will it end?

[sarahinflight]

Since i am no longer with United (due to furlough) I don't always hear all the news has any one heard when we will be able to come back?

[skysthelimit]

Dear Sarahinflight

I am so sorry you were furloughed. I hope you can come back soon because it sounds like you care and want to work. On a recent flight over thanksgiving holiday I worked a domestic flight and was floored by a few of the flight attendants who were some of the laziest people I have seen in years. What got me, they were at the borderline and just barely survived the cut. While working our butts off on a full 777 coach this one flight attendant had the audacity to sit on the jumpseat and read a magazine while the rest of us were either setting up the carts or picking up the garbage.

Unfortunately, they sent a letter out recently that is asking for 1900 more voluntary furloughes and if they cannot get that number they will again have to involuntary furlough.

I don't understand how they can work with almost 2000 less flight attendants. Now the flights are going out understaffed!

I hope UAL's new CEO can get UAL back to the place it was before Goodwin destroyed us. Once we can turn the financial stability around of this great airline then things should change. And concessions are not the answer--unless they come from the pilots who were over compensated in everyone's opinion but there own!

I wish you all the best and hope that you will be back onboard with us soon.

May God bless you.

[drcv41]

Sarah, just read your message and hopefully this is a little good news.
We currently have 5300 or so f/a's on furlough both vol and invol. starting in Febuary that number will go down to 4700. the senority date will be 1/98. thats not including voluntary furloughs others will put in for, so 1/98 should back off some. they will get the new senority date when all request are in. Also I don't think that includes the line sharing that was announced. that may also bring the numbers up alittle. hope this helps....DR images/icons/smile.gif

[Tamme]

Hey Sarah,
things will eventually turn out to the good. The Airline Industry has always recovered quicker than anyone´s expected.
Rumors say, that they have set up the next Schoolings for the Midyear 2002 again, so it cannot be that bad anymore.
Just be patient, and use your sparetime wisely. I know that you might get crazy just by not being in an Airplane, I am off now for 3 weeks, and still have 9 more days to go, so I can totally understand you.
But, if you wanna fly, you are going to fly. Just a matter of time.
Wish you all the Best, and Good Luck.

Trolley Tramps, unite and scream together! images/icons/tongue.gif

[sarahinflight]

Thank You for all your support. I can't wait to get back out there with all of you. I enjoyed my adventures with my flight crews and hope to enjoy some more!

I wish you all happpy holidays and safe flying.

[SkyWestCSA]

Isn't there some sort of flight attendant evaluation that would keep only the good flight attendants?

I went on a little non-rev journey of one United segment and four SkyWest/United Express segments on January 3rd. The United SFO-LAS flight was one of the worst I have ever had. The flight attendant's minds all seemed to be somewhere else, and they were rather inattentive. Despite holding it up numerous times, the flight attendants did not notice that I had trash until 5 minutes prior to landing Las Vegas, and the flight attendant was only going through to check seat belts.

I greeted the crew stepping on board with a smile and a hello, and in response was a cold silence with the flight attendant's mind wandering. Same upon disembarking the plane, I smiled and said a warm "thank you," again only to get that silence and the two flight attendants standing by the door looking in opposite directions, acting as if I didn't exist.

Now I may be a lowly non-rev, but all passengers were being treated this way, and even non-revs have basic rights of courtesy. I found it utterly reprehensible and downright rude.

The SkyWest flight attendants (one per plane, mind you images/icons/smile.gif ) were much more friendly and EXTREMELY attentive, but you can only fly Brasilias and RJ's so far.

I have had fantastic experiences with United, and expect to have many more, but that put my trip off to a bad start.

[lineguy]

To Skywest,
I don't think you being a non-rev had anything to do with it. Unfortunately air travel today has become very stressful from the traveler to the gate agent to the flight attendant. We cram more people in than ever before, expect the employees to do more for less all while the CEO and company executives makes millions off our sweat and blood. I used to love this industry and working around airplanes over the years I have been broken down and my morale is lower than ever. I guess there is enough blame to go around but in answer to why the Skywest flt attandants are cheerful, I suspect it is because they are fairly new to the industry and the "honeymoon" period has yet to vanish. Some people really have the attitiude to overcome anything I really hope they can keep it going. But although you had a bad flight on UAL as I have had on NWA. I have really met some extraordinary flight attendants that have given me great service and do their job well and are an asset. You have to chalk it up to personalities. Don't judge all flight attendants or anyone else by the actions of a few. images/icons/grin.gif

[sarahinflight]

Please remember that we all have our good and bad days. I always tried to over come the bad ones by finding someone special on board. You can meet the most interesting people. I found that the elderly were the most polite (though i have found some mean ones too.)and they always have great stories. Some of them have been flying longer than I've been alive.
So next time you see one of us that might be a little grumpy try to smile and say hello you could change the whole day for us! images/icons/grin.gif

[sarahinflight]

Well they have called back the 500 we are stil waiting to see how many actually come back. 8-7-99 I think is close to the cut off date. Everyone after that keep your fingers crossed they sill are understaffed and need more people.
I will be here on the ground for a while longer (like a year) I have 10/23/00 as my start date. Good luck every one.
And to ya all that are flying now stay safe but have fun! graemlins/plane_smilie.gif