This summer has not only been bad for the passengers, but for flight attendants as well. I have had only one trip in the past two months that has NOT been delayed for some reason. The secret that most of you do not know is that some of this aggravation has been intentionally caused by the AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS who are in the process of trying to get a better contract than the one the FAA imposed last year when their negotiations broke down. ATC is now working 'by the book', which means that due to FAA regulations they can cause longer delays with a myriad of archaic rules due to the antiquated system. As an example, on a recent flight from LAX-(lets say the New York area), ATC started slowing us down in NEVADA!!! We were barely out of LAX airspace! The flight, which generally takes 4.5 hrs, took 6.

In June I was working a Chicago turn (there and back) out of the NYC area; we were due to leave at 5:30pm; we departed at 12:30am. Gee, where were the passengers and crew during these FIVE hours? We were all boarded up and in line with the other million or so delayed aircraft. I know passengers get testy during the delay, well I do too! I don't want to be out there any more than you guys do; I'm trapped too. I did not personally cause the delay. Oh, and by the way, I also have to work the flight back. We arrived back in NYC around 5:30am; I was still legal to work my 2pm departure to LAX that afternoon.

Last week, NYC-San Fran (I know NYC is not an airport code); we sat on the runway for FOUR hours; my personal record is TEN!!! In those four hours we did two beverage services, plus serving from the galley; allowed people to use their phones, computers, whatever; and thankfully we had movies, gave out free headsets. I am provided with few resources on ANY aircraft; but I provide what I can. I still had people telling me that 'I' was holding them prisoner, and it was 'illegal' for us to be sitting out there for so long. I tell them that unfortunately, it is still legal to be trapped on an airplane for hours on end; and if I could let you off the aircraft, I would.

These are just a few examples of the summer fun I've had on board my flights. Unfortunately, I go to work every week wondering what fresh hell might be in store for me and my passengers. Keep a few things in mind when you travel this summer.

1) Bring a Harry Potter book or something that will provide you with some form of entertainment for hours on end.

2) Pack some snacks or food, those can go through security; once inside security, purchase a beverage to bring on board.

3) If you have children, provide the above two for them, plus diapers (if you have a baby).

4) Be kind to your flight attendants!! We will go out of our way to help you, if you are nice to us. Remember, we did not cause the delay, we don't want to be a part of it anymore than you do. We have families and lives we would like to get back to as well. I am allowed to work up to 16 hours at a stretch; and this summer I have had to do that quite a bit. My rest periods can be as little as 8hrs 45min at a layover. My 'rest' begins when the door opens to deplane all the passengers; my 'rest' ends when the aircraft door is closed on my next flight; yes while you are boarding the aircraft, the FAA says I am still 'resting'. On a minimum layover, I might be able to catch 4 or 5 hours of sleep. Being mean or snotty to the flight attendants will not make the delay go any faster, move us ahead in the taxi line, or resolve any situation. I always give people a comment card so that they can direct their complaints to someone who can actually accomplish something. The airline will respond to a passenger complaint faster than they will my complaint.

These days you have to treat it as if you are being dropped off on a deserted island, and will have to fend for yourself for who knows how long. I have been flying for 14 years; and this is the worst summer I've had. Oh, one thing about weather; it does not have to be bad weather where you are to cause a delay. Weather in your path of flight, weather that is inbound, or weather that has just left the area causes delays. Once the weather lifts we all form a line and leave in order. You may be delayed for 3 hrs; but some airplanes ahead of you may have been delayed for 5. Traffic in the sky is like traffic on the ground; if you're in a traffic jam your car does not have the ability to magically get ahead of all the other cars. I hope I have cleared some things up for those of you frustrated with air travel. Yes, it sucks!

Now personally, I feel a lot better when I can convince myself that the air traffic controllers are working by the book and not making little bitty compromises in the rules in order to fit another plane or two into the schedule while unobtrusively rubbing the rabbit's foot concealed in their pocket. Look at it this way, Pam: I haven't been dead yet and would just as soon delay it awhile. Cheating the rules is cheating me, and I resent it strongly.

you're missing the implication, Phil. Air Traffic Controllers are intentionally causing unnecessary delays, to stick it to the FAA. They are not making people any safer. They are only making people late.

I am tryingt to concentrate on the reality rather than the implication. There is, undoubtedly, a reason for each of the rules. Arguing for a change in the rules is not the same as accepting that they may be ignored.

that being a flight attendant must be among the top five worst jobs ever.

It's a wonder anyone would do it.

I have always hated flying, but I love to travel, so it must be done. Flying coach is perhaps the most dehumanizing thing one can do to oneself.

"There is, undoubtedly, a reason for each of the rules."

Not is, WAS. If it was written before better IT processes, it may indeed be archaic. And, just because a rule was created for a reason, doesn't mean it fulfilled the purpose.

I'm with you. My life is full of little Hells all caused by people who in the past made some minor allowance to get around an inconvienent ruling.

If the system is broken, or archaic the solution is to fix the system - not work around it. Working around it only exacerbates problems down the road when no one knows why they do things the way they do.

Their position is still iron clad. If the FAA is making the ATC conform to useless or otherwise needless rules then they still have legitimate beefs. The FAA and the ATC should have hammered out their processes and policies long ago. The union has valid points for making people aware of them by enforcement.

Not especially related, but just want to say that as someone who spent four years working in the hotel industry, I feel your pain when you describe the kind of people who are blame you for problems you have no control over. I took responsibility for my department's mistakes as best as possible, but still, can't count the number of times my associates and I became targets simply because we were there.

I think the best example was when we had somebody threatening to jump off the top of our 26-story building -- and people complained to us because the police had blocked off the road.

When will people learn that being rude to the help is never helpful?

While I cannot bring myself to rage at the help, it seems very clear to me by observation - particularly in air travel- that rude and beligerant behavior is in fact quite often rewarded to those who practice it.

did you know that Air Traffic Controllers have the highest burn out rate in the nation followed closely by 911 emergency dispatchers, with police following up at number 8 and airline stewards/stewardess coming in way down the line around 36.

Wow True the last time I flew with "Stewards/Stewardess" was on an old Eastern Air Lines 1049 Connie. When we upgraded to jet power we also renamed the cabin staff to "Flight Attendants". Now if we could only get the FAA to upgrade ATC Radios from AM to FM we would really improve things. Not many folks listen to AM Radio anymore do they?