doing Yoga in the Galley…. not as bad customer service. People are morons.

122. Plain and simple, passengers need to be respective of crew workspaces. The galley is considered a workspace. When people start crowding the galley or trying to do their yoga and stretches, is impeding on their workspace.

     Unfortunately, because of the “me, me, me” culture in the US, people don’t or can’t seem to grasp the concept of being “mindful of their surroundings and those around them”. Hence, they feel the need to impede on people’s personal spaces and intrude in workspaces.

     How I see it, although the barrier is not mmm the best way to block off the galley, it honestly does not do any harm whilst in the air. For those talking about the extra O2 masks in the back for those waiting for the lavs, that is a no factor, as the queue generally falls aisle-side. For those talking about impeding access to the exit doors…. whilst… In… Flight… All I will say is that, especially in light of the OZ incident, we don’t and would not want passengers anywhere near the door whilst in the air, in fear that below a certain altitude, some idiot would try and open it. And finally, in terms of service, I am certain, that if you need something and ring your call light or walk to the back, whilst respecting the space around you, there would be no problem with service delivery.

     Personally, I don’t believe that the barrier defines the crew or their service standards, but rather is simply separating the workspaces from the passenger common areas. No, the galleys are not considered a passenger common space.

123. How about passengers not recording everything flight attendants do at work? Let’s start there. There is no private area for them, where they can take a moment for themselves to eat lunch without someone calling them out on perceived “bad” behaviour. I’m not talking about an hour lunch break (which most office staff get), rather 5 minutes without interruption. I don’t blame these FAs one bit. I would go so far as to call them ingenious. Put your phones down people. Do you take kindly to being recorded at work? This is a galley and a tiny one at that. There’s no room for people to come and do yoga stretches. You donhave to go in there for any purpose. I’m sure you can communicate what you need quite well around the “barrier”. We had a currain which we would close because no one wants someone staring at them while they’re eating/resting. Yes, you heard me. Resting. This could entail part of a 14 hour day for the crew. Also, the exits are not located there, so no one will be evacuating and certainly not at 35,000 feet. It was an easier place to work when phones didn’t exist. I remember a fed up uncharge once saying if it was up to her, she would check the computers and cellphones at the door. It was always a nightmare getting people to shut them off and stow them. This was some 20 years ago. It’s a lot worse now

124. My comment keeps getting bumped (I wonder why ) so will try again. Let’s start with the propensity of people recording every little perceived infraction on the part of inflight crew. Here’s a suggestion; put down your phones and pick up a book! I know, what a concept! Nothing wrong here, in fact, I’d go so far as to call this ingenious, but then, FAs are always thinking outside the box and finding ways to make a cramped, user unfriendly work environment more user friendly. The galley is for FAs, not passengers. It’s their office/cafeteria/rest area. There is no room in an already tiny space for passengers to do their yoga stetches or stand with a crying baby. The FAs escape there to take 5 minutes and wolf down lunch. Most office staff get an hour and 45 minutes into their workday they’re already going for a coffee break! FAs don’t have that luxury. A galley is a self-contained space, like a little room. There are no exits there, nor are people evacuating at 35,000 feet, so think before you criticize. Also, keep in mind this could be part of a 14 hour workday for the crew (for which they’re paid 5 or 6 hours) so they’re trying to grab a bit of rest. Yes, rest. Get off their feet for a moment. Passengers are always making erroneous assumptions and are very unforgiving

125. Let me tell you about American Airlines. I was on frontier a flight from hell and if it had not been for American Airlines my wife and I would not made it to our destination to get married after Frontier screwed 23 of us passengers. American Airlines God Bless you All. And if you do strike I pray you get the extra air Marshall’s and hazard pay. You deserve it.

126. The sad thing is American airline stewardess are not getting paid right now. So yes they are working with out pay.

127. @Debra = that is false

128. “Customer service” happe s when you ring your call bell & I come politely ask what you need. Then I do it & ask if you need anything else. Passengers have no business in the Galley. Flight attendants like to sit down for a couple minutes too. We don’t come hang out in your office and bother you on your lunch break.

129. I was on an overnite flight and we were given NOTHING not even water. The back service area was shut down ,no lights and no attendant to be seen! By the time I got off the flight I was dehydrated and angry !!! Awful!!!

130. they should not have put those seatbelts up like that. But then passengers dont go to galley anyways soooo and you cant use the emergency exit doors while in air.

     And im sure if a passengers calls them im sure they come out and help.

     This is facts that flight attendants don’t have time to eat sometimes. when they do quick turns they have enough time to maybe take a breather and then reboard and pretend they are not tired at all.
     If flying is tiring for you and stressful
     Imagine working in air every day.
     It is stressful.

     Flight attendant is a job yes but how many of you knows what he job actually is.
     Flight attendants are there in case any emergency happens. Medical emergency. Seizure , someone passing out, help give birth, when you have a headache you call them and say you don’t feel good as if you’ve never had a headache before.

     giving drinks and snacks is just an extra thing they do.

     Name a job where you cant sit down for a bit and talk to your coworkers. Or be on your phone for a bit.

     And im sure those flight attendants did their job until they finally sat down.

     For 5 hours flights what do people expect them to do after doing their beverage service? Walk in the aisle back and fort until landing?
     Talk and entertain every single passenger?
     Sit down in their jumpseat and just stair at eachother?

     They are required to sign in for work prior flight without getting paid.
     When they board and help you with your bags and find your seats give you pre departure drinks.
     Making sure the emergency equipments are there. And closing the door properly.
     They do not get paid doing that.

     Next time you see a flight attendant thank them for coming in to work.

131. This poor flight attendants will all get fired for maybe nothing. So thanks to the person who took pictures of this and made it a big deal.

132. Do we assume that we all know who bought a majority of AAL stock last April? Corporate culture comes from the top. No wonder.

133. Kay you have obviously never worked in healthcare. IhVe worked many a 12 hour shift with no time to eat or use the bathroom. By law we are supposed to get two fifteen minute breaks and a 30 minute lunch. If you got to eat something other than a pack of crackers walking down the hall to see your next patient you were lucky. AA flight attendants barely speak and rarely smile as you board the plane. They are pissed off because you bought a ticket. I have always smiled, said please and thank you and at best I get a grunt and a sour puss face. AA flies out of CLT so it is a quick trip for me, otherwise I would fly Delta.

134. Gary you are truly clueless. I don’t agree with their tactic of blockading Passengers, but look closely. Those are NOT safety demo belts. They are part of the 4 point restraint harness that Flight Attendants strap in with. This is NOT OK and I hope the FAA looks into this.

135. K,
     If the job is such torture, flight attendants are free to find another profession. No one is forcing them to fly. And I have had many jobs (most in fact) where I could not sit down and talk to coworkers or play on my phone.

136. I see why the airline doesn’t want to pay for people seating around chit-chatting with one and another. That is like when you go to your doctor office and the nurses are to busy talking to each other while people waiting for care.

137. Obviously, you have a job because of customers on the plane. So, alienate your customers, right? If you hate your job, the company, the customers, whatever – find another profession.

138. I’m sick and tired of the non-factual comments regarding American Airlines flight attendants.
     Instead of mirroring the sensationalized comments, talk to your flight attendants the next time you fly AA. Engage with your flight attendants; we are not afraid, and there’s no need to be scared!
     If you were on my flight, I would educate you on the following:
     I pull the curtain or a barrier strap so I may eat without a passenger’s ass in my face or my food. (I may not have eaten for the past 8-11hrs or more).
     I pull the curtain/ barrier strap to eat without someone putting trash on my food tray, even though the trash cart is visibly labeled.
     We are allowed breaks, we are allowed to eat, and we are allowed to breathe!

     Instead of gathering evidence to disparage AA stews, stop mirroring the crowd and talk to us!

     NB! The exit light on the Airbus is “blinding.” So, having it covered in flight at 38,000ft does not affect your potential evacuation.” Can you imagine doing four flights daily, which can average up to 15 hours, with the light blearing in your eyes? This scenario would resemble if the lights were bright on an early morning flight or late at night while YOU, the passenger, tried to have an enjoyable experience!

     Next time you fly, challenge your “authentic ugliness, ” and come find me in the FC galley, where we can have a courageous conversation!

     Fly SAAfe!!!