Grade-A b**tch FA's at AA

[Flopgut]

Hey Satpak: What airplane was it? Were they doing hot meals thru out the cabin? And how many FAs were there? Do you remember?

 

[Flopgut]

I'm talking about standing in front of a baggage carousel for forty-five minutes before the first bag came off from my United flight two weeks ago -- over an hour from block-in. (Alaska, on the other hand, has a guarantee that you'll have your bag in hand within 20 minutes of block-in. My time has value to me, and I send my business to the carrier that respects that.)

If getting your bag promptly is something that is important to you, "first to carousel" is available on CAL. You've got to pay for it. We know you time has value. We're going to merchandise it.

Let's deal in an equal market, ok? You get paid a lot to provide an excellent level of service. What's wrong with us getting paid?

 

[CA1900]

If getting your bag promptly is something that is important to you, "first to carousel" is available on CAL.

You're missing my point. The first bag on that United flight hit the carousel over an hour from block-in. The last one hit about five minutes later.

I was Gold on Continental a few years back, and I received "VIP" baggage similar to what you're describing. If CAL will offer a reasonable time guarantee (like Alaska's 20 minutes from block-in), that's an upgraded product I'd be interested in. If it's just delivering my bag in 65 minutes instead of 70, it really isn't worth much to me.

Let's deal in an equal market, ok? You get paid a lot to provide an excellent level of service. What's wrong with us getting paid?

Not a thing. And I am talking about an equal market: airline service. This has nothing to do with a private flight, where the bags are loaded into the passenger's own car within minutes of arrival. I'm comparing airlines here, and trying to explain that some airlines are offering severely-degraded service, while others still provide good service. In the bag example, United charges $5 more than Alaska for a checked bag, yet delivered the bags 45 minutes later. I did pay more, yet got inferior service. That's my point.

 

[FLYLOW22]

I appreciate the agreement on the regional flying. And I understand there is a lot on the line here for both sides. Here's the deal as I see it as someone who's done it from both sides: The small jet is extremely expensive. And when the help who's job is to fly the small jet starts acting like they are too important to ride on the airline it's really going to grate on the owner writing the checks. Seriously, we still fly a lot of customers with a lot of money. And frankly, somehow they are more durable and tolerant than their employees. I think when they get the bill, they realize it's a decent trade off.

Flop,

Our Owners love flying on us. Period. They do it for many reasons, most considering airline flying nothing more than unrealistic and brutal. More importantly, no one forces them to fly on us... it's a choice. Many airline customers don't have that luxury, flying only the choices they have between city pairs.

Also, it's hard to imagine the money flying around in private airplanes so I will simply say that one person in a private jet is easily worth more than a full bus load of people in a 777. They can pay for it so they do out of choice.

It's just the way it is.

As to the "1st Class" and "Steerage Class" behind comment... I've flown "1st Class" on many airlines and none of them are worth the money domestic (international is nice). I never understood why 16 people want to get on the airplane 1st so that 140 more can parade by them while they avoid eye contact and carry on bags are rammed into their heads and shoulders while they try to enjoy a beverage.... IF there was time to even serve them a beverage before Zone 1-6 is called.

The seats are bigger in 1st Class... that's it. Usually the senior flight attendant hides in the back leaving the most junior up front (which may be a great thing considering the way some of them keep themselves these days). Experience and service wise, however, that's a joke.

Catering... don't get me started on the choice of chicken or fish vs.... anything you want to order, including lobster tails and caviar or Double Stuff Oreos with cold 2% milk.

Airlining is not what it used to be, or ever will be again. The business plan has focused on low end prices with high volume.

Individual needs and premium service have moved on. No biggee. More people can afford to fly airlines and that's cool. Strength in numbers and all.

I'm not trying to attack you brother but simply trying to point out that the differences between airline and private are universes apart... there's no flying coming back from private to airline unless the customer was a Bernie Madoff victim.

 

[ozpilot]

Our Owners love flying on us. Period. They do it for many reasons, most considering airline flying nothing more than unrealistic and brutal.

As I told an owner the other day "We airline, so you don't have to."

 

[say again]

As I told an owner the other day "We airline, so you don't have to."

That's a great quote for fracs to use.

 

[OurMoney1]

I jumpseat AA several times a year. I always carry a stack of lottery scratch off tickets and give them to the "A" for the crew. It has always served me well over the years. Its a simple gesture that plays on my gratitude for having a free seat. Give them something simple and you might just get yourself a smile.

 

[UpNDownGuy]

It's nice that you bring lottery tickets/M&M's/donuts/flowers, etc for the crew when you jumpseat. It's adorable. It's also completely irrelevant to this discussion. The guy bought a ticket, was treated like cr@p, and pilots here spring to the defense of the abuser. Unbelievable. You really think someone needs to pay more in order to not be abused by the FA's, or have their bags delivered in a timely manner?

I wonder why low cost carriers are doing so well...

 

[aa73]

The guy bought a ticket, was treated like cr@p, and pilots here spring to the defense of the abuser.

The guy's ticket WAS BOUGHT FOR BY HIS COMPANY, and proceeded to whine like my 3 year old because of some surly F/As during his free ride.

I'd boot his ass off and send him to SWA, they love people like him.

 

[CA1900]

The guy's ticket WAS BOUGHT FOR BY HIS COMPANY...

Just like the ticket of every other business traveler on that airplane. You know, business travelers -- the high-dollar fares that airlines so desperately need to make a profit.

Are you suggesting that only individuals on personal trips should be treated as valued customers?

... and proceeded to whine like my 3 year old because of some surly F/As during his free ride.

It's not a "free ride," no matter how you want to spin it.

And yeah, I'd rather ride on SWA. They actually appreciate my business.