Cheerleader Camp August 7th

[DesertFA66]

ETOPS is right, nobody had to apply for this or get interviewed. They just needed to submit an e-mail or letter saying what they thought were top five issues affecting FA's. The next thing I knew I was part of it. I was at the Tuesday meeting and we got alot covered and learned a lot too. It't no cheerleading camp We had some very vocal people, people that I have know to be rebels for many years and people who were known to kiss butt too, so it was balanced.

 

[nbmcg01]

ETOPS is right, nobody had to apply for this or get interviewed. They just needed to submit an e-mail or letter saying what they thought were top five issues affecting FA's. The next thing I knew I was part of it. I was at the Tuesday meeting and we got alot covered and learned a lot too. It't no cheerleading camp We had some very vocal people, people that I have know to be rebels for many years and people who were known to kiss butt too, so it was balanced.

At least you're trying. If you're not willing to be a part of the solution, you are a huge part of the problem, The others just sit back and critique. Sometimes you have to step up to the plate and be part of a focus group to get the REAL message across. Does it always work, no, but at least you have the knowledge that you tried to make a difference.

 

[Art at ISP]

Here's a novel idea---did they ever have a focus group or forum for CUSTOMERS?

We have been involved in the supposed formation of a "Consumer Advisory Board" since last September, and to my knowledge, nothing has happened. Also to my knowledge, no focus groups of customers (not to be confused with our FFOCUS group) have had input to anything.

The poster above is right--except for one or two policy changes, what happened to all the "enhancements"? We hear Sept 1 for some, but is it too little too late?

Not for nothing-the talk of food and wine and service improvements is good and necessary, because it REALLY has to happen. But recent months operational issues by far outweigh product, etc. When the company cannot provide the reasonable expectation of reliable service, and of adequate customer service if/when interruptions occur, there's a much more serious problem.

So what I really want to know, is why did they have such a meeting now, when they have more serious issues facing them, and when such meetings should have happened months or years ago?

Inquiring minds want to know ....

My best to you all...

 

[Career Reserve]

ahh we did not get interviewed . and did not apply . we just sent in an e-mail telling them we were interested in joining. get your facts straight before you say anything. this was open to ALL flight attendants. and nick , you gotta understand my posistion here. if you really want to know what was said then pm me. i am sure none of it will be a secret so i will be back tomorrow evening with a follow up if it's ok to do so. nothing personel. relax. and lets not turn this into a lets bash on etops thread. i have done nothing wrong . i had the right to join this focus group just as all f/a did. you people really are quick to insult people when nothing wrong was done. listen i know you are all pissed at the company with every right. so am i . but i am not gonna sit on these baords and #### and moan about it. might as well try to do something to fix the problems or at least give my insight. will they listen? i hope so . if not , so then i waisted my time .i can admit that. i will just move along. it's no big deal . i can handle it. hey i have been handling it for 10 yrs now. bitching and moaning and calling people kool-aid drinkers or cheer leaders and other childish crap is not gonna fix the problems. you people hide behind these boards . many of you know me and you know i mean well. if you do not agree with what i am doing then say so but don't insult me. let me know the next time you see me in the crew room. have a good night guys. get some rest . many of you need it .

Reserve I flew with said she applied and was interviewed for this focus group. She's getting paid 5:00 hours for it too. Is that incorrect?

 

[Career Reserve]

ETOPS is right, nobody had to apply for this or get interviewed. They just needed to submit an e-mail or letter saying what they thought were top five issues affecting FA's. The next thing I knew I was part of it. I was at the Tuesday meeting and we got alot covered and learned a lot too. It't no cheerleading camp We had some very vocal people, people that I have know to be rebels for many years and people who were known to kiss butt too, so it was balanced.

What happens if they didn't like your "top five issues"?
Did you get called back and invited?
You got picked because they liked what you wrote.
Sounds like a type of weeding out process to me.
Thus, apply & interviewed.

BTW, this isn't a volunteer focus group, correct?
You are getting paid, right?
I understand that's why a lot of fellow reserves signed up.

 

[Twicebaked]

I know several people going and many have reservations whether ANYTHING will be accomplished other than a "Glorified Pissing Match". On a personal note, I was asked to particpate and politely DECLINED.........told my Suprv, "I don't kibbutz with STUPID" (and that's MY STORY.......along with my Lavish F/C Party, fortune cookies and all (since I have placed them in the Snack Basket and joked about the Service to China, I have received 32 A&B coupons from our most prized customers.........We Laugh, mock and literally cry over THEIR stupidity! And one man almost pissed himself when he saw the cookies.

I as well was urged to join the group by inflight.....and i too politely declined.

I look at it like this...I get frustrated enough dealing with this s@%t. Why frustrate myself more by listening to a bunch of F/As trying to save the world and NOTHING BEING DONE ABOUT IT!!!

Any of you that think anything major is going to change are just fooling yourselves.

Your best avenue for change is honestly "ask in-flight". They do listen and they do get things changed. This all goes above Sherri Shambles...I mean Shamblins head.

 

[diamondcutter]

What happens if they didn't like your "top five issues"?
Did you get called back and invited?
You got picked because they liked what you wrote.
Sounds like a type of weeding out process to me.
Thus, apply & interviewed.

BTW, this isn't a volunteer focus group, correct?
You are getting paid, right?
I understand that's why a lot of fellow reserves signed up.

FYI everyone who responded by the deadline were picked. There was no cherry picking.

 

[HP_JACK]

How do you know?

 

[Travelpro72]

I sure hope someone brings up the issue of the 767 and NO VIDEO screen flying around for weeks. THAT is the kind of bs we have to put up with. I flew a 757 from MCO to PHL yesterday and then on to LAS. We had no video entertainment at all for our flight. I know planes are positioned and stuff but c'mon, but we couldn't get the plane swapped. It made for a great flight and thought people wanted to leave they were p!ssed. Southwest doesn't offer any video but they also don't advertise for movies in their magazine and have video screens everyhere.

 

[songbirdstew]

They asked people not to talk about it or "post" anything. 🙄 I understand it was very blah blah blah. Some people were very vocal which is good. But a lot were dissapointed when they said the next meeting would be in a "few" months. Catering was a huge issue. A person I know that left me a voicemail said it felt like a waste of time. Can anyone else put thier thoughts forward or did they clamp down on everyone's tounge?

HELLO !!!
I just talked to someone who was there and she said there was NO mention of not talking about the meeting or posting ...................................

 

[philly rocks]

The vidoos always disappear, are stolen or broken. I think on flights like that the f/a should walk down the aisle and go in every Usairways magazine and rip out the inflight theater section. Then make an overhead the drinks are on DouGie !

 

[DesertFA66]

It's true, they never said "don't post" :down: anything or say anything. I was there yesterday like I said before and nobody mentioned the 767 flying around with broken screen (sorry :huh: As for Mr. ISP, marketing did give us a presentation on a survey of 3000 preferred members and some results on that that are making changes mostly in Envoy Most of the things right now seems like catering problems and service procedures is gonna be the main focus for the first month. The food will change in coach and envoy, galleys on TA 757 scheduled for December for reconfigure adding galley forward of 4r. Most the group identifying the biggest problems for FA;s

On time performance will rank #5 for July so there (I think I got that right). All in all, I though it was helpful to them and us as FA's and my tables did too, it went fast, too much to talk over

 

[N109UW]

How do you know?

I know, because I spoke witht he people running it yesterday in CLT. They thought that I should have been part of it. Everyone who responded by the due date was accepted.

 

[etops1]

ok guys , i got back today from my meeting in clt at 2pm. and no there was on mention on not posting anything. one thing i want to make clear. they DID NOT hand pick anyone. if you did not sign up before the deadline you were not accepted . therefore ,this focus group was open to all f/a's. sherri even said that she did not pick any "yes" people. she wanted regular line f/a's to join.
now for what was said . we covered many issues . moslty inflight services. we touched the customer aspect of it but just for a little bit. someone did bring up that we use to have a group called ffocus and that it seems that managment has turned their back on this wonderful group who supports our airline. they did say that they will look at that again. really what they wanted was feedback from us to see what's broken in inflight services and how we can fix it. we covered moral, catering, staffing , accountability and many other things. the first four just stood out. moral was a big one follwed by staffing then catering. folks. we have good people on this focus group. please do not call us cheerleaders we are far from that. we have gotten together to try to fix what is wrong with inflight . it will not be fixed overnight . there are improvemnts that are coming to the inflight product for both domestic and intl . the etops 757 will be standardized to have the same airbus type galleys installed in them . the little galley that is installed on the ata planes across form the aft galley will be installed on the "usair" 757's with full size carts not half size. it sounds like 10 more 757 will be converted etops with the new galleys installed. these planes WILL be ready for next summer. more enhancements are coming to the inflight entertainment system as well.
we are commited as a focus group to make things better for both east and west f/a's . are there going to be challenges? of course there are. but i think we can overcome them. many of you are skeptics . that's ok ,so am i . but i walked out from that meeting with a little hope that we can make things better for our f/a's and customers. there are alot of people on this group who are known rebels but want to do something about what's wrong with this airline. beleive me no cheerleaders in this group . we were very candid with sherri as was she with us. we expressed how we felt and what we want done. we have every type of f/a in this group from reserves to block holders. from very junior to very senior. from fat to skinny from cute to ugly you name it. but we all agree on one thing . we have to fix whats broken and right now that is inflight. everyone will have different ideas on how to do it but that is why we will meet in groups to come up with solutions. give it a chance . please give the 160 f/a's that are in this group a chance. we are not there to kiss but or to agree with everything management sais. we are there to help fix the issues that are making our jobs hard to do.

 

[ussnark]

FYI everyone who responded by the deadline were picked. There was no cherry picking.

That, in itself, is "cherry picking".

Look, all they want is to quell conflict until they sell this pig, foisting it off on someone else. they have no interest in "solving problems".