Post by aerofoto - HJG Admin on Aug 29, 2012 2:23:57 GMT
And then I stopped flying for AA when their service got terrible.
I've been flying with AA on LAX/MIA; MIA/BOG; BOG/MIA; and MIA/LAX sectors a few times each year and over the past 12 years .... on A300-600 (whilst they had them), B737-400, B757-200, B767-300, and B777-200 aircraft.
The service on AA domestic/trans-continental flights was "consistently good" .... until around 2006 when the airline implemented its "FOOD FOR PURCHASE" policy .... and things/service did start to change dramatically after that (so much competition within the US though, so, I guess cut-backs had to me made in order to accommodate more competitive fares .... although one could sensibly argue that most PAX would probably prefer flying with whomever provided the most frills for the best price) .... although most of these AA cabin staff remained consistently pleasant/helpful.
AA international .... particularly on the MIA/BOG; BOG/MIA route has, in my own "well seasoned traveler/frequent flyer opinion", always been "EXCEPTIONALLY GOOD" and there is still a full complimentary meal service on these flights.
The AA international sectors, to which I refer above, are staffed by an entirely Colombian/Bogata based cabin crew .... and .... the quality of service extended by each and every one of them, on behalf of AA (and which has often resulted in my then passing a bit of time with them "down the back" after the meal service has been completed), has always left me "very satisfied". I've never had a bad/poor experience with AA, on this particular international route, in my entire 12 years of flying with them.
Maybe it's the "Colombian culture" which is manifested, to some extent, through the willingness of these particular cabin crew and which is then reflected in the service they provide .... in that it's generally expected/accepted by most Latin American woman, that their place/responsibility, both at home and in society, is to "serve" .... in as much as this same culture/manner also applies to the woman of most major Asian countries too .... and which possibly results in most of these woman being more readily/willingly adapted to the giving of "service" than some of their Western cultured counterparts .... and which may then also be reflected in the typically superb standard of service which both SQ and TG cabin crew are reknown for.
Cabin service, sometimes, "IS NOT" a particularly pleasant/enjoyable job .... and I've the utmost respect for those whom do take-on this "life style"/profession .... especially for the longer service cabin crew.
It isn't easy ;D
One's got to be an extrovert, a diplomat, an ambassador, and a great many things more than that too .... and other than possessing the necessary people handling skills to know just how long to spend with each person/PAX .... and where necessary .... to also be able to conceal ones true feelings/sentiments in regard/response to some situations, and people .... among which is the art of being able to "SHUT UP" as well.
From my personal observations .... a number of, perhaps less obvious, factors can contribute to the quality of service provided by "ANY CARRIER" .... among which include ....
- the experience of the Cabin Service Director/Purser.
- the experience of the cabin crew generally.
- how well any particular crew all relate/interact/enjoy working with one-another.
- and sometimes the quality of service and attention can even be influenced by whatever internal politics/mood might be at work among the staff at any airline too.
Cabin service is "CERTAINLY NOT" (any longer) a glamor job/profession .... and I dear-say that applies also to a lot of the pilots/technical crew, engineers, and other ground support staff today as well .... as many airlines impose more upon their staff in order for them to do a lot more for a whole lot less.
I do not remember words Astroliner but I clearly remember the words Luxuryliner
"ASTROLINER" titles (quite rare) were applied to the very first AA DC10-10 deliveries from 1972 .... to N101AA at least.
Followed by the "DC10 LUXURY LINER" titles .... which remained throughout the 1970's and into the 80's.
And then "AMERICAN AIRLINES LUXURY LINER" titles .... which appear to have remained on the AA DC10 fleet from the 1980's and until it was decomissioned during the late 1990's.
Also, AA used DC-10s for flights between KLGA and KDFW
They also used DC10-30's on the LAX/HLU/AKL route too .... whilst they flew that sector for "a year only", from 1989 to 1990, before "getting out" and then code sharing/cross ticketing with NZ, and then later and for much longer with QF .... and which has also now, (just recently) been taken up by TN on the AKL/LAX route, on behalf of AA, after QF withdrew from this route earlier this year.
Mark C
AKL/NZ