Dear American Airlines Flight Attendant, What Was Your Problem?
I'm back from my trip and can report that, with the support of my sister, I was able to limit my plastic consumption for the most part. Here's a quick summary of the plastic I did use:
Well, for all of them except the last one.
That STUPID styrofoam cup and stirrer were not my fault at all. On the plane on the way home, it was really, really cold so I asked my American Airlines flight attendant for some hot tea. I handed her my stainless steel reusable mug and asked politely, Can you just put the tea in here please?
And you know what she said? Oh, ahhhh (uncomfortable pause) I'm just going to put it in a cup for you.
What is that supposed to mean? Why didn't she want to use my stainless steel mug? It was totally clean. What was her problem?
Did American Airlines instruct her not to fill reusable mugs, or was she just being a freak? I would really like to know.
Anyways, I may never find out, but I guess it's time to write a letter.
- A plastic glass for wine on the plane (an early transgression)
- Two of those miniature cups for cream
- A glasses repair kit with a bit of plastic packaging (the screw on my sunglasses fell out)
- various hotel key cards
- A miniature bottle of shampoo (I went in this amazingly gorgeous soaking pool at my hotel and I had to wash the chlorine out of my hair)
- A few bags of chocolate covered hazelnuts (souvenirs for my new roomies and my dad)
- A styrofoam cup and plastic stirrer for tea
Well, for all of them except the last one.
That STUPID styrofoam cup and stirrer were not my fault at all. On the plane on the way home, it was really, really cold so I asked my American Airlines flight attendant for some hot tea. I handed her my stainless steel reusable mug and asked politely, Can you just put the tea in here please?
And you know what she said? Oh, ahhhh (uncomfortable pause) I'm just going to put it in a cup for you.
What is that supposed to mean? Why didn't she want to use my stainless steel mug? It was totally clean. What was her problem?
Did American Airlines instruct her not to fill reusable mugs, or was she just being a freak? I would really like to know.
Anyways, I may never find out, but I guess it's time to write a letter.
Comments
I have never had that response on an airline - I always bring my own tea and often a cup and they are more than happy to fill me up with hot water and even offer to rinse out my mug.
Sometimes I have to wait if they are doing drinks service, but usually I'll go ask for hot water way before drinks service and that makes their job easier, too.
On NWA at least, you get a little plastic (reusable) mug at mealtimes, but they'll only put hot liquids in it. If you ask for juice or water, they pour it into a little cup and put that in the mug. However, if you actually drink tea out of that plastic mug, guess what it tastes like?
Good on you for asking. Maybe even refuse the beverage if the flight attendant won't put it in your clean reusable cup. Give her a 'what the heck is wrong with you that you can't pour some water in my clean reusable cup' look. Two can play that game. Or so I say here from the compfort of my own keyboard far away from the actual instance of confrontation.
Cheers on the letter too. You go girl.
Side note: would you be up for posting some letter templates? I have been saying that I would probably right letters more if I had a basic format to follow. Maybe you would be up for posting something like that to ispire and enable the rest of us lazy letter writer wannabes? Thanks!
At least you tried!
FYI...planes do not have microwaves. Convection ovens are the standard.
Don't fly American Airlines.
They are THE WORST AIRLINE.
This blog is very inspirational! I'm so glad I just stumbled across it!