dckozak

You can't blame flight attendants for the crappy service they provide. They are only doing what (their) management allows, and by default considers acceptable. People are, by nature lazy, when given the chance to do so, and without meaningful supervision, anyone (even pilots ) will sink to the lowest acceptable level of service. The industry could do a lot within the confines of the currently accepted practice allowed by law and the work agreements most employees work under. We (American society) has moved beyond discrimination in the work place, and thats a good thing. No one has a problem, per se, with old flight attendants, but we do with indifferent, lazy, and rude ones. And don't even get me started on how well many of them (physically) present themselves. These are the people who are defining the problem with cabin service and I blame managements for not addressing the core problems that allow these problems to fester. If FA's are not motived and trained to provide good service; if they are not disciplined for providing poor or non existent service, this is managements fault. It is up to the the airlines management to outline what and how (their) employees serve their customers and its up to management to provide the proper enticements (and when necessary, punishments, for non compliance) to all employee's, on the airplane and off.

I think some of the problems can be laid at the door of the union(s) that represent not just FA's but most workers within the transport industry. I say this with a heavy heart because I do believe in workers rights and especially the right to be collectively organized with a contract spelling out workers rights and obligations. Seniority is an important aspect of all our benefits and as a pilot, I understand and deeply defend the right of seniority to define certain privileges within a class and craft. That said, I think FA's "rights" as it contains to where they fly and what cabin they work is counter productive to the best needs of the customer and, by default, the airline itself. Too many senior flight attendants work flights and the forward cabin, on sectors that the quality of the service provided should be at the highest level. Instead, management (by way of the work agreement it agreed to with the FA union) allows and fails to define/demand that the people working it highest revenues passengers get the best service.

So rather than blame the flight attendant the agent or even the flight crew for failing to provide the best service, the focus should be be on the management's failure to provide direction, leadership and rewards to motivate and (when necessary) demote/re train/fire those who fail to make the grade. American's have set the standard in many industries, both service and manufacturing in the past and we certainly are capable of competing with a bunch of middle eastern and asian carriers. We just need a corporate structure that manages it resource to invite customer loyalty rather than just next quarter results.

dckozak

This is a cop out of the problems inflicting (many) US airlines. The US government doesn't effect the poor quality of service many airlines provide. Your airline hasn't failed to gain elite status within the greater international community because the US government makes you provide a (relatively) poorer product. There are some issues where the government can and should protect (our) interests but the problem of poor product is not one of them.

RedeyeAV8r

It's simple really. US Airline Managements only focus is the Bottom line.

Service and Safety are merely words spoken, not practiced, because they both add cost and therefore reduce the Bottom line. ( and possibly effect Corp exec Big bonus payouts)

How many fights carry the absolute minimum FA's aboard, where several years ago had an extra 1 or 2. More manpower ( excuse pun) to provide better cabin service and a safety buffer should an inflight emergency occur.

The difference is short term thinking verses long term. Eating the increased cost to increase service and safety eventually will pay off as customers will see a difference. While I get the fact that ticket prices drive consumers, in other words domestically for a 2 hour flight people flock to the lowest priced ticket.

But I for one am willing to pay slightly more, to fly on the Airline that provides:
1. Reliable On time service. Experienced and qualified Pilots ( the General Public simply assumes this)
2. Decent customer service, from Ticket agents, Gate agents and Flight attendants.
3. Quick reliable Baggage retrieval.
4. A good frequent flyer program is a plus,
5. Hot young friendly FA's in mini skirts........This is a Wish list after all

MD90PIC

Well, maybe we should start!! I'm sick and tired of having to put excessive amounts of trim correction in every time some "grande granny" decides to walk to the back of the plane so that they can guzzle down another 2 liters of Pepsi.!!

KC10 FATboy

This just isn't about pretty young flight attendants. And some folks on here are letting their emotions enter into the discussion. Don't do that.

If you haven't flown internationally on Cathay, Qantas, Emirates, Korean, Qatar, Asiana, etc.etc., then please you don't know how they differ from our American carriers. Sadly, many American will see how much better things can be because many of the American airlines keep joining into code share agreements.

There is a reason why American carriers rank so low in world rankings. And as I said before, it just isn't because of the FAs (I'm glad you decided to ignore what I said earlier). But I do feel the frontline employees have a lot to do with it.

DAL has so many people wanting to be a FA because there are ~90 million people in this country without work.

Lucky8888

Thanks. That's very kind of you.

tsquare

That's your opinion. I disagree, but you are entitled to it. And I never said that the government "made" us provide a poorer product. The government most certainly affects the level of service that US carriers provide by sticking their grubby paws into our wallets and taxing everything from fuel to pretzels when the emirates do not, and probbly even subsidize those very same items. When you are in a competitive industry where operating margins are as thin as US carriers are, it is not an easy thing to compete with those where money is no object. It is not easy to compete with companies whose governments throw up road blocks to foreign competition whereas the US government welcomes it with open arms. I am not crying poor mouth here, I am recognizing that the playing field is not level. You seem to think that we can wave some sort of magic wand, and compete with that. I am not that naive.

tsquare

As to #5. Bull****. That is a huge lie. You will not pay more for that, and if you really would, that is just pathetic.

Adlerdriver

uh, Francis? I think you know what to do.

Sniper

If you're a CEO and fly on a private jet, you probably know good service, and don't pass yourself off as an expert on the airline industry or as a pilot.

There are some on here who've never been a revenue passenger on a biz jet, or flown business or first class on a Skytrax 5 star airline that pass themselves off as experts on service standards, as well as a variety of other topics on this forum, mainly related to being a pilot, that they are in over their heads on.

I'd venture he might not spend his OWN $ on it, but he is responsible for making purchase decisions with his company's $, and will allow #5 to influence his travel choices.

The vast majority of premium fliers don't pay for their own tickets, their company does. Catering to their whims is good business, because their company's $ is responsible for 90% of the profit on the aircraft (excluding cargo/belly freight, where the real profit is). Herb Keller did it on Southwest in the early years - he hired young, pretty faces, dressed his FA's in more 'appealing' outfits to the business travelers of Texas, and he threw in a free bottle of booze too. Braniff didn't, and Braniff lost their business customers to Southwest over something as trivial as a bottle of Crown Royal.

If I've got control of the company expense account and I'm choosing between Delta and Emirates to fly me to Dubai, you better bet the cost of the ticket is lower on my list of priorities than the physical appeal of the FA's, though it certainly isn't my #1 priority either. Call it un-PC or unfair, but that's reality. I'm not paying for the ticket, so I don't care what it costs. I care what I get, and I get nothing from saving my company $ and flying on Delta. Now, if I'm paying for my own ticket . . . well, I use my frequent flier miles - and THAT could be a reason to choose Delta over Emirates, the miles I get.

That said, this thread is identifying what, IMO as well, is the real problem. The average US FA, gate agent, ticket counter agent, pilot, and anyone else who is serving a premium passenger on a international flight is not only 'lacking' in the looks department, but is also lacking in the attitude and service department. Go fly on a Skytrax 5 Star Airline in any class of service, and then fly as a revenue passenger (not a non-rev, where we treat our own better than we treat paying passengers) on your own carrier. From the moment you enter the airport at your departure point to the moment you leave the arrival airport at your destination, in any class of service, the difference is night and day. It's not just the beauty of the FA's - but, I can guarantee you, the FA's are better looking, and, yes, in the real world, that makes a difference, albeit a minor one, to the passengers who account for the profit at most global airlines - the passengers who don't pay for their own tickets.