So I had my r/t PHL to CLT for a grand total of $950.
The outbound A321 was full. I, on a last minute ticket got row 32, boarding zone 5. There were three FA's in the back--two were men. One was an ex-Marine (he told us so). They were also remarking about how much extra liquor was put on board for this 8:30 AM flight. They joked that there was to be no fuel savings here. The last vacant overheads were not really vacant because they were filled with pillows. The male FA's just stood there as we struggled to figure out what to do with the pillows. I just pushed enough aside and compacted them to get in my case. Those that followed threw them on any vacant seats. The FA's had to collect them later. Someone left a large bag on my seat. It did not belong to any passenger--I indicated as such to the FA. The non-Marine shrugged his shoulder and told me to put it under my seat. I told him I had my own purse to go under my seat. He told me to just deal with it. So much for unattended bags.
I was seated next to a couple who were flying LAS to FAY. Their r/t tix cost $230 each.
I politely inquired about the drink policy as it related to those of us on high priced tickets. The FA (ex Marine) told me that regarding the drink policy: He's not the complaint department; passengers should complain to Exxon Mobil and that company policy is that he can't give so much as a drop of water to anyone who does not pay. It doesn't matter if they paid $2,000 to travel PHL to CLT. He doesn't care; it's not his problem, pay up or shut up, he said. He also said he hates passengers who are problem makers. Yes, that is what he said--I wrote it down. They completed beverage service to a full A321 in under 10 minutes. Then they all settled back a row behind me in the galley and said that the passenger in row 32 had some nerve questioning the drink policy just because she paid a lot of money for her ticket. Then the female FA said that she liked the new policy because the work was done so much more quickly. They settled back and shared military stories the rest of the flight.
Today, I'm on a A319 and in row 7 of a full flight. Again I'm zone 5. So I asked the GA how the zones are assigned. He said I should not have been a 5 yesterday. I told him that I was on a really tight schedule today and was afraid that by the time I got as a zone 5 the overheads would be full and I could not afford to have my bag gate checked as I'd miss my train connection. He told me he had another passenger with a ten minute connection (OK--how is that addressing my problem?). Then he told me I could buy the exit row for more money. I told him I already paid a lot of money. He said, "I don't care. Everyone is the same. You have to pay."
The FA's were miserable; no eye contact. They rushed through the aisle and completed the service in 5 minutes. It was only a 319.
I missed my connection (train).
So, here are my thoughts.
I used to be a CP. I haven't flown USAirways since Jan, 2007. I NEVER will again! I fly a lot for business. They lost my business.
Unbundling is fine. But don't say you have to treat everyone the same and still force people to buy outrageously priced tickets. Everyone I encountered was so miserable. No one appeared to be empowered to do anything outside of rigid rules. They would rather throw out the nearly full pot of coffee than offer it to someone who paid a lot of money for their ticket. That is so stupid, imho.
I'm married to a Captain at the unbundled of all unbundled airlines (used to work for US Airways--he was so proud to do so--where did that airline go?). But they don't charge $475 to go 449 miles! And I have personally witnessed them exercising reasonable judgment outside of the rules.
I wish you all the best. It breaks my heart.
HRDiva
The outbound A321 was full. I, on a last minute ticket got row 32, boarding zone 5. There were three FA's in the back--two were men. One was an ex-Marine (he told us so). They were also remarking about how much extra liquor was put on board for this 8:30 AM flight. They joked that there was to be no fuel savings here. The last vacant overheads were not really vacant because they were filled with pillows. The male FA's just stood there as we struggled to figure out what to do with the pillows. I just pushed enough aside and compacted them to get in my case. Those that followed threw them on any vacant seats. The FA's had to collect them later. Someone left a large bag on my seat. It did not belong to any passenger--I indicated as such to the FA. The non-Marine shrugged his shoulder and told me to put it under my seat. I told him I had my own purse to go under my seat. He told me to just deal with it. So much for unattended bags.
I was seated next to a couple who were flying LAS to FAY. Their r/t tix cost $230 each.
I politely inquired about the drink policy as it related to those of us on high priced tickets. The FA (ex Marine) told me that regarding the drink policy: He's not the complaint department; passengers should complain to Exxon Mobil and that company policy is that he can't give so much as a drop of water to anyone who does not pay. It doesn't matter if they paid $2,000 to travel PHL to CLT. He doesn't care; it's not his problem, pay up or shut up, he said. He also said he hates passengers who are problem makers. Yes, that is what he said--I wrote it down. They completed beverage service to a full A321 in under 10 minutes. Then they all settled back a row behind me in the galley and said that the passenger in row 32 had some nerve questioning the drink policy just because she paid a lot of money for her ticket. Then the female FA said that she liked the new policy because the work was done so much more quickly. They settled back and shared military stories the rest of the flight.
Today, I'm on a A319 and in row 7 of a full flight. Again I'm zone 5. So I asked the GA how the zones are assigned. He said I should not have been a 5 yesterday. I told him that I was on a really tight schedule today and was afraid that by the time I got as a zone 5 the overheads would be full and I could not afford to have my bag gate checked as I'd miss my train connection. He told me he had another passenger with a ten minute connection (OK--how is that addressing my problem?). Then he told me I could buy the exit row for more money. I told him I already paid a lot of money. He said, "I don't care. Everyone is the same. You have to pay."
The FA's were miserable; no eye contact. They rushed through the aisle and completed the service in 5 minutes. It was only a 319.
I missed my connection (train).
So, here are my thoughts.
I used to be a CP. I haven't flown USAirways since Jan, 2007. I NEVER will again! I fly a lot for business. They lost my business.
Unbundling is fine. But don't say you have to treat everyone the same and still force people to buy outrageously priced tickets. Everyone I encountered was so miserable. No one appeared to be empowered to do anything outside of rigid rules. They would rather throw out the nearly full pot of coffee than offer it to someone who paid a lot of money for their ticket. That is so stupid, imho.
I'm married to a Captain at the unbundled of all unbundled airlines (used to work for US Airways--he was so proud to do so--where did that airline go?). But they don't charge $475 to go 449 miles! And I have personally witnessed them exercising reasonable judgment outside of the rules.
I wish you all the best. It breaks my heart.
HRDiva
Secondly, I don't know of ANY f/a's that don't take out the pillows and blankets and put them on the seats.
It would take quite a feat for our IT dept to get it where the crew could tell who paid "a lot" for their ticket and then they'd have to decide just what "a lot" is. Break it down by origin and destination, mileage flown, rate paid, etc. I can say it probably isnt going to happen.
