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 DISCRIMINATION on United Flight 803 on 8/13/09
Posted Sun September 27, 2009 12:00 pm, by JAMIE C. written to United Airlines
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To Whom it May Concern:
We would like to inform you that we are utterly appalled at the discrimination that we have experienced flying on United Airlines on several flights during the past 2 years.
The most recent incident occurred on our trip to Taipei, Taiwan. This is our flight information:
Wash/Dulles to Tokyo/Narita departing Thursday August 13, 2009, United 803 Depart Wash/Dulles at 12:50pm, Arrive Tokyo/Narita at 3:35pm.
We were shown blatant disregard and DISCRIMINATION about halfway through this flight. While serving drinks, the flight attendant skipped our row. We understand that these kinds of things probably happen easily, so my husband got up, approached the flight attendant, tapped her on the back, and said, "Excuse me, I think you skipped our row, can we please have 2 orange juices?"
The flight attendant promptly whipped around and retorted, "We don't touch the stewardess. In AMERICAN culture, we don't touch." She then turned around, gave him the drinks, and returned to her work. I happen to be an American-born Chinese citizen, and my husband has been a naturalized citizen residing in the U.S. for over a decade. We both speak fluent English without any accent. To add insult to injury, this flight attendant is Asian (we found out that her name is Joy.)
Later, we asked another flight attendant on the same flight for a glass of water, and she told us to go back and get it ourselves. This same flight attendant was later seen kicking people's belongings out of the way while making her way up the aisle.
As one of the top ten airlines in the U.S., we expected United to be a leader in the industry, which it clearly is. However, not in the way that we would have expected; United has consistently ranked among the top 5 in customer complaints (according to Air Travel Consumer Report and the Bureau of Transportation Statistics). Among these complaints, United has consistently had a problem with issues of discrimination.
The fact that United flight attendants no longer seem to wear name tags only adds to the confirmation that United has lowered their standards on service, and makes it easier for United to pass off responsibility with these nameless employees.
Last year on a separate flight to Taiwan, we were also indirectly discriminated against by a male flight attendant. We were sitting behind another couple and this flight attendant told them that he disliked flights to Asia because Asian people were needier and had too many requests, plus they do not speak English well. As a company that is supposed to serve many nationalities, and as an airline that prides itself on the number of international destinations it services, one would that that it would be able to better-educate its employees on cultural sensitivity. In fact, applicants are even encouraged to speak foreign languages.
In today's age with so much competition and unemployment, United should be more focused on customer retention, hiring people with the right attitude, and employee education. Until United can turn itself around, you have lost yourself two more customers. We will no longer be flying United.
Sincerely,
Jamie Tang Chang and Bobby Chang
What we would like to see happen:
Train your employees to be courteous and friendly to ALL passengers, regardless of race.
Suspend the flight attendant (Joy).
Reinstate mandatory name tags for all airline personnel.
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by Anonymous A. Posted Tue September 29, 2009 @ 3:23 AM
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I don't think your husband should have tapped her on the shoulder,
regardless of what race he or the flight attendant is. It really isn't
necessary to touch, and I can understand why she may have felt
violated by that. To some employees, that's violation of space or
harassment. Personally, I don't like it when any person I don't know
comes up to me and touches me in any form. She could have put it a
different words, like "excuse me, tapping me is not necessary" or
something to that extent. Next time, he should use a less-violating
attention getter, by saying "excuse me".
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Bravo!!!
by CC h. Wed September 30, 2009 @ 11:59 PM
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by hussyinterrupted Posted Mon September 28, 2009 @ 1:52 PM
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Yes you were subjected to very bad service but not discrimination. It
seems like the flight attendent seen kicking bags around was just a
miserable person (or in a miserable mood). Were all the bags she was
kicking strickly the bags of asian people? As far as the asian
attendent telling you about touching her, do you really think she
would have not reacted the same had a white man tapped her on the
shoulder? You can't say that she wouldnt so you can't claim
discrimination.
And as for the flight attendent making a snarky remark, yes that was
rude and uncalled for but in order for it to be discrimination he
would have had to deny you some service. Did he do that? If he
wasn't giving someone else special treatment or you horrible treatment
it wasn't discrimination. It was just a guy being an a-hole. I hope
the airline does look into his extremely inappropriate behavior
though.
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by Richard S. Posted Mon September 28, 2009 @ 11:35 AM
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You were given poor service but I disagree that it was discrimination.
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Bigotry
by Richard S. Mon September 28, 2009 @ 3:55 PM
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Split hairs
by Tooter Tue September 29, 2009 @ 12:43 AM
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