Overheard Comments from United Airlines Employees

Okay, so maybe we got a liiiiiiiittle bit spoiled by our recent flight aboard an Emirates A380. But even before that, we'd grown fed up with the declining levels of passenger service among America's mainline air carriers: United, American, Continental, Delta, and the like. 

We've flown most of these airlines at least once during the last year or so, and the experiences are hard to differentiate: All were dismal. The aircraft are old, crowded, and uncomfortable, but most of all, we've grown weary of listening to airline cabin crew kvetching about their work schedules and grievances with senior management. This is what it must've been like to fly Aeroflot Soviet Airlines back in the Brezhnev Era.

In fairness, these are challenging times for the U.S. airline industry. And clearly, customer-facing airline employees have difficult and exhausting jobs. Yet to the extent that airline employees must each day deal with hundreds upon hundreds of rude and impatient passengers, surely treating them like cattle is no way to improve the situation.

This explains why we so enjoyed this list of comments overheard in recent weeks by the frequent flier over at the One Mile at a Time blog. With some allowances for  paraphrasing, here's what he overheard while flying United Airlines:

• A person with my seniority at American or Continental would make $11 per flight hour more. I know that for a fact, I saw the contract with my own eyes, we’re the lowest paid by a ton.

• Man, these Premiers think they’re all that, they can’t even wait in line for five minutes.

• Ladies and gentlemen, we know that most of you probably have the safety video memorized by now, but please pretend to pay attention. You never know if the person next to you has never flown before, has self-respect, or is perhaps an FAA inspector.

• I fly full fare on other airlines all the time and United is the only one that does more than one drink run on domestic flights, even water or coffee. I know that for a fact
• &%$* Glenn Tilton and management.

• We hope you’ve enjoyed flying with us as much as we’ve enjoyed taking you and your money for a ride.

• I had a car accident on my way to work, but I was too scared I’d lose my job so instead of going to a doctor here I am.

• This delay was my fault, I have guests coming over tonight at 7.

• If you don’t like the snack I can serve you a seven course meal, consisting of a variety of snack mix…. it just takes a little bit of imagination.

• You want a skykit for that?

• We all hate working here, this place sucks.

• Glenn Tilton sucks, he’s also getting rid of free upgrades for all of our Million Milers, 1K’s and Global Services. I work Sydney flights all the time and everyone is full fare, shame on Glenn!
• They’re retiring the Ted planes, not reconfiguring them.

• United has never had a good management team.

LINK:
Some Quotes from UA Employees Over the Last Few Days (One Mile at a Time blog post)

(IMAGE: Passengers exiting United Airlines Flight 85 in Los Angeles. Photo by M.V. Jantzen)

Comments

[Thee Erin]

Ha Ha. You should hear what the pilots are saying!

[Josh Neumann]

Hilarious, but of course these are probably the conversations that take place at most work places around the counry. It's always greener on the other side of the fence.

[ak]

I think alot of older airline employees need to look elsewhere for work, they are pathetic!!!!!if you hate your job, quit!!!!!i blame the management, they need to fire alot of worthless garbage they employ!!!!!!