Comments

1. If overhead compartments on planes had an automatic locking mechanism that was used for takeoff and landing then idiots wouldn’t have an opportunity to reach up and grab their possessions when a plane is being evacuated.

2. Thought exercise about those evacuating the aircraft. You are on an international flight. Life is a whole lot easier if you have your travel documents and wallet. I tend to keep those in my backpack. Also my life revolves around my laptop, which is also in my backpack during landing.

   Much as it could marginally delay evacuation, the expected outcome is almost certainly better if I evacuate with my backpack than without. Now taking the rollaboard suitcase is selfish, although my CPAP machine would be in there.

   Luckily haven’t had to face this event.

3. It’s not a paradox. They’re lazy, entitled trash just in it for the travel benefits and/or to find a sugar daddy.

4. Was in Sri Lanka in May and can confirm, food is pretty good. Bit like south Indian so a bit of curry, fish and spciy etc. Fairly boring place to visit, all things considered.

5. On a Delta flight yesterday (2 hour long meal flight) in First, as we started descending and it was 45 minutes since finishing the meal and trays still weren’t collected, and myself and seatmate kind of needed to use the lav, I “bussed” trays and took my row’s meal trays and empty glassware to the galley. The flight attendant went into defensive mode immediately and started claiming he had been in the cabin multiple times (two other people spoke up and said no he had not). Let’s see how many SkyPesos I get for this….

6. @Carl, yes, they’re talking about you.
   Also, your passport goes in your pocket for take off and landing. Not like you’d seem to care, since your life and everyone else’s “revolve around your laptop”.

7. I’ll leave the carry on bag up top but definitely would grab my laptop bag (with all documents plus laptop) and carry it out. Under seat in front of me and could grab quickly so wouldn’t materially slow anything down. Even if it did I’m still doing it and I bet the majority of other people will as well.

8. @Carl – If your life revolves around your laptop then I’m certain you have an online backup. My passport and documents are important to me too but they’re not worth someone’s life. I’m a very unusually large guy and if someone wants to gather their stuff on a burning plane while other people are trying to save their lives, I’m going to do my best to stop them so we can live to complain about our lost possessions later.

9. I’m an expected value thinker, not in absolutes. So you are comparing a long tail event – very small probability, severe outcome – with a for sure event, very high probability, known impact. You will be in a foreign country without any documents and possibly without records of those documents and potentially without functioning credit cards. So the likely outcome is no harm but days of effort to get everything replaced and quite possibly medium term restrictions on travel. Added complexity for me is that I reside in a different country than issues my passport and replacing it requires in person travel, even if I get a very temporary one abroad.
   Yes my laptop gets backed up but who knows how complete the recovery will be and what passwords get lost.
   There were a lot more easily replaceable items shown going down those emergency slides. You’ll be a busy guy if you are policing all the fellow passengers. We probably do inadequate training of passengers.

10. These “primarily here for your safety” FA’s really need to find another line of work. This why I try to fly Alaska domestically and any Non-American airline internationally. Sadly Air Canada and British Airways are hit or miss flights with miss being the more prevalent.

11. It’s interesting how a common denominator of airlines that give poor in-flight service is that they come from English-speaking countries. With the exception of PRC airlines, pretty much most airlines from countries that don’t have English as their primary language provide superior inflight service.

12. @ Carl — YOU, you, you. It is not about YOU.

13. The sad thing is that 99.1% of the flight attendants at DL and AA are very good and enjoy flying with both (can’t say anything for UA since haven’t flown them since ’94). It’s the laggards that show up in social media not doing their job. It’s the same with a meal that wasn’t right when 10,000 of them were perfect.

    It the past it was forgettable, now it’s in your face all the time. Bad food happens, even when cooked in front of you at a restaurant, same with bad service. Let’s stop rewarding the bad service or food with showing it but maybe on this day when the world changed so much, we start to show what is good. Good service, food, etc. . .

    Let’s try something positive.

14. @Gary, you couldn’t wait until September 12 to post another flight attendant bash? Oh and Walter, you’re the true definition of a bully along with a couple of others on here. I’m so glad I was raised by two wonderful parents that taught me how to be a kind person. Betty Ong and so many others that terrible day also had the kind of parents that I’ve been fortunate to have. I feel sorry for those that have so much hate in their lives that they feel they have to push down on everyone else.

15. When I was a frequent flyer on LAX-NRT or LAX to HKG, I couldn’t help but question if AA and UA ever question about their flight attendants appearances and even physicals. I know airlines staffing seniority count a lot. I’m not discriminating against older flight attendants. There are many older one are in great shape and in take pride in their appearance. There are some I feel like, this is whom you want to represent American and your company? Hair was not properly styled. Uniform was not properly worn. The flight was probably more than 50 pounds over weight that I don’t see how they manage get by the economy seating area isles. How do they serve to passengers. In Asia, airlines flight attendants are almost the ambassadors not just to the company, but often the country itself too. AA and UA tickets are usually not cheap either. CX, JL, NH, KE are all great carrier to choose from. No wonder most are given up on Asian routes.

16. Perhaps someone can answer.

    Are FAs allowed to be on their phones while on board a flying aircraft?

17. Depends. Delta issues cell phones to all flight attendants. The phones contain all passenger information, all announcements, gate information, pre ordered meals, etc.

    They are not allowed to use them for personal reasons.

18. Thank you.

    I seriously doubt that FA pictured is studying pre-ordered meals.

    I’ve seen a number on them during flights. Guess I’ll start keeping notes on it.

19. Inflight WiFi hasn’t helped. I have a few good friends who are flight attendants and one I message with daily…. We will be on iMessage or WhatsApp and I get a “just a minute, gotta do a trash run”

20. @Patti, AA has also issued iPhones to the F/As. Everything concerning the flight we are working, our FAA required manuals (we used to carry around a huge book that had to be updated weekly), our entire working life with AA, training, reports that need to be completed and filed and a special phone app that reaches the POC during a medical emergency. I fly international, many times as galley. During the flight I sit and fill out all my catering reports and broken equipment reports. Based on many comments you see in this blog, you can imagine how many issues I have to write up. I’m getting paid during the time I’m inflight. I don’t get paid in my hotel room so I choose to do my reports on the clock.

21. Flight attendants are there for their safety too. They’re not going to risk injuries during turbulence just to make sure you have ice.

22. Some of you are ridiculously entitled. Of course there is the flight attendant here and there that is a little lazy or is having a bad day, but if it continuously happens to YOU…. Common denominator is… you.
    On 9/11 too. The gall some of you have.
    And if you do get out with baggage during an evacuation, and you think you have good reasons, you clearly need to be told off. Might I suggest a belt bag or something similar that you can keep on you with necessary documents? Also you should have everything scanned and sent to you just in case you lose it anyway.

23. Flyer 1

    So long as the passengers aren’t being neglected because you don’t want to be “off the clock”, fine.

    But I can count plenty of times I’ve sat there, nary a FA in sight waiting to ask for something to drink because, God Forbid, I press the call button.

    Passengers first, reports second.

24. No @Walter – the only Paradox here is you – bashing 250.000 flight attendants (in the US only) for being lazy, entitled trash, and only in it for the benefits.
    Flight attendants are used to dealing with trash, but you are a prime example, that not all of it will fit in a plastic bag.

25. @Patti

    maybe mind your business or pay to fly private. unless you cant afford it

26. There certainly are a lot of nasty comments on here focusing on FA women’s physical appearance and bad attitude and service. I’d be curious to know if they’re frequent flyers or just had a bad flight. But rhe venom in many remarks makes me not take their comments seriously

27. I have not had Sri Lanka food but I will have to try it sometime. It looks tasty.

28. @Patti, I’ve been flying for over 40 years. You certainly don’t need to tell me how to do my job. My passengers are not neglected on our 15 hour flights. I think more people should pay attention to their own careers. Every industry and every profession has bad apples including yours. Hopefully you’re top notch when you’re on the clock and not busy on social media.

29. Does anyone ever report on a positive travel experience? Or record one? Of course not, because it doesn’t make good TikTok, although there are countless more of those than the negative ones. How about recording the successful resuscitation of an unconscious casualty using the onboard defibrillator? Or my colleague jeopardizing her own safety by getting out of her jumpseat during severe turbulence to talk down a frantic passenger from a full on panic attack? Or the successful emergency evacuation of Air France which shot off the end of the runway in Toronto in 2005 during a thunderstorm, bursting into flames? The crew evacuated over 300 people in the targeted 90 seconds with not one fatality. Kudos to them for a job well done. They received well deserved awards in their native country for their acts of bravery. Food is the least important thing on your flight. Stop taking pictures of inflight crew at work!! Do they come to your office and stick a phone in your face and record you? I didn’t think so. A great majority of the time, you have no idea what you’re even recording. When you think they have disappeared, they may simply be trying to take some time in order to eat lunch. How long is your lunch break? An hour? FAs never have more than a few minutes. Food is the least important aspect of a flight. Covid proved that. I worked full time during that period, donned in a mask, face shield, disposable gown and gloves. Very little in the way of food service. The only beverage of choice was a tiny bottle of water, but you could have as many as you wanted. Nonetheless, people survived. They made do. They never complained. The more service was gradually introduced, the more the complaints. So stop recording and making erroneous judgements when you don’t know what you’re witnessing. It’s the anniversary of 9/11. You would be better advised to honour the flight attendants on those flights for their sacrifice. May they rest in peace

30. Carl, do you actually have a passport in that overhead bag you want to hold everyone up during emergencies? Otherwise, you would know that there are lots of airlines based in countries where the primary language is English that have perfectly good customer service, starting with Singapore Airlines and Air New Zealand.

31. Flyer 1

    I started flying over 61 years ago internationally. Definately seen a marked decline in the quality of “service” on domestic flights.

    I was top notch. Enabled me to retire in my 40s, been enjoying life and traveling ever since.

    Maybe some could use some help on service and time management.

32. Just curious how you’d feel if someone posted your picture on a public forum??? Especially without anyone getting your side of the story. Also there is a call button for a reason.

33. Flight attendants unions are a vestige of what Walter Russel Mead calls the “Blue Model”. It’s a lifestyle where employees are unionized, stay for their entire career, and the downstream effects on the customer are ignored. Think AT&T, Ford, your local electric company, and yes, airlines.

    The model broke down when customers saw better options from abroad, and ironically, it was liberals who led the charge. Buying a Toyota in the 1980s was considered liberal, while buying the usual overpriced junky GM vehicle was conservative.

    Airlines need a “Toyota” equivalent. This could either be by fifth freedom routes or a startup airline which is non-union.

34. @George Singapore culturally is not the same as English-speaking countries. I guess NZ is the exception that proves the rule. Interesting how different Australia is.
    Yes, my passport travels in a pocket in my backpack. It doesn’t fit comfortably in a pants pocket and my (non-U.S.) passport would wear out if carried and sat on in a pocket all the time.
    Interesting that no one comments on my expected value comment vs. absolutes. I guess that’s consistent with the fact that we obsess with aviation accidents and ignore the tens of thousands of auto deaths on just U.S. highways every year. Probably millions annually worldwide. Think of the population health benefits we could get by reducing auto fatalities and injuries and also by encouraging walking and transit use which can directly lead to reductions in obesity and increased exercise. But those topics aren’t convenient to talk about.

35. 22 years on, it being “9/11” does not mean we can’t comment on lazy FA trash. If they did their jobs properly, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.

36. Flyer1 – over 40 years flying? So you’re 60+? And you’re there “for my safety”? LMFAO. FA’s should be forcibly retired at 55 max. The ugly ones sooner, of course.

37. The article on accidental slide deployments claims there are three a day. That seems highly unlikely.

38. Walter, you’re a piece of work (or just a piece). So should we all be put out out to pasture at 55 or because of the way one looks? Take a look in the mirror buddy, I’ll bet you’re no prize.

39. Also . . .Walter. . .God forbid the next time you’re flying you have a medical emergency and need someone with with experience to save your sorry ass. Good luck with that

40. Just not the same work ethic as when we used to fly.

41. Many thoughts; I’ll try to be succinct.
    1. FA’s are hired from an era of eyes glued to a screen, even among a group of friends. The dystopian future of eyes glued to screen, whether client-facing staff or not, is now.
    2. Sri Lanka has amazing food, and I annually have been on holiday there over twenty years, both the golden tropical beaches and the cool upcountry by Victoria golf course and the lovely tea plantations and lakes. Airlines usually offer one Western option and one Sri Lankan option, and usually run out of the Western option. At 38,000 feet and low pressure, the Sri Lankan option is not that spicy.
    3. Transcontinental FA’s, both US and foreign airlines, love me and serve me well. Domestic FA’s were horrid in 2022 and the first half of 2023; but, the past couple months, have been good to me. I mean, FA’s are like sparkling wine: French champagne invariable is good, Cava, Prosecco, and California are hit and miss; likewise, EK, QR, AF, and KL FA’s always are good; UA, AA, and DL are hit and miss.
    I guess I wasn’t all that brief. Oh, well.

42. I get the impression that “Per” (posting above) is or was once a flight attendant. Or, a relative or good friend was.

43. My recent international flight was a great experience, on time, roomy seat, clean plane, attentive FAs and decent food. I was on TAP.

44. 98 percent of the flight attendants of today would be fired using the old standards. It’s a disgrace. Some cannot even fit out an emergency door.

45. Most of steward(ess) are fine…there’s always a few lazy or burnout. I was disappointed recently with Royal Maroc business class service a few weeks ago…they were not going that extra mile you expect in business class…had to track them down….but look it’s a difficult customer service job and I think overall they do a decent job keeping 100 – 300 people safe and secure. Most often on US flights, I just want to get from A to B on time without much fuss.

46. I had a good laugh reading posts from people who feel the need to take their laptop bags with them in an evacuation. Tell me you’ve never used the evacuation slide without saying you’ve never used the evacuation slide…

    I did a couple of “fake” evacuations in a training centre. That slide is not fun. We were landing on a soft floor and still a few people managed to hurt themselves a bit. We’ve had two people accidentally do salto when they flew out of the slide at the end.

    The best case scenario is that you destroy your laptop (which could’ve survived just fine if it stayed on board – only a minority of evaluations ends in the plane obliterated by fire). The worst case scenario is that you hurt yourself pretty badly since your hands will be holding your laptop bag, and not available to protect yourself at the final fall.

    You have no freakin idea what you’re talking about.

47. The butthurt FA brigade is out in force here, I see.

    Perhaps focus on making things better, rather than bashing those whon point them out?
    If you cannot, sthu, please?

48. I was yelled and screamed at in front of everyone on the plane by a flight attendant simply for asking about my itinerary and needing help finding my next flight. I sold all my stock in the airline the following Monday causing the stock to plumit.