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1. Thanks for these comments. As an 18 year Flight Attendant, I can assure you layoffs are very much on our minds. I was layed off 3 times in my first 5 years of flying. Airline careers aren’t for the weak at heart. We have been working more for 30% less pay than we received 5 years ago. We work harder, have more and more duties, have fewer and fewer Flight Attendants working each flight, with fewer and fewer tools to get the job done right. You can be sure these issues are on our minds every flight everyday as well. Most of us are able to overcome the added stresses most of the time. But sometimes, particularly when working 13 hour days with very short layovers in between (very little time to sleep), along with delays and cancellations and all the stress that causes us as well as our passengers (if a flight cancels we don’t get paid), you are going to see exhausted cabin crew, who, without considering the above, might seem lazy, disinterested, not proactive, etc. Despite having very good reasons for not performing at 110%, most of us feel guilty for not meeting expectations - and nearly all of us want our passengers to be happy (or as comfortable and safe as conditions permit).
   Again thanks,
   Chris
   Tucson, Arizona

   Comment by Chris — August 30, 2008 @ 1:51 pm

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