Service flying back from US

I fly semi-regularly to JFK & LAX (and occasionally LAS & ORD), and every time I fly out the service provided by the crew in UC is impeccable (Especially from LHR). However on the way back it never seems to hit the same standard. I'm not saying service is poor on the way back, just not nearly as good as on the way out.

Is anyone else noticing this, or is it just my imagination?!

maybe its down to rest between legs?

Can you be a bit more specific on what you perceive are the differences?

It seems to be quite a common perception, yes.

I think there are a few factors at play:

(1) On night flights most passengers just want to go to sleep asap, particularly on the short 6-7 hour TATL hops. Therefore the service is toned down.

(2) Red-eye flights are no more fun for the crew than they are for the passengers. They'll have had barely 24 hours down route, their body clocks are all over the place and, like you, they want to get home with as little hassle as possible. There's no excuse for poor service but frankly no-one's at their best on an 8 hour night shift.

And (3) there's a psychological aspect. On the outbound leg you're more likely to be in a positive mood - excited about going on holiday or fresh for a hopefully successful business trip. You're in a good place and if a few little things are wrong you're far more likely to let them go. Coming back, however, you're in a completely different frame of mind. No-one wants to fly home after a great holiday, you're tired and dreading a night flight. So you're far more likely to pick up on the little things and find fault, simply because of your mood.

Can you be a bit more specific on what you perceive are the differences?

For me it's the general mood of the crew. I find that on the way out they are incredibly friendly and nothing is too much trouble. On the way back they often seem generally less friendly and attentive.

Perhaps they are generally just more tired on the way back and keen to get it over with and get home.

Like I said I'm not suggesting the service is ever bad, just noticably not quite as good.

For what it's worth I recently had a couple of flights on BA in CW. On one of the flights the crew were absolutely fantastic, on another they were absolutely dreadful - I've certainly never experienced anything like that on Virgin!

It seems to be quite a common perception, yes.

I think there are a few factors at play:

(1) On night flights most passengers just want to go to sleep asap, particularly on the short 6-7 hour TATL hops. Therefore the service is toned down.

(2) Red-eye flights are no more fun for the crew than they are for the passengers. They'll have had barely 24 hours down route, their body clocks are all over the place and, like you, they want to get home with as little hassle as possible. There's no excuse for poor service but frankly no-one's at their best on an 8 hour night shift.

And (3) there's a psychological aspect. On the outbound leg you're more likely to be in a positive mood - excited about going on holiday or fresh for a hopefully successful business trip. You're in a good place and if a few little things are wrong you're far more likely to let them go. Coming back, however, you're in a completely different frame of mind. No-one wants to fly home after a great holiday, you're tired and dreading a night flight. So you're far more likely to pick up on the little things and find fault, simply because of your mood.

Points 1 & 2 - makes perfect sense and no doubt contribute to the service

Point 3 - I usually travel for work so don't have the end of holiday blues. In fact my favourite part of the trip is usually the flight home - I love getting to the Clubhouse early for a meal and a couple of drinks, a couple more drinks on board and a decent sleep if I'm lucky. Followed by a nice shower in revivals before going back to work.

I have to say though that the clubhouses really do it for me. If it wasn't for those I would probably just fly with whichever airline is cheapest each time!

I have overheard crew (was on BA), saying about jacking up the heat to make people sleep = less hassle for them.
Prob happens with all airlines, but not nice to overhear.

I know exactly what you mean but I just think their priorities are different on the way back -- get the food out, then get the lights out. Above all, in UC they need to provide a cabin where people can grab a few hours' sleep. This influences the mood quite significantly. I also suspect that human tiredness comes into play (not unreasonably) -- so many of the flights back from the East Coast have those early-evening departures that really contribute to jet-lag.

I have overheard crew (was on BA), saying about jacking up the heat to make people sleep = less hassle for them.
Prob happens with all airlines, but not nice to overhear.

My big complaint about club last week from SJC to LHR, on the dreamliner was it was absolutely boiling, and it was remote controlled. It started to get bearable the THIRD time I asked for it to be turned down. Still kind of hot then....

Wasn't to help me sleep, heat keeps me awake.

@Smid I agree. Its almost always way too hot. But maybe its just us as I often see people wrapped in blankets