Surviving airline cutbacks: 8 tips
Many years ago, a popular airline was pleased to say, “Our stewardesses never say no. Well, almost never.” Times sure have changed. Thanks to fare wars and cutbacks, “No!” is now permanently installed in every flight attendant’s vocabulary.
I trained as a flight attendant 17 years ago. In those days, “no” was a word we weren’t allowed to use very often. There was always a better way to say it, such as, “I’ll see what I can do,” or, “I’m not sure.” But these days, there’s no equivocation.
Is there a meal on today’s flight? No.
Can I have the whole can? No.
Any pillows or blankets on board? No.
Are there going to be any empty seats on today’s flight? No.
Do airline employees have pensions? No. (I had to get that one in.)
You get the picture. I should just pin a button on my uniform that says NO. It would save time. Now let’s flip the questions back to you, the passenger.
Is your seat comfortable? No.
Did you make your connecting flight? No.
Did you enjoy your travel experience? No.
Do you like your flight attendant? No!
No wonder people don’t like flight attendants anymore. We deny you small comforts. We tell you what you can’t do. We say no at least a hundred times a flight. We just put on our insult-proof faces and say no, no, no, no. Not always pleasantly, either. After years of full planes and multiple pay cuts, our bad attitude is beginning to show.
Remember the Summer of Love? This is the Summer of No.
As long as the low-cost carrier is the industry standard, customer service will take the back seat. But you can make yourself a little more comfortable. Here are eight ways to survive airline cutbacks — without resorting to fisticuffs.
1. Understand that “No” doesn’t mean “Up yours.” If we deny your request for an aisle seat, a pillow, a meal, or whatever, it probably means we don’t have one.
2. BYO. If you want more from air travel than just getting from point A to point B, then bring your own food, bottled water and magazines - whatever will make the flight more pleasant for you.
3. If you need some more legroom, ask for it. There are usually seats with a few more inches of legroom in the economy-plus seat area of the plane, which is reserved for business travelers.
4. Spend a little extra money. Book your preferred airline, even if it is a bit more expensive. When things go wrong, the $20 you save isn’t worth the frustration of dealing with an airline you didn’t want in the first place.
5. Be patient. Airplanes are on shorter turn-around times these days, with smaller cushions for schedule changes and mechanical problems. One setback can put you several hours behind.
6. Watch your connection times. If you are booking your flights online, as airlines increasingly encourage you to do, never leave less than an hour between flights; if possible, allow two hours between international flights.
7. Bring your sense of humor. If the crew tries to make light of a situation, laugh along with us. Laughter can be contagious.
8. Don’t make matters worse. Have a little consideration when talking on your cell phone, asking for extras and sharing cramped seats. Don’t vent your frustration on some unfortunate gate agent, and when you do get a “Yes,” please say, “Thank you.”
Cutbacks can be maddening, for passengers and crew alike. But remember, we’re all in this together. So when you feel like flipping someone off or taking a swing, take a deep breath instead. Take your cue from the flight attendant: Smile sweetly, and just say no.