Up Up & A Gay – A Flight Attendant Blog

Can’t we all just get along up in the air?

Posted on December 21, 2009 by Bobby

I came across this blog post on Gadling, via Twitter. The author, George Hobica, founder of Airfarewatchdog, writes about passengers and crewmembers being polite to one another up in the air. He writes about the famed orange juice incident on American Airlines and a few personal situations he’s found himself in. He also comments:

When asked, “Can I get you something to drink sir (or ma’am)” by a flight attendant (or by a waiter for that matter), it is not acceptable to bark out “Coke” without looking up from your Sudoku. It’s not acceptable in the air, and frankly, it’s not acceptable on the ground, either. But especially not in the air. Flight attendants are trained to save your life if there’s an incident.

He goes on to say,

and it is not acceptable when handed your beverage to skip the “thank you.”

I agree! A lot of travelers have been complaining about delays, cancellations and missing/timed out flight attendants on Twitter after this past weekends snow storm on the East coast. We take a lot of heat and disrespect from the traveling public but I still manage to be polite, and as nice I can be under the circumstances.

As I mentioned on the UPGRD.com podcast, I reward passengers who are polite. On my flights, if you’re the first person to say “please” and/or “thank you” – I’m going to offer you a free drink. You would be VERY surprised to learn that sometimes I go 4 hours into a flight or days into my trip before someone actually says it.

One of the comments on Geroge’s post particularly infuriated me

SpadesHead: Let me get this straight, you want me to thank her, after being treated rudely by every single employee of her airline until now? After her airline is adding fee after hidden fee? I’ll tell you what, I’ll start saying “thank you” after they do. Listen after you conversation at the ticket counter, do they say “thank you”, no, usually not. How about security? “Thank you.” No.

To you, Mr. SpadesHead, I want you to keep one thing in mind. We are all different people and our own person. Just because the company I work for implemented additional fees for checked bags, food, etc., and the agent at the ticket counter didn’t say “please” or “thank you” doesn’t mean I’m not going to or I agree with what they did. I deserve the same amount of respect you would pay to any stranger you meet on the street. I just so happen to be your flight attendant today, and could, potentially, save your life.

Would you say “thank you” to that?

George, thank you for writing you did. Flight Attendants across the world, I’m sure, thank you as well.

I don’t know why flying has to be a battle of negativity. Flying used to be a luxury and something everyone dreamed to do, now, it’s dreaded because of the supposed lack of customer service and humanity.

I for one like my job, enjoy what I do, and that shows in my work and my interactions with my passengers.

Being polite will get you everywhere.

Filed under: Airline News, General | Tagged: airline, airplane, customer service, travel | Leave a Comment »

Holiday Airline/Airport Travel Tips

Posted on December 21, 2009 by Bobby

For those of you who might be traveling by air this holiday season, I thought I’d put together a quick guide to help you ensure that your travel plans go as smoothly as possible. I’ve been reading some tweets on twitter that a lot of you aren’t having a lot of luck because of the storm that hit the east coast this weekend, maybe this will help:

Check your flight status: find out if your flight is running late. The snow storm on the East coast messed up the air travel system nationwide. Though it might be sunny in your departure city, realize that your aircraft MIGHT be coming from a city which is experiencing some weather issues. Remember, delays can change in an instant.
Pack your carry-on according to Government regulations: remember you still cannot carry liquids or gels over 3.4 fluid ounces through the security check point. Double check the TSA’s website for information on how to pack your carry-on luggage so that you won’t encounter any issues going through security.
Know your airlines luggage rules: a lot of airlines now charge for checked bags, know what to expect before you get there. Don’t be caught by surprise when the agents tell you that you have to pay $50 extra to check two bags. Double check your airlines website to find fees associated with checked luggage.
Check in online: checking in for your flight online can save you time at the airport. Avoid the lines at curbside check-in and at the counters by printing your boarding pass from your home computer. Remember, if you’re checking a bag you still have to go to a check-in counter or a designated “luggage check only” counter to ensure your bags travel with you.

Continue reading the tip sheet by clicking here.

Filed under: Examiner, General | Tagged: holiday, plane travel, tips, travel | 3 Comments »

Alaska Airlines Flight Attendant’s file lawsuit due to Turbulence

Posted on December 20, 2009 by Bobby

Yep. You read that correctly. I was just as shocked as you are when I first read this story.. and frankly, I’d love to meet these ladies.

Donna Dacko and Inga Isakson were working a flight to ONT (Ontario, CA) from SEA (Seattle, WA) on December 25, 2007 when just prior to landing the flight hit “previously unreported sever turbulence.”

Inga allegedly hit her head on a seat armrest and metal rod below the seat which left her surrounded in a pool of blood and foaming at the mouth. Donna, was reportly thrown “at least” 6 rows of seats after hitting her head on the ceiling and landed on top of Inga. In their lawsuit, they claim that Weather Service International (WSI) neglected to properly predict the weather and/or warn Alaska Airlines of the weather and are seeking payment for medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages and emotional distress. They also named the U.S. government in the claim because they think Federal Aviation Administration’s Office of Air Traffic Organization should have warned them about the severe weather because their injuries were “totally preventable.”

Are you KIDDING me?!

If I filed a lawsuit for every time I hit turbulence, when I was told by the pilots reading their weather reports, that it should be smooth- I’d be spending my days in a courthouse filing paperwork. Nevermind the lawsuits I could file claiming “emotional distress” when the flight deck asks me to take my seat because the aircraft in front of us reported hitting some bumps, and after strapping in, we never encounter them. Smooth as glass. A lot of aircraft get their reports of turbulence from other aircraft in the area who have already experienced it, whose to say that Alaska 464 wasn’t the FIRST aircraft to encounter the turbulence and that no one else in the area or on the ground knew it was there. I mean, can the meteorologists and the FAA Air Traffic Organization really SEE the disturbed air?

This is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard.

Yes, of course, if they really got hurt, I do feel sorry for them and send my deepest heartfelt well wishes. Going through severe turbulence isn’t a fun situation to be in, and can be very scary. However, I find it odd that they file this lawsuit one week before the statute of limitations expires. Why wait until now to file this claim? Why wait 2 years? What happened to the other one or two FAs on board? Are they okay? Furthermore, are you to say that when a meteorologist forecasts a foot of snow at 11pm and the next morning there is only 2 inches, because the storm got weaker through the night, that we can now sue them? It could be claimed that schools closed and flights canceled which caused lost revenue for those businesses, much those flight attendants lost wages from being out of work.

I’m really stunned at the audacity of these flight attendants. Turbulence is always something to be unexpected in my book, and proper precautions are should always be made in the event you hit “previously unreported” turbulence. It comes with the job. When you going through training your taught about the many things that can happen to you on board an aircraft, including aircraft crashes. Turbulence is one of those things that we encounter on an almost every day, every flight basis. This is nothing new for them.

Alaska Airlines says they know nothing about this legal action. Frankly, good luck to them. They have to prove that two years ago SOMEONE else prior to them descending to 8,000ft knew that the patch of rough air they went through, was already there. The only patch of rough air I can see, is in the same location their brain is supposed to be.

If you’d like to read their 18 page filing, click here.

Filed under: Airline News, FAs | Tagged: aircraft, airline, airplane, flight attendant, flight attendants, InFlight, turbulence | 4 Comments »

The Line Dance

Posted on December 19, 2009 by Bobby

Being a Flight Attendant comes with many perks. Some of which you use on a regular basis, some you hardly ever use; and then there are some that you use every single day when going to work.

The perk/ability to cut the security line.

I’m finding that this is a very touchy subject. Especially on high travel days such as Friday and Sunday, where the lines are literally, out the door. Most of the traveling public understands why we cut the line, but let me explain it for those of you who are against it or don’t know anything about it.

First, how happy would you be if your flight was delayed because your crew was at the end of the line at the security checkpoint? Not happy I’m sure. But, your first instinct is to say, ‘well, get to the airport earlier.’ Now, we’re dealing with a crew rest issue and I have to ask: should the government and the airline now factor in possible wait times at the checkpoint when building rest regulations and trip pairings? We know how the government works, that’ll never happen. As it is we are on our ‘rest’ during our transportation to/from the hotel, the whole checkin/out process and going through security. Making the airline put us on the clock longer then they have to means you’ll encounter more crew rest delays.

So, crew members cut the line. Most airports now a days make it a little bit easier on crew members to cut the line by adding signage that says “Uniformed Crewmembers may cut to the front of the line during peek travel periods” and some have designated employee lanes to allow us to get screened through. Having a dedicated lane makes life less stressful on you, the normal everyday business/leisure traveler, as I’m not adding time to your wait in line.

However, some airports have employee “lines” to get our badges verified, which then dump us into the normal “lanes” to get screened, leaving us to cut the line at the lane (confused yet?) to get our bags screened first. This is usually when I hear the most griping. People who have been in line for 45 minutes to an hour get upset and start screaming ‘”I’m going to be late now!” Well, if you’re going to be late because I cut in front of you, just wait until its your turn to get your bag screened and you left a bottle of shampoo in there or you’re “randomly selected,” then we can talk about late. Then there are those who don’t seem to understand why we’re cutting them and start with the whole “the line is back there” routine. Yes, I’m in uniform (we have to be now a days to get anything through security. Ugh how I long for the days of going through with just an ID badge), no- I don’t wear the uniform for fun, so yes, I’m going to work. Do you wait in line when you go to work? Well, I don’t either.

The line dance is going to be a touchy subject for as long as I can see, and has been one for as long as I remember. We can both take action to live peacefully, together. I apologize every time I cut the line: “I’m sorry, I’m headed to work, I’m just going to slot in in front of you and won’t take longer than a minute” or “excuse me, do you mind if I cut in front of you, I’m headed to work a flight.” As passengers, you can just accept the fact that we don’t have to wait in line to go to work, and that we have the right to cut the line. Putting up a fuss about it isn’t going to change anything or get you to your flight quicker. Yes it may seem unfair, but in the scheme of things flight crew know how to get through security quickly, we do it everyday, it really shouldn’t take long.. now, that’s not to say the screeners won’t take their sweet time screening the bags and moving the conveyor belt. That’s a whole other subject.

Filed under: FAs, General, Passengers | Tagged: airport, flight attendant, passenger, security, travel | 9 Comments »

Shame on Schumer

Posted on December 16, 2009 by Bobby

Shame on you, Senator Chuck Schumer (NY)! The same Senator who advocated and voted for passenger rights on board an aircraft called a flight attendant a “bitch” after being asked to power down his cell phone prior to departure of a US Airways Shuttle flight from New York to Washington on Sunday.

According to reports the Senator argued with the Flight Attendant saying he was allowed to keep his phone on as long as the cabin door was open. However, the announcement was just made that it was time to power down all electronic devices in preparation for departure. The Flight Attendant said that he was “obligated to turn it off whenever a flight attendant asked,” technically true. You must obey all crew member instructions, lighted signs and posted placards… you’d think one of our nations Senators who flies as much as he does — would know this.

After the flight attendant walked away, Schumer turned to his seat mate and uttered “bitch.”

His seat mate, another Senator was quoted as saying he powered down his phone when asked, and was polite to the flight attendant. However, other passengers on the plane said that a few moments after the conversation between Senator Shamer Schumer took place, his phone rang again. “It’s Harry Reid calling,” the passenger quoted Schumer as saying. “I guess health care will have to wait until we land.”

For someone who takes an active part in creating law and enforcing that everyone be treated equally, you, Mr. Schumer, a representative of your constituents in New York State, should be embarrassed. You fought for the passenger bill of rights, but it’s evident you are one of those people I encounter on my planes daily who don’t respect the job we do and our main purpose on board the aircraft, your safety and security. Just because you help to make the ‘rules,’ doesn’t mean you can break them.

I hope US Airways lost your bag.

Filed under: Airline News | Tagged: Chuck Schumer, flight attendant, news | 4 Comments »