Originally Posted by
aa73
Haven't flown domestic for awhile now, but when I did, most CAs would always offer a first class seat if it was open. If they didn't, I would prompt them.
Irish Tiger, sorry your experience was so bad on us. Perhaps you should stick to Delta so that they can always cater to your desires while bumming a free ride. In the meantime, if you ever j/s on one of my flights, you can be sure I will do everything I can (within my F/O capabilities) to get you your first class seat.
73
Well, aside from the first class seat issue, I do try to take Delta whenever possible. I just feel more welcome with them. The F/A's are nicer, the gate agents (well, most of them - I am here in Atlanta) are nicer, but the pilots are about the same as every other carrier. I do find the pilots at DAL are typically a bit more inviting and talkative than most carriers. I remember one flight on AA. It was full I had one of the very last seats in coach. I boarded last (at the gates request). There was no more overhead space for my bag. I noticed there was a ton of room in the F/A's forward closet (only one bag and one jacket was in there), and I politely and quietly asked if it would be alright to put my bag in there. All she said was "Nope!" So I had to check it. That's a perfect example of what I mean when I say the F/A's are nicer at other carriers.
With AA, it's more of a "Oh, welcome aboard, now sit down, shut up and be seen and not heard."
I feel like I've done something wrong when I JS on AA, even though I try to be as nice and thankful as possible. The first class seat isn't an issue, but I have always thought it was odd that I was never offered it. I certainly don't feel that it is a right for us to sit up there, but I do feel it's one of those unwritten rules - sort of when possible, sure take an empty seat.
On this particular flight, there were no other employees (in uniform) commuting, so I probably would have accepted it. I have been on other AA flights where there were 2-4 flight attendants traveling in uniform. Had they offered it to me on those flights, I most likely would have declined the offer because I wouldn't feel right sitting up there while AA flight attendants are in coach.
But, AA73, I know that there are plenty of good people at AA, and I may not have ridden with a lot of them. I'm sure in my career, I will run across some pretty fantastic AA crews. I will of course continue to offer any AA employee commuting on my flights anything we have on board (I was really just joking when I said I'd put them next to the lav
). I'm sorry if I've come across as disrespectful towards your company, I really didn't mean it that way... I was just trying to voice a few frustrations. I understand I have a lot to learn in this business, but that's why people like you and I can have conversations like this.
