Originally Posted by slim_slag
I would wager that most Brits would say American face-to-face customer service is in general better than British customer service, and I would agree.
On the whole, I agree as well. The lowliest server in a Macdonalds get's a strict grounding in how to treat customers, and those that don't 'get it' don't stay around very long. This makes it doubly difficult to understand why the service on most US airlines (even in First) is so cr@p (could it be a union thing???) and has been for many years.
I've never had the opportunity to fly Southwest, so I can't comment on them, but I've flown with most of the US majors (and many of the minors) and have to agree with
radeng that the FAs don't stand comparison with BA.