American Flight Attendants
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: USA
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I recently flew an A321 transcon (US) flight. The 4 F/As totalled 130 years experience. The "new girl" was hired in 1981. Ah, peace of mind. They were, however, fairly touchy re. the cabin temp and referred to the F/O and I (42 years experience between us) as "you boys".
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: N London
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As a fare paying member of SLF who cannot afford to fly at the front of the airframe.
I do not care how young or old the cabin crew are as long as they are polite and do their best to help me and my wife have a good and safe experience with the airline.
Please and thank you, still goes a long way.
Remember, it goes both ways. Cabin crew are not slaves 
and I wish people would stop treating them like they are !! Be polite and helpfull to them and they will reciprocate.
One last thing, if we all pick up our rubbish and dump it in the bags that come round the quicker the turnround will be for the next Pax. You could be the next Pax.
Rant over
I do not care how young or old the cabin crew are as long as they are polite and do their best to help me and my wife have a good and safe experience with the airline.
Please and thank you, still goes a long way.
Remember, it goes both ways. Cabin crew are not slaves and I wish people would stop treating them like they are !! Be polite and helpfull to them and they will reciprocate. One last thing, if we all pick up our rubbish and dump it in the bags that come round the quicker the turnround will be for the next Pax. You could be the next Pax.
Rant over
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: somewhere in Asia
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Just wondering
How are FAs in US retired? Are they fade away only or what? Is there no weight/weight proportion, no age limit etc?
Or are the qualifications: old, ugly, fat and arrogant?
Just asking, no offense!
Or are the qualifications: old, ugly, fat and arrogant?
Just asking, no offense!
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Above 5L
Age: 43
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Singapore Airlines kicks the girls out at about 25 I think, unless they make it to a senior rank before then.
BA certainly doesn't discriminate, and Virgin is trying! My training course there were two people over 45. Both were internal applicants however.
BA certainly doesn't discriminate, and Virgin is trying! My training course there were two people over 45. Both were internal applicants however.
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: It wasn't me, I wasn't there, wrong country ;-)
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Landlady
As a one time Chief Crew Controller (many moons ago before I tried to grow up) of CC, I agree with you 100%. Give me a bunch of 'so called' Golden Oldie birds to work with any day. Hey, and on night stops/room parties also
.
How many 'young things' know how to get 6 half bottles through customs in their tights?
.How many 'young things' know how to get 6 half bottles through customs in their tights?
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Europe
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The oldest CCM in my Cy is, I think, 58. No doubt she passes the medical exam every year, but............
..... once on board, she doesn't even move a thumb anymore ! When you fly with her you know you'll have to work for two
..... once on board, she doesn't even move a thumb anymore ! When you fly with her you know you'll have to work for two
Landlady - Shady side of 50 is OK, wait until you're shady side of 70 tho' !!! NZ has no age limit on pilots licences, and have just renewed my Class 1, so I'm legal to fly passengers for hire and reward - but nobody will hire me, so stick to voluntary flying for Coastguard. Good fun.
Join Date: Sep 2005
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qantas l/h #2 in seniority is 65, always a pleasure to fly with and very professional. i have heard on the grapevine he is retiring in 2 months. he is the kind of guy who would have everybody out in a ditching without any problems and probably manage to take a couple of bottles of krug with him for the punters... he does work first class.
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Europe
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ah, the age discrimination issue again..
In my Company older flight attendants work harder than most younger flight attendants...old habits die hard I suppose! They´re old school. At least the ones I´ve had the pleasure of working with. They pay attention to detail, which in pax eyes makes a world of difference.
Please show some respect to the people who´ve turned what was a job with a limited time span into a professional career. They fought long and hard for what we take for granted today. Those of us who wish to fly up to retirement age should be very grateful to them.
Some asian carriers and their age discrimination nonsense are an embarrassment to one of the most basic human rights. The right to work and provide for yourself and your family.
It scares me to read some of your posts. If you´re willing to age discriminate, what´s next? Flight Attendants shouldn´t be married? Shouldn´t be gay? Shouldn´t be black? Shouldn´t be religious? Shouldn´t have any children of their own?
now, back to my cave
p.s. edited: spelling
Please show some respect to the people who´ve turned what was a job with a limited time span into a professional career. They fought long and hard for what we take for granted today. Those of us who wish to fly up to retirement age should be very grateful to them.
Some asian carriers and their age discrimination nonsense are an embarrassment to one of the most basic human rights. The right to work and provide for yourself and your family.
It scares me to read some of your posts. If you´re willing to age discriminate, what´s next? Flight Attendants shouldn´t be married? Shouldn´t be gay? Shouldn´t be black? Shouldn´t be religious? Shouldn´t have any children of their own?
now, back to my cave
p.s. edited: spelling
Last edited by flyingazorian; 2nd Sep 2008 at 15:47.
Join Date: Jun 2005
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The opinion of a pilot
As a pilot about to retire from airline flying, here is my point of view.
xxx
No need to say, I have positioned numerous times as SLF myself, on my own airline and other air carriers, worldwide, and come to have opinions as well. Obviously, the typical 23 years old "Singapore Girls" or "Cathay Ladies" smiles have a tremendous commercial value to their respective airlines. And yes, it is true that US air carriers, nowadays have rather "senior" (by age) F/As.
xxx
Male SLFs discriminate by gender, maybe. They do object to a 50 years old female F/A, but if the F/A is a male of 50, there is no criticism. What is being said about salaries and retirement pay, in particular for US air carriers is absolutely true. These days, their salaries are peanuts, and their retirement is close to zero, with almost no benefits.
xxx
In the old days (I started airline flying with PanAm in 1969), F/As were highly educated and well qualified to be selected for a rather long training of very high standards. I remember many were with, say, nurse training, bilingual at least, if not multilingual if the airline operated overseas. They knew what the local time was at your destination, and that German is the language in Zurich. They were trained to serve first class meals and wines (in suitable glasses) and knew how to present cutlery and fine china to your seat. They knew what to suggest as cognac or whiskies.
xxx
They were discriminated (yes) for their public appearance. Female F/As were not supposed to be married. There was a limit to their age of forced retirement (if females). Male F/A (then called "stewards") were generally on galley duty, while females (often called "hostesses") served in the cabin with a pleasant smile.
xxx
Then, all that changed, in the the 1970s...
The FAA minimum F/A training became soon observed, if I recall, some airlines could train new F/As after a mere 2 weeks, of which 40 hrs of classroom training (with numerous coffee breaks) and a couple of flights for practice. Since English was the "aviation language", it became unnecessary for them to know anything but Brooklynese or Ebonics.
xxx
Older (senior) flight attendants in the US are still the ones who will know best how to get you out of the plane in an emergency. They are on board to save your ass, not to kiss it. I regret that US airlines have such a low standard of selection, but what do you expect to get with such salaries. It is the same for pilots... peanuts.
xxx
As a pilot, I rather have senior F/As to work with. They know how to handle the passengers, and what to tell them. Some of the seniors even have a list of their pilots with the way they drink coffee, black, or with cream, one or two sugars... I hate to be babysitter when on layover, to tell them that the voltage at hotel is 220V, that you look to the right first to cross a street in Capetown, and that you need an ID to prove your age for a beer in a Chicago bar.
xxx
The trend is about the same in Europe, than it is in the USA... although F/As there are often able to speak 2 or 3 languages (except if from UK, then it is often English only). As I live in South America, we still have above average cabin service. Often used to take the 50 minutes long flight "shuttle" from Rio to Sao Paulo, and these excellent F/As manage top class service (in Y class) with a full meal, a before dinner drink, a meal, coffee and after dinner drink and all that with a smile. This with Portuguese, or English, or Spanish as a minimum, some even in Japanese, Italian or German language.
xxx
In the US and Europe, the public wanted to pay less, so they got LCC...
Now they have LCC level F/As...
US airlines, no thanks for me, except maybe Southwest Airlines, they are my choice when in the USA.
I do not care. I retire in November, and my little car is all I need to travel in Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay.
xxx
Happy contrails
xxx
No need to say, I have positioned numerous times as SLF myself, on my own airline and other air carriers, worldwide, and come to have opinions as well. Obviously, the typical 23 years old "Singapore Girls" or "Cathay Ladies" smiles have a tremendous commercial value to their respective airlines. And yes, it is true that US air carriers, nowadays have rather "senior" (by age) F/As.
xxx
Male SLFs discriminate by gender, maybe. They do object to a 50 years old female F/A, but if the F/A is a male of 50, there is no criticism. What is being said about salaries and retirement pay, in particular for US air carriers is absolutely true. These days, their salaries are peanuts, and their retirement is close to zero, with almost no benefits.
xxx
In the old days (I started airline flying with PanAm in 1969), F/As were highly educated and well qualified to be selected for a rather long training of very high standards. I remember many were with, say, nurse training, bilingual at least, if not multilingual if the airline operated overseas. They knew what the local time was at your destination, and that German is the language in Zurich. They were trained to serve first class meals and wines (in suitable glasses) and knew how to present cutlery and fine china to your seat. They knew what to suggest as cognac or whiskies.
xxx
They were discriminated (yes) for their public appearance. Female F/As were not supposed to be married. There was a limit to their age of forced retirement (if females). Male F/A (then called "stewards") were generally on galley duty, while females (often called "hostesses") served in the cabin with a pleasant smile.
xxx
Then, all that changed, in the the 1970s...
The FAA minimum F/A training became soon observed, if I recall, some airlines could train new F/As after a mere 2 weeks, of which 40 hrs of classroom training (with numerous coffee breaks) and a couple of flights for practice. Since English was the "aviation language", it became unnecessary for them to know anything but Brooklynese or Ebonics.
xxx
Older (senior) flight attendants in the US are still the ones who will know best how to get you out of the plane in an emergency. They are on board to save your ass, not to kiss it. I regret that US airlines have such a low standard of selection, but what do you expect to get with such salaries. It is the same for pilots... peanuts.
xxx
As a pilot, I rather have senior F/As to work with. They know how to handle the passengers, and what to tell them. Some of the seniors even have a list of their pilots with the way they drink coffee, black, or with cream, one or two sugars... I hate to be babysitter when on layover, to tell them that the voltage at hotel is 220V, that you look to the right first to cross a street in Capetown, and that you need an ID to prove your age for a beer in a Chicago bar.
xxx
The trend is about the same in Europe, than it is in the USA... although F/As there are often able to speak 2 or 3 languages (except if from UK, then it is often English only). As I live in South America, we still have above average cabin service. Often used to take the 50 minutes long flight "shuttle" from Rio to Sao Paulo, and these excellent F/As manage top class service (in Y class) with a full meal, a before dinner drink, a meal, coffee and after dinner drink and all that with a smile. This with Portuguese, or English, or Spanish as a minimum, some even in Japanese, Italian or German language.
xxx
In the US and Europe, the public wanted to pay less, so they got LCC...
Now they have LCC level F/As...
US airlines, no thanks for me, except maybe Southwest Airlines, they are my choice when in the USA.
I do not care. I retire in November, and my little car is all I need to travel in Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay.
xxx
Happy contrails
BelArgUSA .......... Aaaahh PanAm. BOAC used to share the PanAm resthouse in Trinidad before the UpsideDown Hilton was built. My old Captain ( considerably younger than I am now, but he looked old to me - then ) started to chat up the very classy PanAm Stewardess at the bar, offered to buy her a drink, she demurred, he insisted and said " my treat, I earn more than you " " do you, she said " ? in the end he did - just.
Them were the days, enjoy retirement - it sucks ! I don't miss the 14 hr. night sectors and the stroppy hotel clerk at the end of them, but the flying was fun, none of this button pressing stuff, real stick and rudder with the first 747's
Them were the days, enjoy retirement - it sucks ! I don't miss the 14 hr. night sectors and the stroppy hotel clerk at the end of them, but the flying was fun, none of this button pressing stuff, real stick and rudder with the first 747's
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Sandpit
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nice to look back I'm sure chaps not all us younglings are that bad though and many of us would love to see a return to the glory days but then it seems to be getting worse alsas.
Regards,
Stuck in a galley like a bloke should be ;-)
Regards,
Stuck in a galley like a bloke should be ;-)
