News and notes from around the interweb:
- It used to be that passengers complained about indifferent service from veteran flight attendants, but recently new hires have been considered to be worse on average. I hear this all the time from American Airlines crew, but it’s not limited to American: Veteran United Airlines Flight Attendant Slams ‘Lazy’ Post-Pandemic New Hires Who Lack ‘Class, Etiquette, And Professionalism’
“Standards went out the window, 100%,” the veteran crew member said of the recruitment campaigns run by many airlines, not just United, who found themselves in the same situation.
“The new hires we’ve been getting the last few years are, for the most part, unanimously hated amongst the entire workgroup,” the disgruntled crew member continued. “You can’t generalize every single one, of course, but for every good one, there are 10 awful, embarrassing godawful ones.”
“They aren’t hired for their attention to class, etiquette, professionalism, service, etc. like it once was. A scary amount of these people only have Taco Bell and McDonald’s as prior work experience on their resume.”
- It appears the orange vest is Delta, and the yellow vest is Menzies.
Finally, an airport video of things kicking off on the tarmac.
byu/mindyour inPublicFreakout - 20% of ‘best flexible rate’ at IHG hotels for anyone with a Visa credit card (HT: Loyalty Lobby) This cancellable rate generally beats the prepaid member rate.
- Hyatt double elite nights if you’re willing to stay somewhere with a canvas roof
- Man found with crocodile head at Delhi airport (HT: Enilria)
- Ethiopian Airlines Boeing “787 couldn’t hold it in anymore! If you gotta go, you gotta go!”
No new hire is making 70 bucks an hour. While there could be more professional behavior from som FAs, I call BS on this post. A simple fact check would show actual pay rates. Talking to the press, or speaking out on social media, is a good way to lose your job.
Bitch all you want, we all do/did, but keep it among friends and family.
Pay Taco Bell wages, get Taco Bell employees.
Blame the youth! Don’t mentor, sponsor, teach, train, endorse, befriend, or pay them well, and certainly do not plan for their retirement or any other benefits. Just spit in their face, and watch the world burn. Then, wonder why things are not getting better. Good plan. Oh, and tax cuts for the wealthy. Be best!
I think its a generational attitude toward work in general that accounts for the lack of professionalism. I don’t think how much money they make is the primary problem.
Charge Taco Bell fares, get Taco Bell passengers.
Spot on comment from 1990 and disappointing from John. God forbid we ever talk about salaries needing to be good for young people? We need more information here.
It’s disgusting the way some of them look. Not professional at all. Its damaging our profession we were so classy us flight attendants. Shame on management.
@ Gary — As a Global Services, I have not seen any such unprofessionalism. In fact, the FAs are much improved over when I was last a UA-heavy flier some 8-10 years ago.
I am agreeing more and more with 1990 lately, what the heck is going on?
Well I can’t generalize too much, but from occasional teaching of high school students I find overall their attention spans and ability to sit down, learn and pay attention to details have really gone downhill since my kids were in school. Cell phones, instant gratification, an endless noise of stuff coming at them makes it very difficult to concentrate, plan goals and really get organized. Some do, but it’s really a matter of having a professional attitude in what one does–and even knowing what that means! I think this starts with parents helping their children determine what matters, how to make plans and then how to exercise good critical thinking and judgment skills in what they do. But organizations have to select for it too and then really foster the best in what people are capable of.
@Jay Gee
Finally… someone gets me. Yet, I suspect you’ve fallen for my comments that were in-character, you know, my functionalized persona of a ‘well-intentioned, poorly informed high-status idiot’ — In reality, I just happen to enjoy airplane gossip, travel hacking via credit card sign-up bonuses, supporting the proletariat, and, of course, getting called silly names by anonymous online strangers. Feed me.
*fictionalized
(if only our comments here were more ‘functional’ … we are mere farts in the wind)
@Linda – did you read OP’s full comment regarding the $70/hr? They never said new hires get paid that amount and you’re completely throwing context out the window. This is what they said:
“ If you’re an FA hired during the days of class and decorum, and you’re working with 3 other post-covid hires, they’ll go on and on about how you “do way too much for the passengers.” and try to bully you.. getting paid nearly $70/hr to hand out drinks with a smile is easy f*****g work.”
They’re referring specifically to themselves getting paid nearly $70/hr, because they’re the ones handing out drinks with a smile while the junior crew says that they’re “doing too much.”
Reading is essential, Linda.
WOW! That’s insane! I’ve been in aerospace for over 38 years, I’ve worked at 2 of the biggest aerospace companies and we’re getting the same unqualified people too! I hope you feel safe when you fly!
No data to support this. Just subjective view of old people. What a surprise.
It’s called DEI hiring practices. Call it for what it really is. Maybe sprinkle in some union protectionism and viola! You get what you get.
Lord Timothy Dunn, I have worked with plenty of people who don’t fall.under the DEI category. They are some of the laziest, entitled, low intelligent clowns ever to inhabit the earth.
Yeah, Linda, you go girl!
Deflect and distract so you and your gawdawful lazy colleagues are not called out.
Nice going!
Lord Tmmy Dunn is as moronic as the original Timmy Dunn
So I’m an FA who was hired 30 years ago. I started at 21. Now at 51, I do see a gap in some of the new hires, but as an onboard leader, I always see these gaps as opportunities to gently educate new FAs. Just like I was coached and encouraged in my early days. FA training is designed to get you out on the line. It’s not designed to teach you all of the nuance of good service. Certainly, wearing headphones or watching a movie and ignoring customers is unacceptable. I fly ultra-long-haul and you might see me on the jumpseat with my Kindle on your way to the bathroom. As soon as I hear the flush, that book is closed and I acknowledge you and ask if you have any needs. It takes time do develop good customer centric habits. This lady should’ve maybe taken some time to address the issue and not blame it on “the youth”.
Pretty sure there’s a direct correlation between employee professionalism and passenger behavior.
Maybe you guys can look into that for your next article.
I’ve been retired 12yrs. However, when I fly I’m in shock at the lack of class, and attention to detail. Zero people skills! The old and fat would not be tolerated when I was hired at AA!
I flew United roundtrip in November, 2024. The flight attendants were awful. No friendly greeting then terrible service on 4 hour flights. I ended up tuning out the pre-flight safety briefings because the attendant spoke so fast I couldn’t understand a single word she said. She spoke too rapidly and too softly to comprehend. I’ve been flying for 50 years and this was the worst customer service I’ve encountered from flight attendants. I truly don’t want to fly anymore.
Do you ever write anything positive on this website? All you do is bash airlines and how bad they are when, in reality, they are busier and more successful than they have ever been so, obviously , they are doing something right. In any industry, there are going to be some negatives but that’s all you ever focus on with the airlines. This is why people walk into airports on the defensive, waiting for something bad to happen. Instead of travel being a positive experience, you create it as a negative with these crap articles. Please write something positive every once in a while. Your whining is getting old and your audience would appreciate it.
I recently flew UA in one direction and AC in the other.
UA: “Whaddayawanna drink?”
AC: “May I offer you a beverage?”
That pretty much sums up the refinement.
Do I expect flight attendants to be debutantes? Absolutely not. Do I expect them to have some basic social skills? Yes.
I really appreciate the good people at our local Taco Bell.
Flew united in the 70/s they sucked then flew continental great now back to united shit hole again
The airlines can’t be selective anymore! Quality people don’t want the job!! It a GED job!!
Menial labor!!
A new hire flight attendant is working very long hours .Flying in & out of time zones. Pay is not enough to live in the big cities they are based in. They are struggling to make a living. You all should be thankful they are willing to do this UNDER PAID job.
I’ve been saddened to know some live in their cars in Newark. Shameful really !!! Pay these kids enough to put a roof over their heads.
United Airlines is making billions of dollars . Yet their flight attendance pay lag behind the other airlines. Deny..Delay…Defend.
Industry leading Contract…. United DOES NOT HAVE A INDUSTRY LEADING CONTRACT. Those young flight attendant’s are doing amazing work just showing up ! So if you have a complaint aim it in the right direction . The management of United Airlines.