Quote:
Originally Posted by cashflyer
In the US, Southwest Airlines had the lowest rate of complaints in 2006, with 0.11 complaints per 100,000 passengers, while US Airways and United Airlines had the worst rate of complaints, both with 1.36 complaints per 100,000 passengers. US Airways is also the US airline with the worst on-time performance, which might explain its rate of complaints.
Go to this website: Aviation Consumer Protection | Department of Transportation
Left column, click "file complaint"
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Southwest has been well managed and Herb Kelleher took care of his crews and employees. He did it right and they made money. USAir and United have been effing their employees for years and that makes for grumpy cabin crews. Have your employer ride your rear-end for years about your pay and benefits being too high and then let your employer work you like a dog--and treat you like one--and see how you respond. "Well, they can just quit if they don't like it." Easy gut reaction. Well, no they can't just quit (although some do). Stews are deeply invested in their careers and just cant go waltzing off into something better. Few people can these days. Labor (unions and workers in general) is on the wane in America, and with globalization there is an entire new cheap labor pool out there in China and India, etc. Americans now cost too much and that's why the middle class is dying off. (Or being killed off. You decide.)
If you don't like grumpy employees then look into why they might be grumpy. You want to say it's because of their "entitlement mentality" but it's much deeper than that. Stews have been under attack for wages and benefits for years and at certain carriers they are just about out of energy to care about you and your own entitled attitude to get home on time.
Southwest pilots bought Herb Kelleher a new Harley once for his birthday. Herb was one of the greats in the industry and they still love him. Many an airline pilot and stew will shed a tear when Herb passes from this earth. You cannot say that about one other airline CEO.
If you want stews to not be grumpy to you then be nice to them. Feel their pain and you might earn a free drink on your flight. If you piss and moan then you're going to go to the bottom of their list.
If you still don't like it then tell your boss you want to fly on the company Gulfstream V where you so richly belong.