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United crew - it's time to serve drinks to the idiots in coach
There is not much I like about United Airlines, but their Channel 9 in-flight audio is one perk you won't find on any other carrier. Channel 9 is the audio channel that lets you listen in on the cockpit communications with Air Traffic Control. I've always found it a great way to pass the time, and get a better idea what is going on when the plane is delayed.A reader on The Consumerist apparently shares my love for Channel 9, but got a rude awakening when he noticed that the Channel 9 audio was relaying the flight attendant phone communications instead of the cockpit.
Unfortunately for the cabin crew, the things they were exchanging over the phone were really not intended for the passengers, especially when one of them told a colleague that they'd soon "start on drinks for the idiots in coach".
Ouch.
I've always known coach class passengers were sometimes referred to as "roach class", or "self loading freight", but to actually refer to your paying customers as "idiots" seems rather harsh.
One of the passengers who heard the remarks let a crew member know they were able to hear what they were saying, at which point they stopped using the phones. Of course, no apology was issued, nor did anyone at United Airlines respond to the story.
(Via: The Consumerist)
Stories of booze gone bad in the skies
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 18)
Raymond Feb 24th 2009 1:41PM
Awww, come on United...thats REALLY bad. I have heard nothing good about yall, so I suppose it doesn't surprize me though. Save it for the van ride! LMAO
ryan Feb 25th 2009 7:58PM
This is a bogus story. I think we will find this out pretty soon. Ch. 9 on United's IFE does not carry cabinphone comm. It only carries the primary freq. the aircraft is on which means one can only hear ATC communication for the freq. the particular flight is on. This is bogus and the media needs to know that. This idot and I am saying this passenger is in fact an idiot because he is going to ruin it for the rest of us who happen to enjoy that feature on UA flights.
pinkthenred Feb 25th 2009 9:29PM
Chris I wasn't discounting their jobs. I have worked in customer service oriented jobs myself. As for this type of job not being like waiting on tables, of course there are going to be differences between the two jobs. You still don't need a degree from college to be a cabin crew member. So basically what I am saying is if you are going to throw out insults about people you don't even know being idiots, people that help pay your salary, be prepared to be judged in return. It doesn't feel too good hmmm?
Lauren Michaels Feb 25th 2009 11:14PM
Actually, Ryan....as an air traffic controller for over 25 years, I can't tell you how many times comments meant for the crew or the passengers went out over the frequency. We hear cabin announcements and such all the time. This could have been the case of someone hitting the wrong button.
Dadaddo Feb 26th 2009 9:54AM
That's why it's ALWAYS best to fly United!
aj121489 Feb 26th 2009 10:51AM
Am I the only one who thinks they might have been referring to a few specific people in coach? And to be honest, WHO CARES?! Waaaaaaaaah somebody called me a name but I don't know if they were actually talking about me so I'm gonna go bitch about it anyways. I think it was smart for them not to apologize (as long as they can't get caught). That's kinda like the whole Michael Phelps thing, I don't think he should've admitted to it before talking to someone at least
maryanne Feb 26th 2009 11:26AM
I was on a United flight from SFC to Sandiego CA.
My seat was the first row behind the business cabin so naturally when I got up to use the facilities I walked to the nearest one available to me in first class.
I was unable to access the bathrooms in coach because the aisle was blocked with a beverage cart..way in the back rows near the coach restroom.
As I neared the restroom in the first class cabin I was approached by a stewerdess not wearing a name tag, she abruptly and rudely ordered me to go back to my seat.
I explained to her that after waiting for 40 minutes just to take off, then waiting another 20 minutes to reach altitude, I was unable to wait any longer, I pointed out to her my inability to access my designated restrooms due to the beverage cart.
The flight attendent became argumentive with me and accused me of being a threat to the cock pit!
Again, she ordered me to go sit down!
I ignored her and used the restroom.
As I came out of the restroom, she was waiting there with another male attendent and told advised me of the FAA regulations; I asked the stewardess her name, she turned away from me and I tapped her shoulder and asked again, she refused to answer me.
Upon landing in Sandiego, I was almost arrested for causing a stir on the flight, I was able to explain the situation to the air marshal but, I was damn near arrested. (I got off because she never asked me if I had a medical condition.) and she allowed the gentleman behind me to use the very same restroom about an hour after me, and she said nothing to him!
Nor was the aisle blocked by a cart at that time!
I have never flown United again, I canceled their mileage programs,and platnium visas!
I wonder if that flight attendent is still employed by them.
I hope she is! It only takes one like her, to ruin a company!
Taint Feb 26th 2009 4:04PM
I did not realize they had that feature on Air Force One.
Whitney Feb 24th 2009 1:46PM
Ouch. I've worked as a waitress several times and can understand that Flight Attendants get some really, REALLY obnoxious passengers, but when you get caught referring to them as "the idiots in coach" an apology is the least you could do.
What they call them in private is fine by me, lord knows there are definitely some idiots in ALL classes on the plane, but if I had heard a flight attendant on a flight I was on refer to me that way I would be incredibly insulted. Me not having money to afford seats other than coach doesn't make me an idiot.
pinkthenred Feb 25th 2009 2:19PM
LOL I would say 75% of the adults in coach have a higher education than the "cabin crew". Really, what is the difference between working tables in a restaurant and this? It's a job anyone could do.
lulu Feb 25th 2009 7:57PM
these are private conversations on the interphone. there was just some problem that they were broadcasting on channel 9
Wendy Feb 25th 2009 8:24PM
The difference between a waitress and a flight attendant is that the waitress is not trained to save your ass in an emergency, nor is she required to know CPR. Yeah your flight attendant may LOOK like a waiter/waitress, but that's only as long as the flight goes as expected. Sure, I have had my fair share of rude, mean and ornery flight attendants, but I'd rather they be there than a waitress.
Chris Feb 25th 2009 8:52PM
This is for pinkthenred. Have you ever tried to wait tables? Have you ever spent 6-8 hours on your feet, dealing with rude, obnixious people who are pleased by absolutely nothing? People who can find no good in their meal, and send it back because the butter is touching the baked potato. Seriously, walk a mile in a servers shoes before condeming them.
Meme Feb 26th 2009 12:01AM
This is for PinkHenRed -- I thought at one time too that anyone could wait tables and then I did it. You are soooo very wrong. It is NOT a job that anyone can do. Perhaps if some did it poorly-they were slow, not watching the customers' drinks for refills or for desserts, a customer may need condiments and such and the waitress is nowhere in sight, So many things. I was an EXCELLENT waitress. It's hard work, and you have to LOVE working with people from all walks of life. You DO also earn your tips. Try it sometime, then tell me that "anyone can do it."
pinkthenred Feb 26th 2009 12:11AM
Meme anyone can do it but not everyone has what it takes to do it with a smile. The employees caught insulting failed at that yet still have the job. I stand by what I said before.
masanddjs Feb 26th 2009 12:42AM
I disagree, Wendy. Many restaurants require their employees to know CPR.
kathy Feb 26th 2009 9:30AM
i agree .. i am sure there are idiots in all classes .. and not just on planes .. it is not very professional to refer to anyone as such .. if they did not like the people they need to find a job where they are the only idiots
creiner58 Feb 26th 2009 11:44AM
pinkthenred, you want to know the difference between a waitress/waiter and a flight attendant? Ask the folks who survived USAirways 1549. The pilot put it down brilliantly and the flight crew got the folks off before the plane became part of the Hudson.
Or do a little bit of elite level frequent flying -- at least 25,000 ass-in-seat miles a year. If you have any sense, you'll see the average flight attendant in the course of a year will be asked to be a waiter/waitresses job plus safety crew member, nursing home attendant (a good one), show the restraint of a good cop being harrassed by punks and have the patient ears of a parent. All in a much more confined, stress-inducing (to many people) situation than a restaurant Saturday night.
I paid my bills late in high school and the first half of college by doing excellent work in the food service industry. Though being a serious freqeunt flier for the last 15 years, I've seen many flight attendants. They weren't all good at their jobs, but those jobs entailed far more than the waiter who served me my crab cakes at my next meal.
All that said, referring to passengers as "idiots" over that communication medium was pretty stupid.
Whitney Feb 27th 2009 12:41PM
I in no means (and I hope no one construed this as such) meant to imply that being a flight attendant was just being a "sky waitress." My connection was simply that I've dealt with nasty customers and have worked in a service oriented industry. :-) I DEFINITELY understand the desire to call them "idiots," but doing so and being caught is in bad form.
I have a lot of respect for flight attendants. My boyfriend's a pilot and I enjoy hanging out with the flight attendants he works with. They're genuinely nice people with a very taxing, thankless job.
And PinkThenRed, even if people flying in coach have more education than a flight attendant (or even a waitress for that matter) it doesn't make them less of a moron. If you've been in the service industry for long enough, you see some absolutely deplorable behavior from people who are supposedly the "cream of the crop."
Mark Feb 25th 2009 1:07AM
Is anyone surprised by this? After reading the flight attendant's remarks on here about passengers, as well as the way passengers are treated on ALL airlines, this is just verbal confirmation on how they REALLY feel about the very people who pay their salaries, and for those nice hotels they get to "layover" in. Nobody should be shocked by the comment.