Replies

I know a couple of senior flight attendants (one Delta, one AA). Considering their main skills are similar to those of Denny's and Waffle House waitresses, they make A LOT of money (the senior ones do, anyway--$45k-$50k per year). When you consider that they only work 12-15 days per month and have SPECTACULAR free/low cost travel perks, they're downright overpaid.

I have a feeling these flight attendants are going to be very sorry about the way they voted.

Fort Worth, Texas (March 19, 2003) -

The Association of Professional Flight Attendants today asked its 26,000 members to contact their representatives in Congress to urge them to enact immediate relief measures to help the nation's ailing airline industry. "The time is now for Congress to provide airlines with critical financial relief in the way of reduced fees and taxes," said John Ward, President of the APFA, the union representing the Flight Attendants of American Airlines.

"Without relief from the government, the airline industry and airline employees are facing an extremely uncertain future," said Ward.

APFA's campaign to get Congress to act on a relief package for airlines compliments recent events held by the Coalition of Unions at AMR. The APFA, APA, TWU, ALPA, and AFA conducted informational picketing at major airports to heighten the flying public's awareness of the need for Congressional intervention.

On March 25th and March 26th, APFA members will lobby members of Congress in Washington, D.C. "We are going to take our message directly to lawmakers and their staff through face-to-face lobby efforts," said John Ward. He continued by saying, "We feel it is essential that Congress meet those being negatively impacted by the excessive taxes and fees and hear their concerns."

I fly AA all the time and find the majority of their Flight Attendants rude and mean. Their service sucks. Maybe if they go bankrupt they can hire some decent customer service people who actually enjoy working for the airlines and not a bunch of union hags that are allowed to treat the customer any way the like.

Their jobs are easy now because they don't have to serve and pick up dirty dishes anymore. Picking up a Bistro Bag leftover and serving canned drinks is all they do in coach. I realize they are trained for safety, but they can practice a little service-orientation.

To you and Dead Dog: May I correct your impression about Flight Attendants aka Stewardesses.

I used to fly for United many years ago. The stews are there predominantly for one main reason: evacuation of the plane during an emergency. Safety. It is they, not the pilots, who get passengers off the plane (before it bursts into flames).

The food, the drinks - purely PR stuff. Food is a tranqualizer. It quiets the "white knucklers". It is the stews who "meet and greet" and are responsible for the safety information. (Safety again).

Before you denigrate these employees, reflect back upon the noble efforts of the flight attendants on 9/11 and think again, my friends.

When you consider that they only work 12-15 days per month and have SPECTACULAR free/low cost travel perks, they're downright overpaid.

The other side of the story is that they are away from home 12-15 days a month, are stuck in plane for 8+ hours a day when working, and don't get paid when there is a delay (at least that's what a United stewardess told me).

As with any job, it has it's benefits, but to suggest the worker-bees in any industry are overpaid is just silly.

If you want "overpaid" look at the salaries of senior managers and the like.