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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 5 of 18)
Linda Feb 25th 2009 7:03PM
I agree with the guy on a previous post. Most of the crew have less education than the people in coach. I believe the idiot is the one that was talking. It's just insulting to be treated that way. But this is customer service these days...so I've also put United on my "I'm not your customer anymore" list along with Dillards in Evansville Indiana and JC Penneys in Vincennes. Circuit City used to be on this list...but they are out of business now...it will get them all sooner or later. Oh and resturants? We were eating at JoJo's in Evansville Saturday night and my partner got served a bowl of cheddar broc soup with aluminum foil in it and I caught what came out in a napkin as she was choking on it...they still charged us for it....have you seen their prices??? So I won't go back there either.
DJ Feb 26th 2009 12:59AM
In Europe, the average age for "cabin crew" is about 20. Uneducated, immature, and out for a good time.
I can't even imagine what they'd do in an emergency.
A very scary thought
Sari Harris Feb 26th 2009 8:24AM
Isulting paying customers is a very foolish and idotic thing to do. Most of those flying in first class (and I have flown first class) are flying on frequent flyer miles and not because they actually paid for a ticket. Whoever said that most of the people flying in coach are better educated than the crew is right, it doesn't take a college degree to serve drinks. If you had refered to someone who had been rude, I would have stood up for the crew, but not this time. I for one, will never fly United again,
Pam Feb 25th 2009 7:20PM
I have to say that respect is a two-way street. I have been the "victim' of flight attendants with nasty attitudes and snarls on their faces. On the other hand, I've been less-than-pleasnt myself on the tail end of exhausting travel. Maybe we all need to be a little bit better people.
Ted Feb 25th 2009 7:24PM
I've been flying as a passenger on commercial airlines for more than 30 years, mostly for business, but occasionally for personal matters. On all but 2 of my hundreds of flights, I've been in "coach" or economy" seating. It has been rare, even recently, that I have encountered a rude or uncooperative flight attendant.
The ones I have encountered seemed to be on flights that had "first class" seating, as it appears that the attendants have a pecking order based on seniority and those who have "earned rights" to the first class section feel they are better than anyone else. One of them on AA was aparently having an exceptionally bad hair day. Either that, or she is always a "B".
If Miss M is, indeed, an attendant, she needs to stay off the Web. Her rambling and ranting tirade with poor gammar and incomprehendible sentence structure did nothing to help her cause. It only hurt public opinion of her profession and served to prove that she is is a disgruntled, uneducated, idiot.
And revdrcalm (the self-proclaimed preacher) should, likewise, keep her opinions to herself. People don't need to hear that she jetsets around the country (or world) with her daughter by spending money that is donated to a church and is not taxed by federal, state, or local agencies. How many of her parishoners can afford to fly first class? If they paid those high ticket prices, they wouldn't have the money to donate to the "coffers" and support her lavish life style.
It sounds like she is one of those tele-evangelists who rip off the life savings old old people just to live the high life in their mansions and silk suits. Just another elite opportunist!
michie Mar 1st 2009 4:34PM
re: redrcalm...amen ted!
MommaKnows Feb 25th 2009 7:42PM
I'd rather be an idiot in coach, than spend my career as a "flying waitress".
Carolyn Feb 25th 2009 9:35PM
A flying waitress huh? Yea, I bet you applied and applied and got turned down time after time. Sounds like sour grapes to me dearie. And if you're ever on a flight, heaven forbid, that goes down.....I want you to call a 'waitress' to get your out of your seat. You're the 'idiot' that they were referring to on that flight....
masanddjs Feb 26th 2009 12:58AM
Trolley dolly !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
justin Feb 25th 2009 8:00PM
the idiots, in general, are the flight attendants. generally, they are uneducated men and women who do nothing more than serve snacks and pass out a few magazines. how many men and women do you know, who have completed any higher education, are flight attendants -- not many, i am sure......there is a reason they do what they do......
Carolyn Feb 25th 2009 9:37PM
Justin, as a former flight attendant, I can tell you that back in the 80's, they most certainly did look for a college education. Not all have them now, but it was so competitive back in the late 70's and early 80's, that yesirree, they did reject if you didn't have that degree. Some more than others.
justin Feb 27th 2009 10:42PM
it's not the 70's or 80's Carolyn........it's several years later, and a college degree is no longer required.
Sam Feb 25th 2009 8:01PM
Hmmm,
Idiots, Roach Coach, etc., low paid crew arrogance. Our family flys coach, and has a mid six figure income, while airline waiters, and waitresses, make maybe 30k, and pilots 100k. Wasting money on a slightly larger seat is foolish.
Buwana Kuwana Feb 25th 2009 8:07PM
Most sky waitresses are rude nasty bitches who hate their jobs and take it out on the hand that feeds them.I try to avoid them as much as possible.Most of them just annoy me when I am trying to sleep bumping me with their fat ass when pushing their cart.
Carolyn Feb 25th 2009 8:11PM
As a former flight attendant, I can admit to calling a passenger, or two or three, idiots. But not a whole coach load. Though, it is sort of funny. I have to wonder what happened beforehand. Maybe it was a bunch of morons that boarded. lol
C
BRANDONMIL3@aol.com Feb 25th 2009 8:38PM
This story showed up within days after they decided not to charge people in coach for drinks after the CUSTOMERS (the people that are ALWAYS right) complained.
David Feb 25th 2009 8:17PM
Give the attendants a break - they're highly trained (they may save your life in an emgergency!), they put up with a lot of passengers that abuse them, and humor sometimes makes the day bearable. I can testify that at times, the "idiots in coach" are wearing the wings and uniform of the airline, but I'd guess the idiot passengers outnumber them 100 to 1. Hopefully, they're a bit smarter now and keep the gallows humor private.
masanddjs Feb 26th 2009 10:31AM
Yeah, you can learn a lot in a 6 week course, LMAO...they love to say they are psychologists, nurses, CPR experts, etc....but remember, part of that 6 weeks is teaching "the art of applying makeup"..after all, when that plane goes down, you want to be sure your mascara isn't flaking....
Lynn Feb 25th 2009 8:19PM
Who cares what a bunch of air waitresses say?
Carolyn Feb 25th 2009 9:38PM
all you ladies that keep calling F/A's a bunch of 'waitresses' have got to pull your claws back in! So you got rejected and couldn't fly, get over it and on with your lives! LOL! Or maybe get some counseling. lol