continental airlines

[chrisflowers]

Well you know I am an elite with Continental and fly most places in the USA with them, as well as frequent trips from Bristol to Newark.
Every time we have had a problem, their staff have always been exceptionally helpful. [msnsmile2]

They also have won Freddie Awards (from frequent flyers) as one of the best airlines for their customer service. I think it was just bad luck you encountered a bad apple. Better luck next time (although it sounds like you have ruled out a 'next time').[msnscared]

[becbecs]

We flew with Continental via Newark this Xmas and can't fault them.

Had an excellent flight both there and back.

Staff very friendly.

Think our worst flight experience to Orlando was with Virgin on our very first trip to Orlando in 2003. Have used them since and had know problems.

[Robert5988]

If you want a more objective view look at the 2007 Skytrax awards(mustn't give link but skytrax is a clue[msnwink])

This is a pretty good survey of all the world's airlines. They explain all the criteria used for the grading.

It grades airlines from 1* to 5*.

BA just s c r a p e d in at No 10(as a 4*) in a list dominated by Far East/Middle East airlines.

Continental were graded as a 3* which is about the average.

AA, who I use, were 2*.

I think the important point of this thread is it shows how much we are affected by the attitude and performance of the cabin staff as they are the main interface with the passenger. The days of the 'Coffee, Tea or Me?' long legged 20+ air hostess have long gone(and rightly so[msnsad]) and have been replaced in some cases by tired irritable older staff who have no interest in their job.

[Tonish]

It's not just the crew, Robert (although it's a bit puzzling why US airline crews are older and grumpier than most others), it's the airport they use as well.

I'm with katy's grandad on this - Newark good, La Guardia OK, JFK the pits.

P.S. just before I hit the submit button, no reason at all why older crew should be worse at all. I just wish they wouldn't be so snappy.

[grangrad]

as we have never flown with continental before we have nothing to compare too, but i suppose first impressions last!! and we had a horrid experience with continental for our first trip.

certainly given the advice durimg the flight by the american passengers we were advised to stay well clear of continental both the airline and the airport is given a bad name by the americans.


during our transit through newark both locals and brits were equally upset at the airlines attitude and for some passengers persistant and repeated disruption, and for some over many years.

as i said i have had nothing to compare (other than with tour operators into sanford - direct) and this i think will be our future mode of entry into the usa.

the holiday was excellent it is just a pity that despite our planned entry into orlando international airport for a smooth, relaxed departure four hours prior departure to enable us to have lunch and a spot of duty free did not materialise. but this experiance has left us feeling the way we do.

we have complained to continental but watch this space.......

[Robert5988]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:It's not just the crew, Robert (although it's a bit puzzling why US airline crews are older and grumpier than most others),

P.S. just before I hit the submit button, no reason at all why older crew should be worse at all. I just wish they wouldn't be so snappy.[/quote]

Tonish,

In the case of American Airlines and I believe other US airlines there are several reasons.

Firstly to comply with regulations, worked out with the cabin staff Unions, great weight is given to the seniority of staff; and senior cabin staff, by definition, are older. They can choose which flights they wish to operate and long haul to Europe are very popular. It entails a flight, 24 hours or more put up in a nice hotel in a city centre, flight back and lots of time off afterwards.

With many US airlines teetering on the edge of bankruptcy there have been a lot of staff laid off and again it is the senior staff that survived. Some airlines having not recruited cabin staff for a while; as laid off staff have to be offered their jobs back first.

The perilous state of airline finances have meant that cabin staff’s pay and conditions have deteriorated leading to disenchantment. Given the labor law it is very difficult to discipline staff for anything less than major transgressions, and a ‘snappy’ - even rude – attitude is almost impossible to prove.

So an older, jaundiced and ‘fireproof’ cabin staff explains a lot.

[Pookie]

As ex crew, (many years ago now I must add when young & slim),
passengers were very polite too.........,

I have friends still flying who all agree passengers now on many occasions are rude & inconsiderate.
My husband is still in the airline industry, it never ceases to amaze him the rudness of passengers today & it has worsened over the last few years.

He has been sworn at, threatened as have his staff, police have to be called on a regular basis & this is at LHR. Usually as a result of a missed flight, its always someone elses fault never the passengers,
or excess baggage costs coupled with excessive amounts of alchohol.

Quote <span style="color:green">and a ‘snappy’ - even rude – attitude is almost impossible to prove.</span id="green">

So a snappy crew with attitude is most probably a reaction to snappy passengers with attitude.

Takes both sides.

Lynne

[anorak]

I must admit I have had multiple bad experiences with Continental, ranging from unreasonableness about baggage to broken seats and rude crew with unprovoked bad attitude. I simply don't buy their tickets any more.
I tend to fly into Sanford these days, generally cheaper and quicker, downside is that there are more screaming kids kicking the back of your seat for 8 hours, however FirstChoice premium seems relatively rare to suffer from that problem. Sometimes of course you get a FC plane which has no Premium even though you booked and paid for it.
Yesterday when returning from a very pleasant cruise on the new Norwegian Gem we had a long delay when some apparently essential bit fell off our easyjet airbus a319.
Somehow when you have paid less than 18 quid for your barcelona to london ticket you don't get quite so annoyed as when you paid continental over 400 quid and had a totally full economy section which meant you had to sit in a broken seat where the back wouldn't stay up for 8 hours as they wouldn't move you to business class seating where there was plenty of room.

[ShirleyD]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Lynne and Bob
As ex crew, (many years ago now I must add when young & slim),
passengers were very polite too.........,

I have friends still flying who all agree passengers now on many occasions are rude & inconsiderate.
My husband is still in the airline industry, it never ceases to amaze him the rudness of passengers today & it has worsened over the last few years.

He has been sworn at, threatened as have his staff, police have to be called on a regular basis & this is at LHR. Usually as a result of a missed flight, its always someone elses fault never the passengers,
or excess baggage costs coupled with excessive amounts of alchohol.


Lynne

[/quote]

I agree Lynne, people are certainly more demanding and ruder now, though there is no excuse for rudeness on either side. Being REALLY nice to a rude passenger only makes them look ruder and normally gets many complimentary comments from other passengers [msnwink]

I am sure this flight was just an unlucky one.


By the way Anorak, would love to see some photos from your cruise

[florida4sun]

I used to fly lots with Continental and never had a problem,. n ot even a delay (which is unusual in the USA). I have always found you get what you give. I have had many a laugh with air crew about passengers and their attitude, it is not a job I could do without losing it

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by ShirleyD
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Lynne and Bob
As ex crew, (many years ago now I must add when young & slim),
passengers were very polite too.........,

I have friends still flying who all agree passengers now on many occasions are rude & inconsiderate.
My husband is still in the airline industry, it never ceases to amaze him the rudness of passengers today & it has worsened over the last few years.

He has been sworn at, threatened as have his staff, police have to be called on a regular basis & this is at LHR. Usually as a result of a missed flight, its always someone elses fault never the passengers,
or excess baggage costs coupled with excessive amounts of alchohol.


Lynne

[/quote]

I agree Lynne, people are certainly more demanding and ruder now, though there is no excuse for rudeness on either side. Being REALLY nice to a rude passenger only makes them look ruder and normally gets many complimentary comments from other passengers [msnwink]

I am sure this flight was just an unlucky one.


By the way Anorak, would love to see some photos from your cruise
[/quote]