#1  
Old Nov 3, 2008, 5:44 PM
tang tang is offline
 
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Default JetBlue Airways - rude flight attendant

On October 24, 2008, I flew from JFK to SJC on JetBlue’s flight number 173. About halfway through the flight, I went to the front of the plane to get some water, since there has been no beverage service for about 4 hours. A service cart blocked the passage and one of the female fly attendants was standing behind the cart. As she saw me approaching, she said in a monotone voice with a completely blank expression on her face, "could you go to the back of the plane."

Thinking that she might be mistakenly believing that I was there to use the toilet, I informed her that I wasn’t there to use the toilet but was trying to get some water. She repeated, for a SECOND time, exactly the same phrase, "could you go to the back of the plane," again in a monotone voice with a completely blank expression, despite the fact that there were 5 bottles of water lined up right next to her and it would’ve taken her about 1 second to pick one up and hand it to me.

I thought that perhaps she didn’t hear me due to the noise since she kept repeating the same phrase, and so I asked her again specifically that whether I should go to the back of the plane for water. Instead of answering my question with a simple "yes", she repeated, for a THIRD time, exactly the same phrase word-by-word, "could you go to the back of the plane," once again in a monotone voice with a completely blank expression.

I can’t think of any reason for this kind of behavior except plain rudeness, especially when she repeated the same phrase for the third time instead of answering my simple inquiry.
  #2  
Old Nov 3, 2008, 9:12 PM
Silent Bob Silent Bob is offline
 
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Doesn't sound very rude to me if it was monotone. Compared to others who've had bad experiences with flight attendence, you got off fairly easy. I think you should have simply backed up and went to your seat if she was pushing the drink cart, I've seen flight attendents flip out when people try to pass those things, especially when they are in mid service lol. If she was just standing there, behind the cart, doin nothin and all you wanted was a drink, hmmmmmmmm not cool. but if she was pushin it, yea you should have went back.
  #3  
Old Nov 3, 2008, 11:50 PM
tang tang is offline
 
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After I posted my original message, I read some of the other posts and I agree that comparing to what the other people have encountered, this woman wasn't the rudest. By the way, she was NOT in the midst of any service. The cart was parked at the end of the corridor and she was standing there doing nothing. Like I said, there hadn't been any service for approximately 4 hours, and it turned out there wouldn't be any service for approximately another 2.5 hours. Furthermore, I never asked her to pass me a bottle of water. I merely asked her to clarify her instruction as to whether I should go to the back of the plane for water.

However, not being the rudest, i.e., not being the worst, does not mean it is OK for someone to behave in such a manner. Has the standard for airline service dropped so low that I should be grateful as long as I’m not treated the worst? How much rudeness is acceptable rudeness and how bad does the rudeness has to become before I can start complain?

Maybe I’m too naďve, but I always thought there was a code of conduct for civilized human beings when in public. One tries to be polite and courteous to the others as much as possible. One certainly does not deliberately be rude and annoying for no apparent reason. If a similar incident happened in another place, such as in a store, I wonder if people might find it more shocking. And yet, because it happened on a plane involving a fly attendant, it seemed OK because this fly attendant wasn’t the rudest yet. Has bad airline service become so prevalent and so outrageous that the passengers should readily forgive those who are just "a little rude" and be glad we "got off fairly easily?" If so, then no wonder the state of airline service has gotten to this point.

Last edited by tang; Nov 3, 2008 at 11:54 PM.
  #4  
Old Nov 3, 2008, 11:51 PM
tang tang is offline
 
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After I posted my original message, I read some of the other posts and I agree that comparing to what the other people have encountered, this woman wasn't the rudest. By the way, she was NOT in the midst of any service. The cart was parked at the end of the corridor and she was standing there doing nothing. Like I said, there hadn't been any service for approximately 4 hours, and it turned out there wouldn't be any service for approximately another 2.5 hours. Furthermore, I never asked her to pass me a bottle of water. I merely asked her to clarify her instruction as to whether I should go to the back of the plane for water.

However, not being the rudest, i.e., not being the worst, does not mean it is OK for someone to behave in such a manner. Has the standard for airline service dropped so low that I should be grateful as long as I’m not treated the worst? How much rudeness is acceptable rudeness and how bad does the rudeness has to become before I can start complain?

Maybe I’m too naďve, but I always thought there was a code of conduct for civilized human beings when in public. One tries to be polite and courteous to the others as much as possible. One certainly does not deliberately be rude and annoying for no apparent reason. If a similar incident happened in another place, such as in a store, I wonder if people might find it more shocking. And yet, because it happened on a plane involving a fly attendant, it was OK because this fly attendant wasn’t the rudest yet. Have bad airline service become so prevalent and so outrageous that the passengers should readily forgive those who are just "a little rude" and be glad we "got off fairly easily?" If so, then no wonder the state of airline service has gotten to this point.
  #5  
Old Nov 4, 2008, 12:25 AM
jimworcs jimworcs is offline
 
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Default I am with you Tang

Standards are so low...expectations so low that rude behaviour is considered acceptable and postively hostile is the norm!!
  #6  
Old Nov 4, 2008, 5:13 AM
Leatherboy2006 Leatherboy2006 is offline
 
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was the cart blocking the front of the cabin by the cockpit? I have flown on several flights were they do this when a pilot has to use the restroom and have stationed a flight attendant on the far side of the cart to stop someone from trying to get up there while doing bathroom trips for the cockpit. maybe this was going one and she didnt want to announce to everyone that the pilot was out and the cockpit door would be open soon.
  #7  
Old Nov 5, 2008, 4:50 AM
airhead airhead is offline
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Tang: Maybe the Flight Attendant misunderstood you. Did you ever ask, "I am thirsty, may I have a some water please?"

From the account you gave, it doesn't sound like you were very polite. There is a difference between "trying to get" and asking.

I do agree that rude behavior is unacceptable, but you may have come across as rude yourself.

Last edited by airhead; Nov 5, 2008 at 4:55 AM. Reason: grammer
  #8  
Old Nov 5, 2008, 1:14 PM
abutterfinger25 abutterfinger25 is offline
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Based on my reading of the inital complaint, I have to go with Leatherboy's observations.

It sounds like the cart was being used as a barricade while the cockpit door was unsecured for some reason, probably a pilot using the lavatory. In which case, it is her job to make sure that the area remain clear of passengers.
  #9  
Old Nov 10, 2008, 6:56 AM
The_Judge The_Judge is offline
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I generally agree with the above statements but doesn't anyone else find it odd that the OP stated "there has been no beverage service for about 4 hours" and also "there wouldn't be any service for approximately another 2.5 hours."

That in itself is 6 1/2 hours. A flight from New York to California does not take that long. Plus if there was service 4 hours before and there was to be service in 2.5 hours, that means that there was time before the first service and after the 2nd service to make this flight probably well over 7 hours. Hmmmmm.
  #10  
Old Nov 13, 2008, 4:23 AM
airliner123 airliner123 is offline
 
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I agree with Leatherboy - I work for an airline and that is what happens when a pilot needs to use the restroom. The flight attendants need to be firm when it comes to this due to the high security risks. We are actually trained to be firm, not rude of course, but very firm. A beverage or snack cart needs to be blocking the way, along with a flight attendant. Sounds to me like she was a little over the top, but just for future reference, thats what she was probably doing.
  #11  
Old Dec 27, 2011, 5:04 AM
chriscolombo chriscolombo is offline
 
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Default Jet Blue Rude

If a drink cart is blocking the aisle to accommodate a bathroom visit by one of the pilots, then the F/A should inform the passenger as to why he/she can not access water. On Southwest, there are no beverage carts. The F/A's physically block the forward aisle when a pilot uses the lavatory upfront. However, they are super nice about it. I was actually told to please return to my seat because the lavatory is occupied by one of the crew. Before I even sat down, there was coke and additional snacks (which I did not even ask for) handed to me with a smile. Certain airlines always seem to be rude, and JetBlue is one of them. Other airlines I refuse to fly on are Delta (the worst of the worst), Virgin America (hate the gimmicky mood lighting and over priced food), Frontier (generally unprofessional and can not compare to Midwest Airlines which they acquired), and Spirit (not as bad as Delta, but a close second). Employees at these airlines range from clueless to mind numbingly idiotic. Perhaps it is because these airlines pay less, or actually recruit the inept (don't know), but I'll take United, American, UsAir, and Southwest over these horrible airlines any day.
  #12  
Old Dec 27, 2011, 4:04 PM
azstar azstar is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chriscolombo View Post
Frontier (generally unprofessional and can not compare to Midwest Airlines which they acquired).
Generally, a true statement. However, Frontier is dirt cheap compared to the former Midwest which went out of business because fliers weren't willing to pay higher prices for better service. And, although the legacy carriers pay much higher wages than the cheap airlines, there is still no guarantee that you're going to get better treatment.

Last edited by azstar; Dec 27, 2011 at 4:06 PM.
  #13  
Old Dec 27, 2011, 4:45 PM
chriscolombo chriscolombo is offline
 
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Default nksbea middle

Exactly the point. Frontier is less expensive compared to Midwest, but the service level is comparatively low. The Midwest model was a first class throughout experience, with fares lower than first class on competing airlines. I think people were willing to pay for it, but perhaps they were to generous. 2X2 seating, delicious meals, attentive service. Regardless, their assets in Milwaukee attracted a no-frills suitor. If people want low priced tickets, then expect low quality service. With that said, certain airlines generally have better service over others, but there are always exceptions to the rule. Delta is a legacy airline, and they consistently provide the worst travel experience for me. Conversely, Southwest is a no-frills airline, and I've only had good flights with them. I've paid cheap fares on Delta, and high fares on Southwest, and vice versa. It all depends.
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