sky high states: Tidy up the aircraft and cross seatbelts. Silly me, I thought, "tidy up", meant, picking up newspapers, trash items IN THE CABIN..........which is most of the time, ON THE FLOOR.
only stating opinions
Flight Attendants!
- Thread starter EMBFA
- Start date
sky high states: Tidy up the aircraft and cross seatbelts. Silly me, I thought, "tidy up", meant, picking up newspapers, trash items IN THE CABIN..........which is most of the time, ON THE FLOOR.
only stating opinions
Do you only have a land line phone?
From the AFA site
Company Policy on Cell Phone/Beepers For Reserves
Following is clarification of company policy for flight attendants who use a cell phone that serves as both a phone contact as well as a beeper. As per the director of crew scheduling, Rob Fuhr: "If a scheduler is unsuccessful in contacting a flight attendant at the primary contact, the scheduler will 'beep' the flight attendant by contacting the flight attendant at his/her listed beeper number (assuming such number has beeper capability) even though such beeper number may be the exact same number as the primary contact number."
I hear this all the time "we are not to clean the AC floor", but where exactly does it say that I am not suppose to pick up a Newspaper/cup on the floor?
Such cabin cleaning duties shall be defined as, and limited to, the following: collecting paper and refuse in the cabin of the aircraft; crossing seatbelts; stowing pillows, and blankets in the overhead compartments; removing visible items from the seatback pockets; and collecting and stowing magazines as applicable. A flight attendant will not be required to perform such cabin cleaning duties after the conclusion of his/her duty day.
And that is all I profess to be... a poster on USAviation. There are a few posters on here who know me in real life and would probably tell you I'm pretty different in reality. I've even been called a "company" person. If you flew with me and I told you who I was you'd probably say, "really???" Eight years is a long time, maybe not relatively as this embarrassingly shrunken airline, but ask a flight attendant at any other major airline and they'd tell you that eight years is pretty respectable- it's sad that we've lost that. Not that my US experience is my only in this industry, which is something I'm very thankful for. Throw in a few furloughs, displacements, years of service ignored by the company and the union, sub-povery wages (thats the state of PA's opinion, not mine), and you'd have a hard time not being 'jaded' too-but I'll get to that in a minute.
I don't know if I agree that I'm "company", but I'm very pro-customer. More than this company deserves. But I was raised in a "if you're going to do something do it the best you can" household.
This is entertainment for me... but you know as well as I do that this little board of ours is widely read and probably has more influence than we know. For me it's a chance to vent and keep my creative writing juices flowing... maybe I'll write a book someday.
My post here was mostly the result of a very long trip and PMS. Do I practice all of the above? Hmmm. I have, on occasion. Do I think all of them are beneficial to us as a work group or as a business? I honesty think it depends on the solidarity of the work group (shockingly little that I've seen, MDA aside), and a lot of other factors. Who knows. I think we are underappreciated and underestimated on a good day.
Your second question, yes. I have been active in "getting changes done to my occupation". Aside from my "real life" self and activities, I'd even wager that my presence on here (and yours as well) has at the very least sparked a debate, a discussion, a grudging understanding, or a second look at a group that has been beaten to a pulp.
I'll end my little soapbox here with something a very wise woman told me- someone with decades of real, international airline experience, someone I consider a mentor in both my personal and professional life.
In life you meet adversity, no matter who you are, at some point you will end up in a pot of boiling water. You have three choices in life- you can be a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean.
The carrot goes in strong, hard and unrelenting. But after being subjected to the boiling water, it softens and becomes weak.
The egg is fragile. It's thin outer shell had protected it's liquid interior. But after sitting through the boiling water, it's inside becomes hardened.
The ground coffee beans are unique. When subjected to the boiling water, it not only adapts to its surroundings and changes form, it changes the water. It let's it's world change it, but not without changing it's world.
I'd like to think I'm a coffee bean. And a fine roasted one.
Just my opinions. 🙂
USCREW
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I'm pretty hungry now. I think I'll go downstairs for some coffee and eggs.
lildutchgrl
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EMBFA,
I must say I pretty much agree with most of your items. As I was quick called for an almost 20 hour 3 day trip I was able to see how your view worked. I must say I had a very angry CSA in Charlotte when we had to wait to close the door as we got a family of six, 4 children under age 5, moved to sit together and we had the process handled by her. No one wanted to move to center seats. No one cared that these children were pretty much attached to their mothers womb still. Why should every passenger be forced to deal with a 2 hour flight with screaming children not sitting with family? The CSA took care of it and now understand the reality of how difficult it is to get people to move. In the end I got an apology. She said she never knew it was that difficult to get people to move around.
Next day.........Where do I start. It was a typical PHL-BOS day and no one wanted to cater us. We did the first turn and survived without fresh ice or sodas, but when it came time for leg 3 and 4 and 5, we had to wait for catering until 30 min past departure. They basically walked up to the jetway and threw bags of ice at my feet. The Captain called the tower stating he didn't think it was sanitary to be catered on the floor, thanks for the ice, but where's the sodas, water......... Finally angry caterer man returned with a truck and catered us completely. Thank goodness for that, we held 45 minutes over BOS!
Last day was better and when I showed your posting to the other flight attendants they agreed it was what we had to do. In the end, your tactics worked pretty well and I'm glad to brought them to my attention because it actually made my job a little easier. Keep up the good posts.
I must say I pretty much agree with most of your items. As I was quick called for an almost 20 hour 3 day trip I was able to see how your view worked. I must say I had a very angry CSA in Charlotte when we had to wait to close the door as we got a family of six, 4 children under age 5, moved to sit together and we had the process handled by her. No one wanted to move to center seats. No one cared that these children were pretty much attached to their mothers womb still. Why should every passenger be forced to deal with a 2 hour flight with screaming children not sitting with family? The CSA took care of it and now understand the reality of how difficult it is to get people to move. In the end I got an apology. She said she never knew it was that difficult to get people to move around.
Next day.........Where do I start. It was a typical PHL-BOS day and no one wanted to cater us. We did the first turn and survived without fresh ice or sodas, but when it came time for leg 3 and 4 and 5, we had to wait for catering until 30 min past departure. They basically walked up to the jetway and threw bags of ice at my feet. The Captain called the tower stating he didn't think it was sanitary to be catered on the floor, thanks for the ice, but where's the sodas, water......... Finally angry caterer man returned with a truck and catered us completely. Thank goodness for that, we held 45 minutes over BOS!
Last day was better and when I showed your posting to the other flight attendants they agreed it was what we had to do. In the end, your tactics worked pretty well and I'm glad to brought them to my attention because it actually made my job a little easier. Keep up the good posts.
AstroLounge
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The List that EMBFA constructed is very good. Whereas some people may look at HER as some outspoken "Junior" person with a mere 8 years seniority.....that is irrelevant. I would bet this person worked a "REAL Job" (outside the Airline Industry with REAL Time resposibilities) and can truly take an objective approach in solving many of the dilemmas that INTERFERE with getting our jobs done. Many times HER rants are slanderous and NOT sugar coated but I can respect her passion and determination to BRING THE ISSUES To THE FRONT BURNER. FOLLOW The List!
sky high states: The CSA agent didnt cause the dup seat either. While they may have access to a computer to SOLVE the issue, you shoved the problem onto another employee. Have you seen how understaffed and overwhelmed they are IN THE GATE AREA?
You want difficult? Try dealing with DENIED BOARDINGS.
Havent YOU ever pushed a wheelchair? Helped someone down to baggage claim? Carried a bag for someone, elderly?
This, it's not my job mentality, makes EVERYONE'S JOB..............harder.
ONLY stating opinions
sky high states: Every once in awhile, I see who YOU are, between the rants.
thank you for the explanation...................Coffee BEAN.
only stating opinions
Travelpro72
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WRONG! ! ! ! ! Sending passengers KNOWINGLY down the jetway with seperated seats from their children is "passing the buck". I just corrected a new agent in CLT a week or two ago. I was sitting there while the plane emptied. I was working the flight to PBI and heard the agent tell the gentleman that this flight is full and if you want to sit with your wife to "ask a stewardess" to do it for you on the plane. I politely walked over and said, "Please don't send these passengers down to the airplane with false hopes of them being able to have seats moved". Seating parents together is most times doable but gettings others together MANY times is NOT. Because the computer system does this is NOT THE FLIGHT ATTENDANTS problem. Totally disagree.
lildutchgrl
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It was the responsibility of the agent who knowingly sent a family of six down the jetway and told them the flight attendants would get them seated together. Their were 3 agents working at this particular gate, which is shocking to begin with, but one of them could have walked down and explained to the crew what the situation was, not pass the buck to me.
I don't push wheelchairs because the minute I get hurt doing so this company will deny my workers comp because I was doing something out of my job description. Yes I help the elderly with their bags, but if they weigh the equivalent of a bag of bricks, no, that bag gets checked.
I am not hateful, I just like to make sure the people that are getting paid to do their job actually do it.
Coffee_Tea_Or_Me
Senior
Did the agent really say stewardess?? That is hilarious. I wonder if they are trained to send pax to the flight attendants to be moved? That is just lazy. If everyone would do his/her job duties, the US Airways world would be a much better place. This means that agents handle dupe seats, etc., and that caterers actually caterer, and that the rampers actually load and unload bags, etc. I remember in BK 2 I came into Philly from MCO. There were families waiting for strollers (you know how those flights are). Anyway, after 30 minutes no ramper was in site, so I walked down the ramp and into the breakroom. Four of them were sitting there watching a soap opera and two were sleeping. Nice. By this point, the FO went outside and opened the forward cargo bin and carried the strollers up himself.
Travelpro72
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YES...the agent actually used the word stewardess. She was was scared that I was gonna pounce all over her when I walked over to her. I was VERY nice and told her that we don't get paid until the doors are closed up. TELL A FRIEND. The f/a's are NOT trying to delay a departure. We leave late and we run late all day usually which winds up being a shorter overnight to us. She was like, "Ohhhhhhhhh"... :blink: I told her we can't MAKE folks move and while we're usually doing so they want to shut the door. It makes for chaos on a full flight and certainly a mess on a late departure. Just don't send them down to us. It's not always fixable. Oh yeah how about kids and car seats in the exit rows. SORRY, no excuse and the agent WILL be called. I don't care if there is only one working 6 gates. Though I feel bad for THEM it's the company and I will NOT be put in these situations.
I think you should give the agent some of your meds......
:mf_boff:
So, if we are not getting paid until the door closes, why are we hanging jackets? Offering pre departure bevs? Making announcements? Shutting overheads? While I agree we should be paid for this, if we are not going to rearrange seating because we are not getting paid, we should cease all boarding actions, including saying hello and goodbye!
You're right, seperate seats are not always fixable, but if u cant fix it, so be it! They'll sit, or they'll take the next flight, I suppose! When the flight is full, I am not sure what you would want the agent to do to get seats together?? Call 15 peoplle up by name to the podium and rearrange them? :blink:
USCREW
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Do you have a crush on Travelpro72?
