What's the right way to handle a rude flight attendant?

Question

I assure you that this is not a rant against flight attendants. I know they have very difficult jobs and deal with irrate people all day long. However, I have had situations where one will continually interupt me asking a question because she thought she knew what I was going to ask. I literally had to try to ask my question about six times before she would let me get through it. Another insisted I was putting in my son's car seat wrong until an older flight attendand assured her that I was doing it right. There are other examples, but you get the picture.

Ours is a military family so we have to fly a lot and thank goodness for all of the amazing flight attendants that have had the pleasure of having. But how do I handle those won't let me speak? Or what should I have said to the one about the car seat? I won't put his seat in wrong and endanger my son because she doesn't know better. Any suggestions?

Please spare me the lectures. Like I said, the vast majority are great.

Answer 1

If you find one of the F/A's particularly annyoing, ask for help from another one. Easy.

Answer 2

Oh im sorry that you had some bad experiences!

As i do with all rude people, just smile and grit your teeth! Soon they will shut up and move on.

If they are continualy doing this, (annoying/rude to you) ignore them and wait for a different attendant.

good luck

Answer 3

Too bad you're travelling with family, because otherwise you could just have a panic attack and start screaming that the plane isn't safe and she'd have pandemonium on her hands.

Um, otherwise, talk to the head flight attendant about the poorly behaved employee, just like any other job, there's a manager to get rid of the bad employees.

Answer 4

*****-slap him/her

Answer 5

Dont handle one at all! just listen and do as you're told, if you have a disagreement. ask by backing up your reason, and then hear theres. its is EXTREMELY EASY to get tossed off a plane just for snapping at one. Trust me.

Answer 6

I'm a former Flight Attendant.

WRITE THEM UP! Seriously, you wont get them fired (unless they already have a ton of complaints) but one grumbling customer wont get a F/A in that much hot water. A F/A has to do something really dire like use foul language or abuse their position to be fired (assuming it's a union company). They will, though, find themselves having to explain things to their supervisor.

Did you get their name? Always get their name. Don't have it? No big deal. Get the flight number, time of day, whatever. They have that information and can track them down. I was once tracked down with "blond with the braid". The customer though, was in the wrong so I didn't get in any trouble.

Which brings me to the point. When writing it down, by all means say how it made you felt but keep the letter clear as to what the problem was. This will make your complaint legit. Make it also clear where they went wrong, like not letting you get to the end of a sentence (that's pretty basic in my book!) Yes, I've done that but only when someone was having real difficulty in English expressing themselves and I phrased it as a question (i.e. "What time the meal service starts?")

Do NOT quote directly unless you are 100% sure of the words used. This is where the customer who complained about me went wrong (they were the ones breaking the rules).

Yes, use snail mail, register it if you want. Emails get lost. Don't worry about the address. They'll make sure it gets to the right desk. Just write the company headquarters.

About car seats, this is a big subject. It's true that a lot of F/A's are clueless. I used to NOT check car seats out of principal. I told both my supervisor and a FAA inspector that the seat should be the parents' responsiblity.

This is a FAA document with all the information about seats you'll ever want to know. Print it up (it's long) and take it with you next time you fly;

http://web.nbaa.org/public/ops/ac/AC120-...

Also, bring the car seat's manual with you. Ask for any F/A to produce their own manual if they say you're in the wrong. Every one has to have one with them on every flight so ask to see in print, where you are in error.

Ask to see the purser BEFORE things get heated. Nothing worse than when I arrived and the F/A was already arguing with the customer. I'd ask them in briefing "GET ME!!!" so it wouldn't happen (but it did, what can I tell you??)

Enough on MY rant. F/A's are people too and can make mistakes. Mistakes in the airline industry CAN be deadly so they need to be called out on it. Take the time to write up what happened and maybe you'll straighten someone out and get them to shape up their act.

I fly a lot with my own children between Europe and California. A few years ago I put together a totally non-commercial article on the subject and later put it on a blog to more easily share with other parents, who have in turn given me tips. Much does come from military families like yours', who have a soft spot for me since both my dad and step dad are vets (and I was born on an army base).

You may find it helpful;

http://flyingwithchildren.blogspot.com

My contact info is at the back and feel free to forward me anything you want to send for feedback if you want.

Better luck next time flying & thank you for your service to our country!

Answer 7

talk to a different one

there is more than 1 flight attendant on a plane!