Why are American flight attendants so rude and arrogant while attendants everywhere else are still normal?

Question

This is not a slam on my home country of America. Its a business thing. Do flight attendants have such solid employment contracts that they go out of their way to be rude. Or, are they reacting to their regular clients?

hmm, I don't think some even read the question. There isn't even a US airline in the top 5 for customer satisfaction. Some of these answer are from people who have obviously not even flown before.

The top 5 are currently Thai Air, Singapore Air, Qatar Air, Qantas, and Air France.

Thai Air is my personal favorite as all flight attendants have to keep a good performance rating to keep their job. My question is more asking if anyone has any knowledge of the US flight industry regarding employment contracts that make them unconcerned with passenger feedback, so save you "one time at band camp" answes for another question. Thanks to those few who answered this question intelligently.

Answer 1

Part of the problem is they have to deal with rude and arrogant American passengers all day long. It's not so bad for them now as it was before since now unruly passengers are simply kicked off the airplane and given a refund due to security reasons.

You also have to remember what almost everyone that is non management and working for an airline had to give up since 9/11. Loss of their pensions, massive pay cuts, medical and dental benefits slashed, stuff like that. I don't know about you but that would make me very bitter and it would carry into my attitude when dealing with people with their own attitude problems.

Another thing since someone else mentioned looks. Most overseas flights attendants are non union. What this means is foreign airlines and pick and choose who they want based on looks. If they start getting overweight they can simply fire them and hire younger/better looking ones. I know this sounds harsh but other countries do not have the same work rules that Americans have in place. Cop an attitude and you are history...replacements are lined up just to get that job.

In the US being a flight attendant isn't as glamorous as it once was so replacements are very hard to find. This means (besides being in a union that protects them) is they can be rude, arrogant as long as they do not break any rules that can get them fired.

Answer 2

i was on a Qantas flight(Australian) the flight attendants were the worse, They yelled at me because i tried to get the cot down to put my baby down..They entertainment system didn't work for a 12hour flight, I didn't get dinner and then called them with the button and they still didn't answer...I hadn't done anything wrong but sit there quietly. i transferred onto aAmerican airlines i was happy to get some nice sevrice.

Answer 3

I would say it's a reaction to the rude and arrogant customers of American airliners.

Answer 4

Maybe it's the way that they are treated by their employer.
source; worked for a major airline for 31 years.

Answer 5

No matter where you 90% of americans are rude,I have travelled to many diffirent parts of the world,met lots of americans on my travels polite ones are few andfar between

Answer 6

I agree.I have to say that they don¸t look very nice either.In some companies ,especially Europen,most of the flight attendants look like models and konow how to smile as well.

Answer 7

i agree with you I've flown allot and they the rudest and Malay airlines the sweetest

Answer 8

SORRY YOU'VE HAD SUCH EXPERIENCES!
POSSIBLY THERE ARE ONE OR TWO AIRLINES WHICH HIRE SOURPUSSES, OR ACTUALLY PUT TOO MUCH PRESSURE ON THE EMPLOYEES WITHOUT OFFERING JOB SECURITY.

Answer 9

Because you were having a bad day.

Answer 10

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