Flight Attendant Camaraderie

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Working in this industry is strange. As flight attendants, we all do the same job just for different companies, but some flight attendants feel the need to act superior to the rest of us.

I live in Phoenix, Arizona and there are a LOT of commuters out of here. Most commute to either Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Salt Lake or San Francisco. I was with my friends Brad & David checking in at Southwest Airlines for our commute to SFO. As we were being checked in, this OLD United flight attendant walked right up to the counter and asked: “Can I be checked in for San Francisco please?” The agent politely informed her that we were first, there was a lot of seats, but she’d be right with her.

The United FA looks over at us and says (very sarcastically)

Wow, is this your whole crew? 3? There’s 15 on my crew.. and we never check in together.

That’s nice lady. We’re not all working together, we’re commuting just like you. We’re not based here & we’re not deadheading. Just because your crew has 15 people and you’re flying to Narita  doesn’t make you any better than my crew of 3 and my layover in JFK.  Once  on board, she was using a Kindle and the working flight attendant asked her to turn it off. The United Dinosaur refused saying “at my airline, we don’t have to.” You know what, honey, you’re not ON your airline. You’re traveling on a free ticket on Southwest Airlines, shut up and do it.

On the flip side, you have the flight attendants that realize we’re all one big family. For instance, when I non-rev on other airlines I like to bring the crew “a little something,” whether it be chocolates, cookies, snacks.. something to say that I appreciate being on their airplane–free of charge– and thank you for taking to/from work. I notice most flight attendants also do this and some go above and beyond what I would expect. I recently flew a jetBlue FA from JFK to San Francisco and toward the end of the flight he came to the front to chat a bit. He asked me for rubber gloves. I was kind of shocked, wondering if everything was ok. He said he would like gloves to help us clean the plane when we landed. I quickly told him no, he didn’t need to help us clean, it was VERY much appreciated but its not necessary. He took a stand, and demanded gloves.. saying we treated him as best we could and he wished to do the same for us.

Passing other crews in the airport, I always smile and let out a little “hello” just to be friendly no matter what airline they work for. Some do the same: I arrived in Boston last week and was walking through the terminal to catch the van to the hotel with my crew and we walked passed some American Airlines FAs who ALL gave my crew a thumbs up and one screamed out: “you all look GREAT in your uniforms!” I looked over waived, said “thank you! have a great night!” — isn’t that how it should be? We should all be treating each other with respect.

Even when I have other airline employees in the cabin I extend the “we all work in the same industry” hospitality. I know you’re not going to make it rich working for an airline and I know one of the few benefits we truly have is non-reving. You were stressed enough wondering if you were going to make it on the plane, now sit back and relax. Though the company doesn’t allow it (for money and inventory purposes) I ensure (as do most of our FAs) that all non-revs are taken care of with small amenities and food. It just seems like the right thing to do — because when I’m on other airlines I usually get the same treatment. AirTran and Delta will put us in first class (we’re not allowed to upgrade ANYONE to first class) and Southwest offers us free drinks. The least I can do is give you headphones and something to eat.

When it comes down to it, as flight attendants we all board planes, do compliance checks, serve coke, serve food (snacks), pick up trash, deal with seating issues, have to hear the screaming kids, deal with upset passengers, work with short overnights and deal with delays. So why not just be friendly to each other? We are all InFlight Safety Professionals, we are all adults, and we all do this job for a reason, and most of the time, the same reason. Respect each other and we can truly make it the ‘friendly skies.’

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  • http://postcardsandcoasters.blogspot.com/ Sherri

    Maybe she thinks that if you don’t have more than one aisle on a plane its not a “real” airline. I agree with you! We should all be nice to one another and I think for the most part we all are.

    Funny, just non-reved on United and the sup in HNL was really rude. Not sure if he just hates my airline (we only have one aisle) or maybe he hates all non revs. He yelled at one of our pilots for having an extra souvenir bag and told me I wasn’t getting on with my shoes. Wow… he had the Aloha Spirit! Be aware of hitler in HNL if you non rev on United!

    • Bobby

      See, its that mentality that needs to change. You know damn well if he nonrev’d on your single aisle plane you wouldnt treat him that way.

      Treat others as you would like to be treated, especially your colleagues at other carriers!

  • http://flythefriendlyskies.blogspot.com Megan

    I agress, I have had some of the best experience non reving on other airlines and it’s sad to say, some of the worst as well. I fly on a “one aisle” and some of the larger aircraft FA’s have done the same thing to me and my crews.

    It is hard enough every day smiling and giving it your all in 2,3,4 hour delays in and out of busy airports… others in the industry should not make it harder for each other.

    I had a horrible day yesterday finishing a trip and trying to commute home from JFK but you know what made it all better? The other Flight Attendants commuting and non reving with me.

    I always try and treat other crew members on my planes just how I would like to be treated on theirs!!!

    Great post. :)

    • Bobby

      I was commuting from JFK to PHX a few days after Christmas. I was going to connect in Austin, TX but jetBlue went on a mechanical delay and we sat there for hours. I ended up meeting an American FA and we hung out for all of the delay and sat next to each other the way to Austin. She shared food that she bought in Japan and I shared whatever I had.

      We truly made the best of the situation. In AUS she went to HOU and I went to PHX, probably never to see each other again, but for the time.. we were quite good friends!

  • Patriciaa

    Loved this article!! That is one reason I love my job is the camaraderie! I treat every crew member that gets on my plane like royalty!! I go out of my way to make them comfortable and have everything they could possibly need. I know what it is like to have a long hard trip, then a long hard commute and nine out of ten times I am treated fairly well. Sadly some treat us worse than they treat their paying pax!! I suppose it takes all kinds!! But with that being said if your on one of my flights and I know you are a crew member of ANY kind you’ll get special treatment (just like my pax do), and if I pass you in the airport you’ll get a smile and hello from me, and if you clean your plane then I will help you clean your plane!!!

    The rest of you that “think” your better because you have more than one aisle or you’ve been around a hundred years…..get over yourself!!

  • http://traytables-travels.blogspot.com Traytable

    It’s funny you used a pic from View From the Top- When I worked foor a small charter carrier, we used to giggle at the scene where the girls want to go to the gift shop to ‘buy a Toblerone’- that was pretty much us. Our biggest thrill was buying chocolate in the airport shop. And FAs from bigger airlines used to look down on us just like in the movie.

    Funny thing is, now I’m working for a ‘big airline’ but I make sure I never look down on FAs from other companies- as you say, we are all one family!

    It’s the best especially going through international airports like Singapore- your face hurts from smiling by the time you get through the terminal because of the amount of crew you pass =)

  • Debbie Lee

    Can I hear an “AMEN!” LOLOL!!

    But, seriously, you are soooo right – I do my very best to make any fellow FAs feel as comfy as possible & extend everything I can offer to them. I’ve been lucky & never been a commuter, but def know that’s one of the most difficult parts of the job – so I do my best to make it as good as I can. :) That Untied Dinosaur really needs a reality check!

    Thanks for all your hospitality!

    • Bobby

      My friend Brad wanted to say to her: “tell me, whats it like to fly at Jurassic park?”

      I included it in the post originally, but edited it out. I didn’t want it to seem we stooped to her level.

      I do the same! I try my best to make everyone comfortable, especially since you usually get a middle seat!

  • Ramper

    The UA FA is probably just pissed because she’s about to lose her job because her airline is going to go bankrupt this fall.

    Can not stand this attitude. These UA Sky Hags were on the employee shuttle recently: “This guy wanted diet coke and I told him we were out. Then I had to sit in SFO for an HOUR! Can you believe that? I need hazard pay.”

    Blech. There’s a reason nobody likes to fly that airline anymore.

  • http://kimoglsb@blogspot.com Kim

    Great post! Like the rest of you, I always try to treat other crew as royalty. It’s just “nice manners” and makes them, and me, feel good. Keep up the great work everyone! “Pay it forward!”