Complaint Review: Continental Airlines - Houston Texas

To Ray, the former F/A from Grapevine, Tex: So glad you did so many customers a favor--and quit!! Or, did your behavior actually become so bad that loser AA decided to fire you? Your type is what incites people with limited control to "air rage." Flight Attendants need to sit down with their Marketing Departments and other management staff and try to agree on what in the world a Flight Attendant is being paid to do. If, as you say, the "service" a Flight Attendant provides is limited strictly to safety issues--ie: evacuation in an emergency and enforcing the smoking and cell phone bans--then the Marketing Department had better revise their advertising particularly with respect to overseas travel. If your Marketing Department has cast you in the role of a waiter(ess), don't blame the customer--or worse--write him up, as a "Disruptive Passenger," (for police intervention) because he asks you for a can of soda. Lastly, there are a few Flight Attendants that don't have a clue as to what a "Disruptive Passenger" (as in the Disruptive Passenger Incident Report) is or what "Interfering With A Flight Attendant" is. I'm sorry, but reporting a customer as a "Disruptive Passenger" does need to have some relationship to codified criminal law. Making-up lies based on prejudice and/or simple frustration and using them as a basis for a write-up because you know your fellow crew members will cover for you will, eventually, get you and your friends locked-up ("Unsworn Falsification"--an indictable offense in some states.) In the same category is threatening a customer with a write-up because they aren't fast enough in getting their seat back in the upright position. However, yes, getting slugged by a drunk (1st degree assault) is a basis for a write-up. While you may have the law on your side, in this last example, I just wonder whether the Flight Attendant was "baiting" the drunk before the assault. However, I think I can understand your motives. Nowdays, the only way a Flight Attendant can get a paid vacation is if he incites someone to give him a black eye so he can be out of work and collect Workmen's Compensation.

Obviously you haven't been in the air for quite some time. I truly am sorry that you HAD to fly for the loss of a loved one. I am also truly sorry you called a FLIGHT ATTENDANT a stewardess. For years now, our duties have changed from ONLY serving with a smile, showing some leg, and shooting the breeze, to BABYSITTER, DOCTOR, NURSE, FIREFIGHTER, REFEREE, BARTENDER, POLICE OFFICER and TEACHER (You'd be suprised how many people lose the ability to count to 50 or even remember the alphabet while wondering down the aisle aimlessly trying to locate a seat. Most of us wish we had the time to wait on every single passenger hand and foot on every flight, but incase you neglected to notice, there are only a few of us to care for hundreds of people. You sadly complained about the airline not treating you like a queen, but I didnt see anything THANKING THEM for getting you to and from your destination safely...which (SUPRISE) is our main objective. I have no comment on the food issue...airline food is airline food..enough said Maybe the next time you HAVE to put yourself on an airplane,(I hope its for a fun reason next time) regardless of the carrier, just remember what the crew is there for, and TRUST they will do everything they can to help you in an emergency...and don't let not getting a newspaper preoccupy you!

It does appear as though this man did indeed have behavioural issues during his flight, making it extremely difficult for the flight crew to deal with him. Judging from his negative attitude and actions (ie., grabbing for newspapers, demanding attention, rudely referring to the flight attendants as "stewardesses", expecting to be waited on hand and foot) it is clear that he deserved the treatment he got, or possibly he deserved much worse. It is also clear that this man does not fly much, if at all. Since when do airlines offer delicious, gourmet food? Who ever heard of requesting a "kid's meal" on a plane? Who ever heard of expecting the flight attendants to wait on each and every passenger hand and foot? This guy needs to learn how to talk to people with respect - how to take care of his children en flight - and how to get his own tissues and his own personal things for crying out loud!

It does appear as though this man did indeed have behavioural issues during his flight, making it extremely difficult for the flight crew to deal with him. Judging from his negative attitude and actions (ie., grabbing for newspapers, demanding attention, rudely referring to the flight attendants as "stewardesses", expecting to be waited on hand and foot) it is clear that he deserved the treatment he got, or possibly he deserved much worse. It is also clear that this man does not fly much, if at all. Since when do airlines offer delicious, gourmet food? Who ever heard of requesting a "kid's meal" on a plane? Who ever heard of expecting the flight attendants to wait on each and every passenger hand and foot? This guy needs to learn how to talk to people with respect - how to take care of his children en flight - and how to get his own tissues and his own personal things for crying out loud!

It does appear as though this man did indeed have behavioural issues during his flight, making it extremely difficult for the flight crew to deal with him. Judging from his negative attitude and actions (ie., grabbing for newspapers, demanding attention, rudely referring to the flight attendants as "stewardesses", expecting to be waited on hand and foot) it is clear that he deserved the treatment he got, or possibly he deserved much worse. It is also clear that this man does not fly much, if at all. Since when do airlines offer delicious, gourmet food? Who ever heard of requesting a "kid's meal" on a plane? Who ever heard of expecting the flight attendants to wait on each and every passenger hand and foot? This guy needs to learn how to talk to people with respect - how to take care of his children en flight - and how to get his own tissues and his own personal things for crying out loud!

I read with interest your complaint about your UK flight. I am truly sorry that you had problems with your flight, especially considering the reasons for your trip. I am sure you had enough going on and this did not help. I feel that I must point out, in defense of Continental, that I have traveled many times on Continental Airlines and have had no complaints, particularly with regard to the service of the crew. Your complaints sound valid, but I wonder if you are being completely fair. The only time I have ever heard anyone say that airline food was enjoyable was when they were in business first class. Unfortunately, the entire airline industry has taken a wide turn, and airline food nor amenities are the same. Hopefully, things will straighten out eventually and the food and services offered on flights will improve. Please try to remember, though, that airline travel is not what it once was. I am not sure how much you travel, but if it has been some time, my advice would be to read up on what has happened throughout the industry. Your comments about your flight attendant certainly sparked my curiousity. I wonder why she would have singled you out to deliberately ignore your requests and speak rudely to you when she did turn her attention to you. Keeping in consideration the reason that you were travelling, I wonder if possibly you might have spoken to her in a demeaning manner. One rule of thumb to always remember, and I've found it works, is that flight attendants, waiters and waitresses, and everyone else in the "service" industry are human beings. They put up with the rudeness, abuse and ill moods of hundreds of people a day, and are expected to still "serve with a smile". Periodically, I don't doubt that one might have his or her "bad day", too. For all you know, this flight attendant may have just lost BOTH of her parents recently, or have a sick child at home while she was having to fly around the world. Regardless, while I don't doubt that maybe she was short with you, I suspect it was not without reason. I also find it hard to believe that she would have talked to you in this manner. Flight attendants are actually physically attacked during their shifts, they are constantly orally abused, constantly. Now they have to worry about 911 every flight they take, which is extremely tense, I am sure. Drunk passengers are a daily occurrence. Businessmen have acted abhorently - one climbed on the food cart and defecated in front of everyone. Overall, it really sounds as though you had a miserable flight. I hope you will honestly ask yourself if, considering the circumstances, it might have seemed far worse than it really was, however, and also realize that some of your experiences on this flight are commonplace with all airlines now that the industry has changed.