Freeloading Flight Attendants
 

So "there I was" on a layover in a tropical (tourist over-run) destination. As I'm leaving the hotel for dinner, one of our 12 FA's is in the lobby and asks where I'm going and mentioned that it was her first time here.

I stated that I was going to dinner, and she asked to tag along. OK, no problem there. I did mention that the entrees at the place I was going to eat were about $30.

OK fast forward to a fine meal, marginal conversation, and a phenomenal view. The bill comes along with the minor detail that she didn't bring any money. OK, this is irritating, but I'm not going to make a scene. I apologized if she thought I was "taking her out to dinner" and that my idea was to go dutch. Blank stare from her, ....geez.

While it really wasn't that big of a deal, it would be nice not to have to announce that "I expect you to pay for what you order".

Anyway, there is lesson here for all of us. When your going out with a crew on a layover, I guess you have to spell everything out even when it should be common sense. Better yet, when it comes to doing anything with a flight attendant....just say no.

Doh!

I had something like this happen to me a couple years back. An associate of mine needed a ride to the local Wally World. . .no worries, I'm a nice guy and I needed to pick something up as well. Nevertheless, we get our stuff, then I stated I wanted to pick up some dinner before heading back. She agrees, and we head to ruby tuesdays. Eat dinner, also a ho-hum conversation, but great view as well. The bill comes, and she proclaims she doesn't have any cash. . .

I didn't want to feel like a dick, so I just took the bill and paid for it. I made sure to stay on her ass to pay me back ($20), and she did eventually.

Was the last time I gave her a lift anywhere into town.

PS - I love the Spa advert for this thread. Next time I'm in NYC I might just have to give it a go.

Haha. Standard fair anymore. I've been stuck with many Gray Gooses and pink whatever mixed with it. It's funny how they switch from the 1/2/3 drinks to premium when the pilots are there.

On the RARE occasion our crews go out and eat together I always ask for separate checks when we order "just to keep it simple" if it's a higher dollar place. You kind of feel like a jerk for 5 seconds but it sure clears the air. Unfortunately a lot assume you'll pay.

S.B.

I learned the same lesson you boys did. Entire DC8 61 crew. Three pilots and about a half dozen stews.Fondue place in NYC. The bill came and we were about $40.00 short (this was 30 years ago). Every one of the gals claimed that they had put in the correct amount. The three of us(pilots) coughed up the bucks. Lesson learned...never again!

you need to get the word out to flight attendants and the general public
pilots dont make money anymore

They pay us in Peanuts and Koolaid. :D

Very simple solution

the term "Separate Checks and Dutch" which is the program established back in the hotel lobby.

No money??? Oh well... next time bring money and or food food from home to avoid the overnight fast. Or they can sponge off their fellow flight attendants. Afterall they've been in that same predicament before and I'm sure they will be more than happy to open their wallets or credit cards for the fund raising event.:rolleyes:

Oh did I mention that's one of the great reasons for flying cargo?

But USAir just went nutless !!! :eek: ... Seriously ...

Something to do with allergies ... :rolleyes:

The koolaid they serve is GREAT over here though ... :D


Later, CC

Gotta be ready
 

I wish I had a young, beautiful, flt att to spend $25 on for dinner on an overnight...I hear most are 55 and ugly, but I see some hotties!

I second that...ExpressJet seems to have a few cute ones flying out of Houston...

-LAFF

I had one complain about the food to the waiter AFTER SHE ATE IT ALL and we started to split the bill! She said that it tasted horrible and was also cold. So she asked for her food to be taken off the bill and complained and threw a hissy fit and left the restaurant and myself and the rest of the crew behind. When the rest of us were on our way out the waiter came running after us yelling in french (Quebec City) that our colleague never paid her bill so before they would call the police we paid for it ourselves and the next morning when we saw her we let her have it!

I agree with you guys always say seperate checks before you order and talk about how you are saving up for your wedding. That usually works.....

I would have let the cops taken the individual away. That experience would have had her portion of the bill paid in a heart beat.

That's an awkward situation but even though you played 100% by the book you really set yourself up with this predicament. There rarely is a good outcome in those situations. Let's see:

Case 1: You tell her in the lobby before you go how expensive the restaurant is and she says, "Oh, I am sorry, I can't afford that. I won't come." Wouldn't you feel uncomfortable? I would.

Case 2: You go but she orders a small appetizer while you have your three course meal accompanied by fine wine. Now, how awkward is that?

Case 3: You go and she genuinely believes you are taking her out. She realizes her mistake and promptly pays her share thus spending more than she can afford; perhaps even more than she makes per day. Wouldn't you feel uncomfortable? I would.

Case 4: You go and after the meal she claims she can't pay or won't pay. I'd feel sorry for the person who resorts to trickery to get a free meal. In addition to not being your equal financially, she now demeans herself to not being your equal morally. On top of it, of course, you are out of money so this is twice as annoying.

I am not a bleeding heart liberal by any means but one has to be careful when in position of authority or better financial standing. Your situation is not unique - you can be the kid with privileged background who has more lunch money that any other school kid, or you may be better off financially than your colleagues because you have an outside source of income, or you can be the boss (or the pilot) who makes a lot more than your subordinates (or the FAs), etc, etc.

The best course of action is to not go out with the FA at all. Or take her out (which may have other pitfalls, and was not your intent anyway). Or if it is an old friend make alternative dining arrangements that are suitable and affordable to both of you.

My two cents.

It really depends on the individual. I won't go hang out with regional FA's on a layover unless I have gotten to know them a little beforehand, on that trip or a previous one. Otherwise you are asking for all manner of troubles. We had a captain who innocently bought some beers for an FA, and then got cited by the local vice because she was under 21. He got to enjoy the right seat for 6 months for that :eek:

Also, when it looks like the crew wants to go out to eat together I state up front that I want to eat at a real restaruant....otherwise you end up reaching a lowest-common-denominator consesus and eating at Arbys :rolleyes:

Learned my lesson about regional FA's last year. Went to an early dinner with one of my FA's and she proceded to get silly drunk ordering $5 drinks. Started crying about how in debt she was and that she might declare bankruptcy (while sipping on her 6th $5 drink). So then the check comes and what a surprise, she has no money. So now I have to eat the check and pay for the cab ride back to the hotel because she is too drunk to walk. Of course my captain (who was smart enough to ditch us) thought it was hilarious. Been hounding her to pay me back for quite a while with no luck.

One of these gals has to be my ex-girlfriend.

Times sure have changed. I can remember flying for a legacy about six years ago when the captain would buy everyone dinner (737 crew). I am now a captain at a LCC and make less than most first officers in the right seat of the 737 at my old carrier. That being said, I won't buy anyone's dinner. If I like the crew I might buy the first round of drinks...after that it's dutch.

Cheers!

GP

Did anyone even get their knobs pollished for this charity?

Sheeesh.

Seriously, I knew a PFE that went back into the restaraunt and tried to steal the tips left by the rest of the crew. CA caught him threatened to kick his a$$ if he even heard of the guy doing it again. Same PFE tried to steal silver ware from the Concorde while flying with the CP and another Flt. manager. It fell out of his coat when they disembarked, right in front of the BA crew. What a schmuck.

They finally fired him.

You sound like it ;)


In all those situations....I would NOT feel uncomfortable. If you cannot afford to go out and pay yourself.......DON'T! It might be different for me though because I am a chick. I don't feel sorry for broke flight attendants and certainly not ones who all of a sudden divulge they don't have the money after the bill comes. That is shameful. I can't even imagine pulling a fast one like that. They are the ones that should be embarassed. I have been broke many times myself....it doesn't mean someone else should pay for me.

I would have bought the FA the dinner, and then later said "pass it on..." if she tried to repay me. If I thought she was scamming me I'd avoid eating with her again...but otherwise...keep the big picture.

One trip "bumped for training" takes care of more than a year of "little $hit" that comes with the job. The LS stuff includes van driver tips, buying dinner for a new hire FE, or whatever other little incidentals come from living on the road. 18 years of combat splits with fighter pilots have taught me the only way to lose the game is to whine or worry about nickels and dimes when you are making dollars. Sometimes you just have to let it go...

Two stories...

--Story A is stuck in Reno as a new hire. Trip was a 24 hour layover (yeah!) changed by scheduling into a 48 hour layover (wahoo!) followed by a mechanical which bought one more night in the Silver City. Captain was about 5 from bottom of seniority list and union volunteer...former Tomcat driver. Guy humble me by buying dinner and booze first night (for new hire), then (despite my protests) continued that for next 2 nights. (Both extra days were at time and half...). I said again and again that while I appreciated the hospitality it wasn't required, but he was adamant. Seems he was well taken care of by some former Tigers and some good Purple guys when he was a newbie and insisted on doing the same and passing it on...

B--another captain--new--and a former fighter guy boasts my good buddy who's also an F/O that "...he doesn't like to spend more than $5 a meal on average...so if he skips one he can go $10 for dinner..."

Nobody is wrong. Its your life, and your money. However--I'm trying to be the guy in the A example instead of the B. I've bought more than a few dinners and beers for new hires when I've been on a trip with a B-type vice an A-type captain, but I think after all that was done for me as a new hire I'm still behind in my pay-backs.

Flaky flight attendant? Go figure. I'd rather eat with her than another cheap captain.

I gotta back up Albie. Most Capts at FedEx buy dinner, at least for the first night.

But I understand the point of the thread. When you go out, its understood its Dutch, until someone reaches for the Bill.

Had a great teacher
 

I always buy the first round and the first meal. Had a guy I flew with as a new hire SO. Former Tigers guy who, on the ground was the greatest guy in the world. In the air he could be the biggest d1ck in the world. It was Marine Corps Bday and we were on a weekend layover in ALB. A bunch of enlisted Marines came into the bar at the hotel and started having a few with their dates. They were in their Blues and looked great. The Captain shows up and we start buying the Marines drinks. At the end of the night I said we should split the tab. He refused! He picked up the whole damn thing! Great guy. I never bought a drink around him and the FO never paid a tip. Still look forward to seeing this guy in the hub at night... He was a great liberty mentor.

Marine Corps B-day= Greatest day of the year! (besides wifes birthday of course)

on a side note, my wife and I do very well financially and have managed to put away alot of money and my rule of thumb is if we go out with another couple or group for a first time, we will almost always pay. What I like to see personally though is that they at least make an offer to attempt to pay when the bill arrives. I will never accept their money but it is the thought that counts. I dont like when people just expect a free ride.

to each is own though

Try taking the crew out when you're the captain and your wife is one of the FAs. The "separate checks except for us" gets even more awkward.

Guess I'm the dick here.......I let the F/A fend for herself when the bill came and she did the " Oh, I don't have any $" line. I paid my bill and left.

PS- she was pi$$ed at me the next morning, but I really did'nt give a rats a$$.

good for you!

Well, maybe I'm a heartless jerk, but I never pay other people's meal tabs with the exception of something small like can I grab you some coffee, and have never expected anyone to pay for me, nor would I accept it unless it would result in an argument and bad feelings,

I'm having a hard enough time in life after 2 layoffs to worry about other people and their money problems as well. Sheesh - I can't imagine someone expecting someone else to pay their bills.

Best advise is don't get caught up in their tales of woe. Establish the rules of engagement far in advance of going out as a group so there won't be any surprises.