Retirement

[Flyboy4u]

I guess the APFA finally published the seniority lists. It's still hard for me to understand how the most senior f/a with AA started in 1952. Not to mention, the many who started 1954 and so on....Why are they still flying? If nobody out there believes me when I say that AA has the most SELFISH F/A's in the industry those numbers alone tell the story....For godsake Granny get off the plane!!!

 

[Andre1980]

I guess the APFA finally published the seniority lists. It's still hard for me to understand how the most senior f/a with AA started in 1952. Not to mention, the many who started 1954 and so on....Why are they still flying? If nobody out there believes me when I say that AA has the most SELFISH F/A's in the industry those numbers alone tell the story....For godsake Granny get off the plane!!!

You got to be kidin those old ladies still work! I am shocked 50 years working?wow these f/a really love flying or they just don't want to go home doing nothing but isn't there a retirement cap (e.g. 60 years old should retire). No wonder some people out there want to fly the foreign carriers where the f/a will be younger.

 

[Winglet]

This ain't Singapore Airlines. FAs don't retire at the age of 25 (or whatever it is). This is the good 'ol US of A and you can't discriminate against someone just 'cause they get old and fat.

 

[Hunter]

You got to be kidin those old ladies still work! I am shocked 50 years working?wow these f/a really love flying or they just don't want to go home doing nothing but isn't there a retirement cap (e.g. 60 years old should retire). No wonder some people out there want to fly the foreign carriers where the f/a will be younger.

This is the most sexist post I have read to date. Who's the next target in your retirement scheme? Sheez.

By the way, I am one who would benefit from your "plan" but can still see the slippery slope on which you tread.

 

[jsn25911]

You got to be kidin those old ladies still work! I am shocked 50 years working?wow these f/a really love flying or they just don't want to go home doing nothing but isn't there a retirement cap (e.g. 60 years old should retire). No wonder some people out there want to fly the foreign carriers where the f/a will be younger.

Life goes by very quickly. Someday you will also be that age. Those older flight attendants were the ones that built this career so that you have the many benefits that you have (well, up until Ward gave them away).

 

[Flyboy4u]

Ok then, At what point does age and safety become an issue? The FAA has stated it at the age of 6o for pilots. What about flight attendants? Have you ever tried to evacuate an aircraft with a cane?

 

[jimntx]

Ok then, At what point does age and safety become an issue? The FAA has stated it at the age of 6o for pilots. What about flight attendants? Have you ever tried to evacuate an aircraft with a cane?

Ed, that comment is despicable. If the flight attendant qualifies on his/her EPTs and they can do the work, they have the right to work. Don't be such a jerk.

 

[NewHampshire Black Bears]

(Hypothetically), It's NOT hard to imagine those "elder gals" going to work "once a week", flying a new 777, working First Class ONLY, DFW-NRT-DFW, with well behaved asian passengers, who sleep half of the trip, anyway.

NH/BB's

 

[Flyboy4u]

Ed, that comment is despicable. If the flight attendant qualifies on his/her EPTs and they can do the work, they have the right to work. Don't be such a jerk.

Hardly a Jerk Jim


Have you been through EPT's? THey qualify EVERYBODY..and if age isn't an issue they why is there mandatory retirement for pilots? Again, EPT's is a joke.....as far as sexst post.....Have you not seen Grandpa F/A flying out of ORD.....This is not meant to due harm to anyone just informing those out there why so many of us remain on the street...These F/A will die behind the drink cart....That's Sad

 

[kirkpatrick]

Hardly a Jerk Jim

Very much a jerk, and I'd be willing to bet you're a jerk in your twenties. Why is it that young people think anyone over fifty should quit their jobs and sit at home and watch TV all day so they can move up the ladder? You'll get yours when you earn it, not by pushing me out the door.

You can take thirty years of seniority away from me but you can't have my job. I'll quit when I'm damn good and ready.

MK

 

[AAmech]

You got to be kidin those old ladies still work! I am shocked 50 years working?wow these f/a really love flying or they just don't want to go home doing nothing but isn't there a retirement cap (e.g. 60 years old should retire). No wonder some people out there want to fly the foreign carriers where the f/a will be younger.

I don't begrudge any older person wanting to continue working as an FA. But it does bother me that AA has to compete with airlines like Singapore and others in Latin America that push their FA's out the door when they stop looking like Super Models. Our Gov should include some anti discrimination clauses on carriers that have bi-lateral or open skies agreement with the US.

 

[jimntx]

Hardly a Jerk Jim


Have you been through EPT's? THey qualify EVERYBODY..and if age isn't an issue they why is there mandatory retirement for pilots? Again, EPT's is a joke.....as far as sexst post.....Have you not seen Grandpa F/A flying out of ORD.....This is not meant to due harm to anyone just informing those out there why so many of us remain on the street...These F/A will die behind the drink cart....That's Sad

Yes, I've been through EPTs. If you are concerned about the validity of the EPTs, you should be filing complaints with the FAA. The issue of mandatory retirement for pilots vs. flight attendants is ALSO an FAA issue. They decided that sitting in the front room watching Otto fly the plane can't be done safely past age 60, but defending the a/c and the front room from crazies while being a mama/papa, nurse, safety coordinator, cook, and waiter/waitress can be done by anyone at any age. Take it up with them.

P.S. As I will be 59 next month, I guess I qualify as "Grandpa F/A flying out of DFW."
P.P.S. Hey, Kirkpatrick. Maybe AA can institute the alleged Eskimo scheme for dealing with the "elderly"! They could just staff all the summer DFW-ANC flights with those of us over 50, and just leave us there on an iceberg. Of course, they'll have to surrender some of the revenue seats to deadheading the young crew to bring the a/c back.

 

[LiveInAHotel]

We have a few "senior" ladies at my base, too. In fact one is 68 years old and she should be retired. This f/a needs help to crack the door on an S80 and 737, because she doesn't have the strength to crack it herself. Can you imagine her primary door is the only safe exit in an emergency and she can't get it open?

We also have another f/a who just flies the all-nighter/red-eye and she falls asleep on her jumpseat after the service in finished. Both of these ladies should be forced to retire because it's a safety hazard.

I bid accordingly so I don't fly with either of these ladies. It's not that I don't like either of these ladies, it's knowing that they could be the only f/a's that are conscious if something goes wrong.

 

[fliboi78]

Very much a jerk, and I'd be willing to bet you're a jerk in your twenties. Why is it that young people think anyone over fifty should quit their jobs and sit at home and watch TV all day so they can move up the ladder?
MK [/quote]
i don't think this is fair. the jerk part, maybe. but not all of us in our 20's, or we "young people", agree with what was said earlier. i have had some great times with senior fas. one time we were in zrh and it was a VERY junior crew and mainly men. we were going out to a gay bar and we asked everyone to go with us. we thought the two very senior mamas would say no but they came along and had a very good time and they were both in their sixties. on the other hand, i do have a problem which i have voiced having to help put their bags away and working the meal cart because SOME senior fas can't bend below a certain point. everytime i do tokyo there are two fas that always want to do the bev cart facing aft because they told me that they can't walk backwards. also at epts everyone is given a million chances to pass. at UAL they are VERY strict about it. i went to dinner with a bunch of UAL fas and there were these senior girls at the table on the verge of tears because they had screwed up their drills and had one more chance the next day. i didn't ask what would happen if they didn't pass. but most senior girls are very sweet and i think that they are the reason why we keep most of our biz passengers. they do come from the ole' school and they can work the hell out of a galley. but i am only 25...i will have plenty of chances to hold zrh and eze. not anytime soon but my time will come.

p.s. i'd rather work with a senior crew than some junior purser who has a problem with me being the galley just because i only have 4 years. most senior gals would be like...we all have to learn sometime.

 

[Andre1980]

We have a few "senior" ladies at my base, too. In fact one is 68 years old and she should be retired. This f/a needs help to crack the door on an S80 and 737, because she doesn't have the strength to crack it herself. Can you imagine her primary door is the only safe exit in an emergency and she can't get it open?

We also have another f/a who just flies the all-nighter/red-eye and she falls asleep on her jumpseat after the service in finished. Both of these ladies should be forced to retire because it's a safety hazard.

I bid accordingly so I don't fly with either of these ladies. It's not that I don't like either of these ladies, it's knowing that they could be the only f/a's that are conscious if something goes wrong.

You made a lot of sense. Having the foreign carriers with their living barbie dolls on board competiting with a carrier with senior citizens I can see that the older traveller wouldn't mind but the younger traveller may get pretty annoyed by having grandma and pops feeding them since most of the younger generations cannot relate to the old folk.

But I have to see it the other way too. Thoes people contributed in making AA's service what is it today and deserved to have those special flying rights and privalages but I still believe that sometimes elderly folks may find it hard to let go of something they love and have been doing for years.