Are Airlines Loosing Customer Respect?

Question

As the cost of airfares is soaring (even doubling in many instances), airlines' agents specifically in the United States and Canada are becoming less polite and tolerant with customers. Why? Every couple of days, there's a story about mis-treated, unhappy passenger in the news.

Answer 1

I don't know! Ask the airlines!

Answer 2

Unfortunately this is not just a problem with airlines but all sectors of employment. Customer complaints against employees are a regular fixture to suppliers. Its mainly due to employees not liking there current situation. Things like personal or current work situations there unhappy with so straight away the person is in a bad mood and all they need is a customer to ask a simple question or a series of questions to set them off. Impatient customers are normally always the ones who get the backhand of a uptight custoemr rep.

Answer 3

they just think that they know everything just because they work for an airline..

Answer 4

You have to understand that the airlines are losing money and because of that they are cutting flights.  They are also laying-off employees and those that stay have taken pay cuts or have had their pay frozen.  It is hard to have positive morale when that happens.  Sometimes things happen such as a delay or cancellation which causes many passengers to be stranded.  The planes are so packed that if a flight is canceled, the other flights or other airlines cannot accommodate every passenger.  Then the passenger is stranded and upset at the airline and sometimes will take it out on the ticket or gate agent.  After facing so many angry passengers sometimes it is hard for the ticket or gate agent to not take it personally and their tempers may be shorter as well.