How come foreign airlines are so much better than American carriers?

Question

When I fly on foreign flag carriers the service is better. The planes are cleaner. I ACTUALLY GET FOOD and drinks for free.... Not only that but the food and drinks are better. They actually give me the whole can as well as whatever other drinks I want without giving me dirty looks.

I had food, a clean plane, all I could drink (including liquor), and great service on a 2.5 hour plane ride each way. All for under 200 dollars roundtrip.

200 dollars doesn't get you jack on an American carrier.

Answer 1

Airline workers' unions are quite strong in North America, so there is a constant push for higher wages which isn't necessarily matched by a proportionate increase in people skills or service levels.  So the result usually is an older, more jaded bunch of people working at really high salaries that are hard to dismiss.

Asia on the other hand, does not have such strong unions and therefore can more frequently hire young and eager people who are easier to train, more willing to to provide good service, and cheaper to pay!  So more money can be spent in better food, complimentary alcohol, newer aircraft, etc.

Answer 2

Well for one, their competition is keener.  The other thing, and more likely,  is that the US companies are trying to save money buy cutting service and expenses and then paying their CEOs much  more than the foreign carriers pay their CEOs.  In the US, some executives get more than 400 times what the average employee does, in Europe, it is more like 30 times.  .

Answer 3

supply and demand.  If the paradigm is free drinks & food within Asia or Europe or whatever, then all the airlines have to provide more or less the same level of service to be competitive.  

but as to "planes are cleaner"....I just flew BA in Business, and the empty seat next to me had either been barfed on or had somebody's whole meal spilled on it, and it sure didn't look like anybody had even attempted to clean it up!