Foo - When you have to fly...

...please keep in mind that the people you interface with generally aren't the ones to blame for. Great article from the flight attendants' perspective:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/14/travel/14Airline.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

nice article, although I don't fly because my 6'4" frame (6'3" of that being legs) doesn't fit so well in those seats and I don't particually like eating my kneecaps for the entire flight.

...please keep in mind that the people you interface with generally aren't the ones to blame for. Great article from the flight attendants' perspective:

http://www .n ytimes.com/2008/09/14/travel/14Airline.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

basically true, with some exceptions.

the one thing that i find questionable is that the article stated that it's harder to work first class than economy. if that's true, then why are flight attendants always so miserable in economy, and generally genuinely pleasant in business?

basically true, with some exceptions.

the one thing that i find questionable is that the article stated that it's harder to work first class than economy. if that's true, then why are flight attendants always so miserable in economy, and generally genuinely pleasant in business?


You don't interact with rich people often, do you?

They're demeaning, arrogant, dismissive, and generally a pain to do anything for.

nice article, although I don't fly because my 6'4" frame (6'3" of that being legs) doesn't fit so well in those seats and I don't particually like eating my kneecaps for the entire flight.

I haven't flown much, but I learned real quick that, like on a bus, in church, or at the movies, the isle seat is best! I swivel to the side a bit and stretch my legs out into the isle. (6'4" as well)

...please keep in mind that the people you interface with generally aren't the ones to blame for. Great article from the flight attendants' perspective:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/14/travel/14Airline.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

I had to remind myself of that over and over about a month ago when Air Tran stranded me in Sea-Tac for about 12 hours before getting us a plane. Didn't get me on any other flights and only gave me one $10 voucher for my trouble (that bought a whole coffee and muffin at Charrbucks).

I haven't flown much, but I learned real quick that, like on a bus, in church, or at the movies, the isle seat is best! I swivel to the side a bit and stretch my legs out into the isle. (6'4" as well)

Aisle seating is OK, until they start wheeling the carts around and people are walking back and forth to the bathroom, and kicking your legs.

The last couple of times I've flown, I made sure to book an exit row. Whenever possible, I get an exit row with only two seats. I'm 6'6", and I fit comfortably in the exit row without having to fold myself like an accordian.

You don't interact with rich people often, do you?

incorrect.


They're demeaning, arrogant, dismissive, and generally a pain to do anything for.

sweeping statements ftw.


btw - you've never flown in business class, have you?

the one thing that i find questionable is that the article stated that it's harder to work first class than economy. if that's true, then why are flight attendants always so miserable in economy, and generally genuinely pleasant in business?

They have to be.

They have to be.

you must have missed the part about it being genuine.

considering that they're taking care of 18 business class passengers, instead of 60+ economy, it's understandable.

Poor flight attendants. Someone call the waahmbulance...

The service industry sucks. Whether it's in the air or on the ground--whenever you're the frontline for the general public, it can and will get unpleasant. Maybe it was something different in the past, but so were a lot of other things. Get over it.

Next: Michelle Higgins takes on the challenging role of bagger at her local supermarket and, surprise, surprise, finds out that people still suck.

nice article, although I don't fly because my 6'4" frame (6'3" of that being legs) doesn't fit so well in those seats and I don't particually like eating my kneecaps for the entire flight.

I'm not that tall, but the first thing I do when we're off the ground is swap my carry-on from under the seat in front of me to the tiny bit of space available under my seat which lets me stretch my legs out just a little bit more. Not guaranteed to work on all planes.

you must have missed the part about it being genuine.

considering that they're taking care of 18 business class passengers, instead of 60+ economy, it's understandable.

Also, the business class passengers are generally in a better mood than the economy passengers, plus more of them tend to be frequent flyers who are more understanding of what the flight attendants go through.


I agreed with much of the article; however this part:


No to the guy who, like many of his fellow passengers, was concerned he wouldn’t make his connecting flight because of our late departure and pleaded, “Can you call and find out?” (Sorry, but here’s the customer service number you can try when we land.)

Airports and airlines in other countries seem to deal much better with slight delays and connections than in the US. It's all computerized, I can't understand why it is that United Airlines cannot hold a flight 5 minutes for 20 people on a delayed flight, surely rebooking those 20 people on other airlines is more expensive than holding the plane for 5 minutes in Denver. In contrast, the nice folks at the Munich airport drove me around and expedited me through immigration when I was the only person slightly delayed on a Lufthansa connection.

You are correct, it is not the flight attendants fault that the passengers keep bugging them while they are trying to figure out where they are partying at when they land for the night.

I'm not that tall, but the first thing I do when we're off the ground is swap my carry-on from under the seat in front of me to the tiny bit of space available under my seat which lets me stretch my legs out just a little bit more. Not guaranteed to work on all planes.

you do realize that there's compartments above you, for your carry on baggage, right?

you do realize that there's compartments above you, for your carry on baggage, right?

Which are completely stuffed since people can not check their freaking bags when they really should.

Which are completely stuffed since people can not check their freaking bags when they really should.

board early.

board early.

So you are one of those that don't follow directions and board with your section? So breaking the rules is your answer to fixing the problem?

So you are one of those that don't follow directions and board with your section? So breaking the rules is your answer to fixing the problem?

with skills of deduction such as yours, you should work for the CIA.

yellowcake anyone?

Traveling is a generally stressful experience. I've always been lucky to work in service industries that make people happy- 6 years as a barista. People are so dang excited (generally) to get their 'fix'. Especially with the 'new age' of travel- expensive, delays, deadlines- pretty much nobody starts out having a good day.

The more you travel the more you get accustomed to ^ and find ways around it (sure, be the dude that boards early, especially if it makes you less of a PITA to deal with)-- or, you just learn to accept it.

Traveling is a generally stressful experience. I've always been lucky to work in service industries that make people happy- 6 years as a barista. People are so dang excited (generally) to get their 'fix'. Especially with the 'new age' of travel- expensive, delays, deadlines- pretty much nobody starts out having a good day.

The more you travel the more you get accustomed to ^ and find ways around it (sure, be the dude that boards early, especially if it makes you less of a PITA to deal with)-- or, you just learn to accept it.

i don't do it because it makes me 'less of a PITA', i do it because i'm entitled to.

i don't do it because it makes me 'less of a PITA', i do it because i'm entitled to.

So you own the plane?

That is the only way you are entitled to anything.

So you own the plane?

That is the only way you are entitled to anything.

incorrect. again.

*yawn*

Well, if flight attendants had it easy back in the day, I think we all had it easy back in the day too when going from one part of the country to the next didn't cost an arm and a leg!

incorrect. again.

Care to back up what you're saying? The only airline (in the US anyway) that acclimates customers that want to board first is Southwest, and even then, it's not an "entitlement"--customers have to check in first in order to board first.

Either that, or you're flying first class.

i don't do it because it makes me 'less of a PITA', i do it because i'm entitled to. first class? handicapped? elderly?

or, sweeping statements may apply to your reason for being 'entitled'?

Care to back up what you're saying? The only airline (in the US anyway) that acclimates customers that want to board first is Southwest, and even then, it's not an "entitlement"--customers have to check in first in order to board first.

Either that, or you're flying first class.

sure (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SkyTeam#Premium_status).


first class? handicapped? elderly?

none of the above.


or, sweeping statements may apply to your reason for being 'entitled'?

or a lack of information may apply to your not knowing what membership in a frequent flier program entitles.

Sometimes you have to wonder what has happened to good manners. Many times I have boarded aircraft and found the first class section completely trashed with newspapers, crackers crunched up on the floor, and in a general state of disaster. Do these people live like this at home?

I've seen bad behavior all the way from some average drunk guy to Dr. Phil berating a flight attendant for something he didn't like. Stories from flight attendants range from Dolly Parton gladly taking autograph requests, Candice Bergen helping to serve drinks in coach, to Paul Newman putting his bare feet up on a bulkhead and clipping his toenails. The more bizzarre stories include a guy traveling to Santo Domingo with this dead mother in a garment bag. I see them do their job and admit there is no way I could do it without losing a grip.

I have often made the comment that the airline business is nothing like what you see in the movies and I would not recommend it to anyone. But I do get to board before anyone else. Even before Botto.

Sometimes you have to wonder what has happened to good manners. Many times I have boarded aircraft and found the first class section completely trashed with newspapers, crackers crunched up on the floor, and in a general state of disaster. Do these people live like this at home?

I've seen bad behavior all the way from some average drunk guy to Dr. Phil berating a flight attendant for something he didn't like. Stories from flight attendants range from Dolly Parton gladly taking autograph requests, Candice Bergen helping to serve drinks in coach, to Paul Newman putting his bare feet up on a bulkhead and clipping his toenails. The more bizzarre stories include a guy traveling to Santo Domingo with this dead mother in a garment bag. I see them do their job and admit there is no way I could do it without losing a grip.

I have often made the comment that the airline business is nothing like what you see in the movies and I would not recommend it to anyone. But I do get to board before anyone else. Even before Botto.

i'll have the chicken please. ;)

first class? handicapped? elderly?

or, sweeping statements may apply to your reason for being 'entitled'?

I also get to board first and I am none of those. I have status from flying so much.

sure (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SkyTeam#Premium_status).

Ahhh... forgot about frequent flyer.

I guess owning your own airplane would also entitle you to board first. :D

I forgot to mention, even though I board first, I put my bag under the seat in front of me when I can (unless I'm in a bulkhead seat or something similar).

The seats are a bit high for my short legs and it's nice to have something to put my feet up on. Plus I like having my stuff handy as I usually am in a window seat.

I also get to board first and I am none of those. I have status from flying so much.

The reason I stay with United is the 1k privileges, especially the upgrades and check-in. I’ve used the 6 hour guaranteed reservation a number of times too.
If I’m not flying direct and I can get more time between flights, I’ll just work in Red Carpet or Alliance clubs.

Always be nice to flight attendants…….:)

The reason I stay with United is the 1k privileges, especially the upgrades and check-in. I’ve used the 6 hour guaranteed reservation a number of times too.
If I’m not flying direct and I can get more time between flights, I’ll just work in Red Carpet or Alliance clubs.

Always be nice to flight attendants…….:)

correct (unless they're being pissy without provocation).

i'll have the chicken please. ;)

Not only do I not recommend working in the airline business, I can't recommend the chicken without serious reservations, either.

Which are completely stuffed since people can not check their freaking bags when they really should.

Plus I keep stuff in my bag I don't want broken or I want to be able to get during the flight, and definitely don't want walking away on it's own.

I never understood everyone being so anxious to board early for airlines that assign seats like United. I enjoy the relatively large amount of space in the terminal until the line of slow-moving people has disappeared down the jet bridge. It also makes for a lot less time waiting for THAT guy who tries his wheel-on suitcase in three different bins before he finds one that fits, then spins around to figure out where he is a couple times before sitting down, then gets back up to get something out of his bag, repeat for row 17, repeat for row 18, oh look everyone in row 19 knows how to board in an orderly manner, repeat for 20, etc, etc, etc.

Point of the article missed:


Poor flight attendants. Someone call the waahmbulance...

The service industry sucks. Whether it's in the air or on the ground--whenever you're the frontline for the general public, it can and will get unpleasant. Maybe it was something different in the past, but so were a lot of other things. Get over it.

Point of the article dead-on.


Sometimes you have to wonder what has happened to good manners.

My overall thought about the article is the flight is much less stressful if you just admit that portions of are not pleasant, accept that, and focus on making the most out of it, including being nice to the people around you.

Point of the article missed:


Really?

"In a behind-the-scenes look at the other side of air travel..."
"Thus I got a crash course in what airline personnel have to put up with these days..."
"WHAT’S it like to be a flight attendant these days?"
"Is there a less-enviable, more-stressful occupation these days than that of a flight attendant?"
'“I’ve been a flight attendant for 6yrs now, and I can tell you this much - if I’m still a flight attendant in 20yrs, I’ll be a raging b*tch!”'
'“It was the layover in the old days that made it glamorous,” Anna explained.'

And this was just a smattering of the easy pickings. Again, waah... and while I'm at it, let me pick up this here world's smallest violin...



My overall thought about the article is the flight is much less stressful if you just admit that portions of are not pleasant, accept that, and focus on making the most out of it, including being nice to the people around you.

Totally agree with this, but did not find that the writer conveyed this idea stronger than her Plight of the Poor Flight Attendants angle. The manners thing is a small part of the article and could be lost on less subtle readers than yourself.