UAL understaffing flights
 

I have taken 3 flights in 4 days with United in the last week and each of them has been down at least 2 members of cabin staff. On the last flight I took both i and another pax helped out in the galley as we were unable to watch the crew work themselves into a frenzy just to get a service out.

While waiting an extra 5 mins to get my lunch would not cause me any concern, what does worry me is the thought that flying with the bare minimum FAA crew levels evacuating the aircraft in an emergency would be almost impossible. I understand from the crews i spoke to that the under-crewing is a result of the staff cutbacks that UAL brought about in the aftermath of 9/11, and that as a result they no longer have the number of crew members available to fully crew flights.

Any offers on who I might vent some steam to in UAL who will sit up and take note of a snotty letter?

I am sure that you are aware of CAA regulations I crew for each door or I crew for each 50 pax and that NO airline would crew an A/C below the minimum FAA or CAA standards, I have been in this situation many times and with the current crisis many of you will work this way. Service is secondary and will of course pay the price but I must also point out that although you were no doubt helping in the galley for what you consider the right reasons...you are not insured and your help should have been politely refused....happy flying <img src="smile.gif" border="0">

Understaffing flights will sure not be the answer, especially if you want pax to come back. Read any ABC airline business book, or the story of any airline went broke because of that.
Services nowadays are made for more than the minima of the 1:50 etc ratio.