Originally Posted by
iaflyer
People seem to like to razz on our FAs, but compared to the rest of the industry they really do a good job. Of course there are outliers, but ours serve one of several snacks, soft drink/coffee/tea of your choice, or a harder drink if you're in Comfort or higher, free. And they are nice about it.
I agree that folks here tend to be WAY too hard on our FAs. Three caveats ... that don't tend to point back to our FAs, but management:
1) Our service flow, especially on long flights on NB, isn't good compared to international competitors or United. Namely, we don't have a FC Galley position on NB, so the Purser (cough ... Flight Leader) has to do everything for the front cabin. This is a huge service disadvantage to UA where there are two dedicated FAs to F until meal service is completed, then the Purser goes back to help Y and the FWD galley FA refills drinks and handles trays in F.
2. None of the service standard/excellence seems to apply as a non-rev by policy. FAs here, especially in mecca, are somehow trained to treat NRSA, even in premium cabins, as below scum. This is so 180 degree different to every other carrier I've ever non-reved/ZED'd on where the cabin crew are fantastic (borderline fawning) to fellow industry OAL folks.
3. We have some fantastic FAs (and some of the absolute best international Pursers in the business...mostly National, PanAm, and legacy NWA), but even on LH international (DLOne) the service flow and the way the company makes them operate generally gives an inferior service to a middling crew on UA Polaris (and the European carriers)