Official SGT ADD thread

[hobie16]

Does this sound familiar?

Flight Attendants vs. Passengers: Care to Step Outside?

“Why is it, I often wonder, that U.S. carriers have far and away the worst — most surly, inattentive and often snooty — service in the world?” The question, recently posted on this blog by Pico Iyer, begs to be answered by the accused.

During my 20-year career as a flight attendant for a major U.S. airline, I’ve worked perhaps 5,000 domestic and international flights. In addition to these, I’ve flown hundreds of times as a “non-revenue” passenger, hundreds more as a “full-fare.” From my perspective as both customer and employee, I haven’t seen it all but I’ve seen a lot. Airplane brawls, emergency landings, ailing passengers, terrorist threats, in-flight robberies and, yes, a few surly, inattentive and snooty airline employees. (If passengers gasp at the sight of a truculent flight attendant, imagine what it’s like to work with one.)

The truth is … drum roll please … most flight attendants are pleasant and hard-working people. Perhaps we don’t always smile as much as some passengers would like. Perhaps we don’t make you feel as special as the TV commercials promised. Maybe you don’t like the way we look (many of us are beyond middle-age and not as physically attractive as passengers want us to be). But more often than not, we treat you fairly, if not courteously.

Flight attendants spend a lot of time with passengers. Unlike management personnel tucked away at airline headquarters, customer service agents on the other side of the ticket counter and pilots who remain locked behind the cockpit door for the duration of a flight, no physical barriers exist between flight attendants and the passengers we serve. We’re in it together, attendant and attendee — hurtling through space in a narrow metal tube — for up to 14 hours at a time.

For all intents and purposes, flight attendants are the face of the airline. When frustration reaches the boiling point, when missed connections and diminished services and late departures send passengers flying into a frenzy, the face of the airline gets slapped.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been blamed for the level of service my airline allows me to provide. You would not believe how often I’m belittled for not being able to magically produce a pillow. I’ve been screamed at after making simple requests, like asking a passenger to fasten his seat belt or turn off her cellular phone. I’ve been rebuked time and time again because flights at my airline are “always late,” because luggage “never” makes a connecting flight, because the seats I personally designed and constructed are too small.

Needless to say, my skin has thickened over the years. Not as thick, apparently, as the “large, angry and tired militant” senior U.S. flight attendants working Mr. Iyer’s flights to Japan. I’m not disputing claims of inattentive treatment by my airborne colleagues. Perhaps, after 30 or more years of flying (30 or more years of passenger complaints) they’ve grown tired and jaded. But to compare service on Asian carriers (Cathay Pacific, Singapore, Thai) to American carriers … well, this is a comparison of cultures.

The last time I flew Singapore Airlines, the flight attendants, all of whom were stunningly beautiful narrow-waisted young women, all but bowed as passengers walked onto the plane. In business class, the attendants got down on their knees to give passengers complimentary foot massages.

When the captain’s voice squawks over the P.A. system, announcing an Air Traffic Control delay, Japanese passengers don’t groan audibly and punch their fight attendant call buttons.

Not so long ago, while I was working a flight from J.F.K. to Barbados, an American passenger complained throughout the flight. He complained about the food, although no one else did. He complained about the service, although other passengers seemed satisfied. While a planeload of passengers appeared to be content, this particular passenger complained that flight attendants weren’t paying attention to his needs. We tried our best to make him comfortable. When the ranting finally stopped, when his voice lowered to a whisper, he reached out to shake my hand. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I’m not used to this. I’ve been living in Asia for years.”

[Big Wallaby]

Hobie, that's an awesome article. Written from the FA's perspective, and knowing a good number of airline employees myself, I know the ratios of good to surly, and this one has it right.

Of course, when I worked with them, I was often the person many of the okay attendants would take out their days on, and so the crap got passed on to me.

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

Good article. reminds me of a lot of the crews I flew with briefly. didn't realize it at the time, but they were talking about airborne SG's!!

[StephM]

OOOH!! How did the host get that information?
So, what's the source of that list you mentioned? Would you please ask the other host about it??
And Congratulations for being selected to host a party! I think it will be great fun. Especially if we could win a 4-day cruise!! :D:

I cannot wait. We are going in Oct on the Wonder and DD is so excited about the party.
She emailed to ask about music, I think, and they sent her an email, saying "DCL already thought of that!! You get a Castaway Club CD...." Umm...let's see, I will do a C/P of it because my memory is shot (I have 4 kids, they killed it).

Dear ******,

This is in reference with your Request Ticket Number: CS00005905.

Dear ****n,

Don't worry, Disney already thought of that! You will receive a CD with Castaway Club tunes in your party package.

This is what is included in the generous Disney Cruise Line House Party Package:

Host items (one per package)

Welcome Letter
Disney Cruise Lines posters--2 posters
Signage posters "places on the ship" --3 posters
“Disney Dollars” Pack (50/pack)
Iron-on Decal for T-shirt ("Official Cruise Director" House Party)
Disney DVD--new for kids
Disney music CD--Castaway Club
Disney Cruise Lines balloons (16/pack)
Disney Cruise Lines cocktail napkins (250/pack)
Disney Cruise Lines beach towel--2 per host
Disney Cruise Lines beanie babies--4 per host
Character Sketch (specially commissioned by Disney for this House Party)
$50 on-board credit voucher

Guest Items (10 each)

Coloring sheet--1 sheet
Dress ups--bandanas, eye patches
"Party Navigator” newsletter
Recipe cards--2 cards each
Disney Cruise Lines Vacation Planning Kit
Party Favor Bags--branded
Tattoos
Family Fun Magazine
$50 on-board credit voucher
Thank you postcards

In addition, both hosts and guests will be eligible to win a one of two free 4 Night Cruises on Disney Cruise Lines.

I hope this helps.

Let us know if we can assist you with any other parts of the party.

All the best,

Please reply back to this email without changing the subject line if you have further clarifications.

Sincerely,
Consumer Care
House Party, Inc.
(703) 591-7100
(877) 474-7555
[URL="http://helpdesk.houseparty.com/
http://helpdesk.houseparty.com/[/url]

She posted it on Brand X. But the poster is a regular there and pretty reliable. She would not have made this up and posted it. :D:

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

I cannot wait. We are going in Oct on the Wonder and DD is so excited about the party.
She emailed to ask about music, I think, and they sent her an email, saying "DCL already thought of that!! You get a Castaway Club CD...." Umm...let's see, I will do a C/P of it because my memory is shot (I have 4 kids, they killed it).
She posted it on Brand X. But the poster is a regular there and pretty reliable. She would not have made this up and posted it. :D:

REDACTED

That is pretty cool.. How can I get DW invited without her knowing it was me that put her name in to attend a party (hehehehe)
(Ulterior motives!!! Cruise'in Pirate style!! WooHoooo)

[vixen101485]

I wanna come to that party. OOOOOOO....fun, free Disney stuff.

[mechurchlady]

I wat a nap

[LittleDollClaudia]

All right, so I have been gone for a hell of a long time. It just seems like I turned around and the site blew up. Geez, I try to keep up but I need to be online 24-7 to read everything that is posted.

But I am glad that everyone is playing nice again.

For me, I am loving my new job, our new car and planning my wedding. Life is good, except...where does all the time go?!?


I'm tired.

[Whazzup]

She posted it on Brand X. But the poster is a regular there and pretty reliable. She would not have made this up and posted it. :D:

I found the post this morning, and this afternoon I got an email from DCL with the same information! This is going to be a fun party with some cool prizes. Sure would love to win one of those 4-night cruises, I would I would.

Grumpy Pirate - go to the Houseparty.com web site and click on the Disney Cruise Line House Party and find the map that shows where all the parties are being held. There are several in your area - maybe you can find one close by, go to their party web site and contact one of the hosts to get an invitation.
Or, you can go to Board X (can I mention the name on here?) and scroll through all 25 (or more) discussion pages and see if someone in your area is hosting a party. I can PM a link to you if you need it.

[darph nader]

Back to our regularly scheduled program.
you go to pick up furniture at the store,do you
A,bring a vechile large enough to hold 'all' of your stuff,or
B,bring a large enough vechile,AND the whole fam damily
C,a vechile full of 'stuff' (leaving no room for your furniture)???



PS,glad to see you back LDC.