A first class passenger on Alaska flight 142 from Juneau to Seattle on Thursday shared their experience at the start of the flight. They asked for coffee once they had boarded and were safely ensconced in their seat. What the flight attendant told them was shocking.
Passenger gets on the plane and asks the flight attendant if she could get a coffee, she is in seat 3a. The FA responds, maybe, it depends on how nice I’m feeling, I don’t get paid until the door closes and we don’t work for free… I mean, a “no, I’m sorry, we don’t offer beverages until we are in the air” would work, but …. it, let’s be rude and introduce our drama to a random person…”
The customer is right here. While Alaska Airlines in particular isn’t known for offering predeparture beverages (other than water) in first class, the issue isn’t the drink it’s bringing contract issues into the cabin with customers.
- Not doing predeparture beverages in first class is a huge missed opportunity. American Airlines, which has its own predeparture beverage challenges, found that they are a key driver of premium customer satisfaction.And when customers are sitting in first class, having boarded first, with a drink in their hands happy that is marketing to every customer walking by them who might someday buy that premium product too.
- If a decision has been mad not to have it as a service element – at the end of the pandemic, American surveyed whether they really needed to bring this back – then politely saying though would suffice.
- But galley gossip within earshot of customers is bad enough – complaining about matters between them and the company is far worse.
The contract that Alaska Airlines voted down offered 32% raises over 3 years, retro pay, and boarding pay.
But the idea that flight attendants ‘aren’t being paid until doors close’ is perhaps one of the biggest misunderstandings cabin crew have.
- Hourly rates paid for flight time are meant to include time spent boarding and deplaning.
- Unions generally had not pushed for boarding pay, because they preferred higher hourly rates instead. That’s because senior union members tend to take fewer, longer flights and benefit more than higher wages. It’s a way of redistributing pay from junior employees to employees with greater seniority.
- Then non-union Delta introduced boarding pay as a true add-on. It was on top of existing pay. And unions had to start negotiating for it. Delta had embarrassed them.
- But in contracts like the new one at American, some senior flight attendants have been unhappy – they know this isn’t free money, and boarding pay means lower pay rates than they would have been able to negotiate otherwise. It is money out of senior crew pockets back into the hands of junior crew (who are the ones paid very little, that have been the face of union bargaining campaigns).
Alaska Airlines usually provides good service, though it frequently isn’t as good as it used to be. Maybe it’s having absorbed Virgin America? They’re going to be digesting Hawaiian now, which surprisingly doesn’t have as good a service offering as you’d expect.
They’ll integrate seniority lists, which can be rocky, though they promise to maintain separate brands which at least allows some continuity in existing service standards if they so choose. (This will be interesting, when legacy Alaska crew work Hawaiian flights and vice versa, so some standardization is going to be needed.)
Labor and consumer protections just died on November 5, 2024, so good luck everybody. You’ll soon need to pay a bribe (excuse me, the Supreme Court prefers we use the term ‘gratuity’) for any services whatsoever. Oh, you want a coffee? $5. The good news, for those feeling extra generous, you can get more than a coffee, if you know what I mean. *wink wink*
Fair boarding pay seems immensely simple to this non airline employee. If it is true that it is built in to flight hour pay, then simply any deviation exceeding scheduled time becomes extra time worthy of a pay adjustment. As simple as feeding a parking meter if you want extra time!
Employees would then know they are always “on the clock” and receiving pay for overtime, as required! Smiles all around.
The FA should be disciplined if not fired. They joined the union, the union negotiated the contract. Nothing has changed in the level of service in providing a pre departure beverage. Sorry this FA thinks they are not being paid fairly just because the clock doesn’t start while they are on the ground but ignores the fact it’s all built into the comp package.
Should they delay doing safety checks until the door closes? After all that is their primary responsibility, right?
Should pilots not do walk arounds?
They voted for the union heads
They read the contact
They voted for the contact to be approved
They have the right to say no and get a job at Wal-Mart or burger King.
If you do not like it then QUIT but in the mean time STOP %^$#%%$ about what you agreed to.
The worse voice is the voice that did not vote.
Im now wondering about the pilots. Are they gonna go along with this “attitude”. I mean, who is gonna do the checklists, do the walkaround, or start the engines.
So if the FAs arent “working” since they arent on the clock, nothing is stopping me from going to the galley and getting my own mimosa?!
If you aren’t working, then you must not be on duty. If you are not on duty, then don’t wear the uniform and get out of the way.
Right now, the only way we have to know you are not working is if you are anywhere near the galley. And that applies only if we can even see you at all.
Why don’t you worthless excuses for employees just go find a job that you like and treats you in the manner to which you dream about?
Just so you know, the customers are fed up.
@1990 clearly the most obnoxious post of the day that I have read.
I was in customer facing businesses for over 40 years and believe me hired thousands of employees. This one would be gone in a nanosecond by me if there was a video of what she said but you know dang well the unions will back her up
First, I need help here (lots, but on this topic). I cannot stand coffee (taste and smell is worse). So, is it expected there is a pot of brewed coffee available on boarding? Would this request require the FA to brew a pot for just one customer? Unless it not obvious, I wonder if a request for cofffee is a way bigger ask than, say, a soda.