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The economy (or even "premium") customer service on most of my recent flights has been awful. In most other U.S. service industries (restaurants, bars, etc), t

The economy (or even "premium") customer service on most of my recent flights has been awful. In most other U.S. service industries (restaurants, bars, etc), the staff is incentivized to serve you and increase sales and get tips. I've been on many 3-5HR flights where you see a flight attendant at most twice, and the attendants seem almost required to do the least. It comes across as if the airline firms are trying to make things as uncomfortable as possible to upsell to first/business.

nradov 9y ago
Flight attendants aren't really there for service. Their primarily responsibility is supposed to be safety. Serving snacks is just a courtesy. You can always bring your own, or walk to the galley and ask for something.
- tyingq 9y ago
  They are paid to do both. The customer service side isn't optional. https://jobs.aa.com/job/Dallas-Trainee-Flight-Attendant-TX-75201/439653000/ https://jobs.aa.com/job/Dallas-Trainee-Flight-Attendant-TX-7...
- mseebach 9y ago
  They are primarily there for safety, and had they not historically been required for safety (early cabin crew members were nurses), but they absolutely have service duties.
chrisseaton 9y ago
How many times do you need to see a stewardess on a 3 to 5 hour flight though? What do you need from them during that time? I'm not sure what you're expecting from them.
- mseebach 9y ago
  Need? I don't need to see them at all. But business/first class products are sold as luxury, and have more staff per passenger than non-premium cabins -- it's not entirely unreasonable to expect them to pass through on a regular basis and offer to have your drink or coffee refreshed. Generally this has absolutely been the case when I've flown in premium cabins.
  - chrisseaton 9y ago
    Yeah it makes sense in premium cabins, but in economy I'm not sure why they bother with food or drinks on such short flights at all really. I'd rather they left us alone as there's no enough space to serve food properly and these aren't long flights. They just get in the way of people who need the bathroom.

nradov 9y ago

Flight attendants aren't really there for service. Their primarily responsibility is supposed to be safety. Serving snacks is just a courtesy. You can always bring your own, or walk to the galley and ask for something.

tyingq 9y ago
They are paid to do both. The customer service side isn't optional. https://jobs.aa.com/job/Dallas-Trainee-Flight-Attendant-TX-75201/439653000/ https://jobs.aa.com/job/Dallas-Trainee-Flight-Attendant-TX-7...
mseebach 9y ago
They are primarily there for safety, and had they not historically been required for safety (early cabin crew members were nurses), but they absolutely have service duties.

chrisseaton 9y ago

How many times do you need to see a stewardess on a 3 to 5 hour flight though? What do you need from them during that time? I'm not sure what you're expecting from them.

mseebach 9y ago
Need? I don't need to see them at all. But business/first class products are sold as luxury, and have more staff per passenger than non-premium cabins -- it's not entirely unreasonable to expect them to pass through on a regular basis and offer to have your drink or coffee refreshed. Generally this has absolutely been the case when I've flown in premium cabins.
- chrisseaton 9y ago
  Yeah it makes sense in premium cabins, but in economy I'm not sure why they bother with food or drinks on such short flights at all really. I'd rather they left us alone as there's no enough space to serve food properly and these aren't long flights. They just get in the way of people who need the bathroom.