As most of you know, I was a heavy traveller in my working years. My last major flight flight with United was just after their merger, I believe. I was flying from Frankfurt to SFO, in business class, on a round the world ticket that cost some $8000 or so to my company. The head flight attendant b*tched to her co-workers about her employer for the entire flight. She was really old, much older than most of us here, or at least appeared to be so. If I didn't know that they had to retire before their 70s, I would have guessed that she had crossed that line. Most of her complaints seemed to be about what the company should be doing for her...but they were little tiny things that all workers pulling together should be able to do, not b*tching that it was someone else's responsibility.
Later in the flight, I was thirsty, and being a kind person, I do not like to ring the call bell, preferring to get out of my aisle seat and go ask for what I need. So, I get up, go to the galley area, see a flight attendant sitting there reading a novel. I kindly ask if I might have a glass of water. She looked up at me, with fire in her eyes as if to say "can't you see I'm reading right now?" Anyway, she got up and with a grunt handed me some water.
I vowed then and there never to use United again, if I could avoid it. I have used them again, but only on routes that they were the only option. United sent me a survey after the flight in question and I laid out their shortcomings on that Frankfurt flight. Their response was an unapologetic apology, if you catch my drift, with an offer of $25 off my next flight with them. Given I'd spent thousands for this flight, I felt it was a slap in the face. Although I have only taken a couple of flights in retirement, again, I refuse to use United unless there is no other option.
YMMV...
R
