Flight Impressions: Fail

We've had seven flights already this summer. Anyone who has flown in Asia will agree that their service is superior to any other airlines. Why is this? What should be required of flight attendants--especially in America?

#1 Weight Management
Growing up, my mom would often remind me that there is a height requirement for flight attendants--5 feet. (My mom missed it by 3/4 of an inch.) There should also be a weight requirement: no kidding. On our 13-hour flight from Detroit to Seoul, the flight attendant servicing my section was overweight, and she brushed against me and Coby every time she passed. I wasn't hanging over the arm rest either--so you can guess how bothersome it was to be woken up or bumped a few times each hour.

#2 Language Fluency
On that same flight to Seoul, there was only one flight attendant who could speak Korean. ONE! The majority of the flight were Koreans returning home, and they had to communicate using the little English they knew. The sole Korean-speaking flight attendant couldn't service the whole plane, so most passengers were left to hand motions and awkward pronunciations. To add to this, I heard more than one flight attendant just talk louder when the passenger couldn't understand.

#3 Smiles and Patience
What happened to service with a smile? On our short flight from Memphis to Detroit, all the ladies on the plane seemed to be having bad days. I was sitting in the last row, so I could hear them bickering to each other in their cabin behind me. They were complaining about their work, about their lives, and about passengers that irritated them. When they emerged from this little cubicle, they would often take out their frustration on those who called on them for help--snapping needlessly and practically throwing extra packages of snacks at people.


Only our latest flight from Seoul to Honolulu was on an Asian airline: Korean Air. From the moment we arrived at the gate, we knew it would be different. The helpful employee behind the desk worked extra hard to get an empty seat next to Mark so we could bring the car seat aboard for Mika (who is still a lap child). The flight attendants looked fresh and friendly and were eager to serve. During our trip, we heard them speaking English, Korean, and Japanese around us. Because of their excellent service, our 8-hour flight literally flew by.

I personally wish all flight attendants would have such pride in their work and truly seek to make passengers' trips more comfortable and enjoyable.

If only we could book Asian airlines when we travel domestically...