Is this typical flight attendant behavior?

[yoopermom]

DH and I flew this past M/F from Milw/LV on Airtran for our 20th anniversary. For an unexpected present, he upgraded our return flight only so we were in business class, the very first row.

The plusses: I could cross my legs (I have really long thighs, and so I am literally squeezed in a regular seat.), the extra drinks and special snacks, room to put our bags without having to gate check them, etc.

But now we come to the "odd"...after drink service was done, right up until the moment the pilot called for descent readiness, the three flight attendants stood in their little area right in front of us(closet in between, so I could see them down the aisle, but the window seat person could only hear them), and talked the *entire* time debating god, the origins of earth, faith, etc, etc. I mean it was like a college freshman debate class. I was on the aisle, and the other guy on the aisle kind of rolled his eyes at me and put on his headphones. DH was in the window seat, and so couldn't see them, but after about 1 1/2 hours was steaming mad at having to listen to them. I was trying to read, and was having trouble concentrating because they were so animated.

If it would have been the customers in the row behind it, we would have just put up with it and not said anything, because they have the right to talk for as long and about whatever they want, but do the flight attendants not think that we can hear them? I don't expect them to be silent, or only discuss "happy" things, but this was like a point/counterpoint debate that went on and on and on...

We didn't let it ruin our upgrade, and appreciated their good service otherwise, but I just wondered if this was typical (if so, next time I upgrade, we'll take the back row!).

TIA!
Terri

 

[DebbieB]

DH and I flew this past M/F from Milw/LV on Airtran for our 20th anniversary. For an unexpected present, he upgraded our return flight only so we were in business class, the very first row.

The plusses: I could cross my legs (I have really long thighs, and so I am literally squeezed in a regular seat.), the extra drinks and special snacks, room to put our bags without having to gate check them, etc.

But now we come to the "odd"...after drink service was done, right up until the moment the pilot called for descent readiness, the three flight attendants stood in their little area right in front of us(closet in between, so I could see them down the aisle, but the window seat person could only hear them), and talked the *entire* time debating god, the origins of earth, faith, etc, etc. I mean it was like a college freshman debate class. I was on the aisle, and the other guy on the aisle kind of rolled his eyes at me and put on his headphones. DH was in the window seat, and so couldn't see them, but after about 1 1/2 hours was steaming mad at having to listen to them. I was trying to read, and was having trouble concentrating because they were so animated.

If it would have been the customers in the row behind it, we would have just put up with it and not said anything, because they have the right to talk for as long and about whatever they want, but do the flight attendants not think that we can hear them? I don't expect them to be silent, or only discuss "happy" things, but this was like a point/counterpoint debate that went on and on and on...

We didn't let it ruin our upgrade, and appreciated their good service otherwise, but I just wondered if this was typical (if so, next time I upgrade, we'll take the back row!).

TIA!
Terri

I don't know that it's "typical" but I've seen it happen. I've heard complaints about work rules, which is unprofessional. They also gather in the back galley by the restroom on long flights.

 

[yoopermom]

Yes, I think "unprofessional" is what I was trying to say. I don't take offense easily, but they just went on and on and on, all about chimps and humans and pagan holidays coming before Christian ones, etc, etc, etc. I just wanted to read my book !

Terri

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I just wanted to read my book

DH was in the window seat, and so couldn't see them, but after about 1 1/2 hours was steaming mad at having to listen to them. I was trying to read, and was having trouble concentrating because they were so animated.

Why didn't you just ask them nicely to speak quietly? They probably had no idea that they were disturbing you. If you let them do this the entire flight, then it's your own fault for not speaking up.

 

[yoopermom]

I'm just not a confrontational person, and they were in their own little "area". I truly asked here just to find out if this is typical, so we don't take the front row seats in the future. I did tell DH that we could ask for headphones for him, if that would help him tune them out...

Terri

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Letting the flight attendants know that they were bothering you is not exactly being confrontational. Not speaking to them about this gives you no right to complain. Just my opinion.

 

[singleinthe city]

It isn't "odd" in the sense that it never happens. There are plenty of stories of FAs having "coffee talk" in the galley during the entire flight. You were lucky that they actually did their job and served drinks and snacks. I have been on several flights where they do an initial service and then they disappear and never offer refills or clear glasses, etc.

Many FAs (not all) have an over entitled attitude, you can usually spot the lazy ones who stress "We are primarily here for your safety" when speaking the safety demo script. They interpret that to mean that anything resembling waitress duties is outside the scope of their job.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Yep, it's typical. Why a lot of Frequent flyers don't want the first row includes "FA chatter"

 

[sharona]

I don't know that it's "typical" but I've seen it happen. I've heard complaints about work rules, which is unprofessional. They also gather in the back galley by the restroom on long flights.

I was in the next to last row on a red eye flight and the FAs talked the entire flight. The lights were out and everyone was sleeping or trying to sleep and they just would not stop. Impossible to tune out and totally inane chatter. Of course, my mp3 had died on me and I had no way to block the noise. It was very annoying and several passengers were giving them the evil eye. They were definitely aware that they were disturbing people and they didn't seem to care. I did eventually ask them if they would mind speaking more quietly - after I realized that they were not planning on wrapping it up anytime soon. I tried to ask nicely and thought that I had but they were incredibly put out and whispered exaggeratedly the rest of the flight.

 

[yoopermom]

Thank you all! Now I know for the future, *don't* take the first row.

Sharona, that's terrible about them doing it on a redeye, crazy!

I try to research and ask questions ahead of time, but, since he surprised me, I didn't know. Now I do!

Thanks again...

Terri

 

[Funwith4kids]

Yep, it's typical. Why a lot of Frequent flyers don't want the first row includes "FA chatter"

+1

 

[verticalchaos]

Letting the flight attendants know that they were bothering you is not exactly being confrontational. Not speaking to them about this gives you no right to complain. Just my opinion.

+1

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

You must have amazing hearing. Every once in a while when I can't snag a better seat I've had to sit aft of the wing. I can't even hear the person next to me, let alone anyone two rows back and beyond a couple of lavatories. I do keep a spare pair of earplanes in my flight bag, not so much for ear pain but for general noise, especially on red-eyes.

I was in the next to last row on a red eye flight and the FAs talked the entire flight. The lights were out and everyone was sleeping or trying to sleep and they just would not stop. Impossible to tune out and totally inane chatter. Of course, my mp3 had died on me and I had no way to block the noise. It was very annoying and several passengers were giving them the evil eye. They were definitely aware that they were disturbing people and they didn't seem to care. I did eventually ask them if they would mind speaking more quietly - after I realized that they were not planning on wrapping it up anytime soon. I tried to ask nicely and thought that I had but they were incredibly put out and whispered exaggeratedly the rest of the flight.

 

[alaska8]

Let me point out that as a flight attendant we ARE there primarily for your safety, in fact the FAA will not allow an aircraft to have passengers onboard without the minimum number of attendants on board. That being said "service" is part of our job description and if you encounter a flight attendant who is lazy then you should write to the human resources department of that airline. Believe me none of us like working with a lazy coworker!
Most airlines do not allow flight attendants to read, knit, write, play games etc while on duty so we chat. We rarely fly with the same people so we are always either getting to know our coworkers or catching up with them. The airplane galleys are noisy places and so our voices naturally elevate to accomodate this. We are not doing it on purpose and more often than not dont realise how loud we are and how our conversations carry into the cabin. Just mention it to your crew and Im sure we would be more than happy to adjust volume.

 

[WDWisTheBest]

Let me point out that as a flight attendant we ARE there primarily for your safety, in fact the FAA will not allow an aircraft to have passengers onboard without the minimum number of attendants on board. That being said "service" is part of our job description and if you encounter a flight attendant who is lazy then you should write to the human resources department of that airline. Believe me none of us like working with a lazy coworker!
Most airlines do not allow flight attendants to read, knit, write, play games etc while on duty so we chat. We rarely fly with the same people so we are always either getting to know our coworkers or catching up with them. The airplane galleys are noisy places and so our voices naturally elevate to accomodate this. We are not doing it on purpose and more often than not dont realise how loud we are and how our conversations carry into the cabin. Just mention it to your crew and Im sure we would be more than happy to adjust volume.

Thank you for your explanation.

 

[N365PA]

I couldnt say this was typical at my airline (I was a flight attendant for a year)...but then again I was on 34 seat turboprops so there was only 1 flight attendant. If I were caught discussing with myself the dynamics of religion and philosophy I think I would be thrown in the looney bin...


Clint
Former Flight Attendant
(that being said, they shouldnt have done that)

 

[PatMcDuck]

I don't take offense easily, but they just went on and on and on, all about chimps and humans and pagan holidays coming before Christian ones, etc, etc, etc. I just wanted to read my book !

OK, I really want to hear more about their discussion!

If they were that loud, I would have been tempted to join the conversation a few times, that might give them a hint...... Or turn to my spouse and comment on what they were saying.......... I know, I know, too passive-agressive.