Programs: AA Lifetime Plat (5m+), BA GGL, LH Sen, DL Silver, SPG Plat, Mucci
Posts: 4,316
Dear Mr. elitetraveler,
When you think of American Airlines, do you think of us only as transportation? Many others do, so let me take this opportunity to make sure you understand what we really do:
- American Airlines gives you an iron-clad excuse to go on a bender and sleep in the next day. Our most recent 10th place performance (last!) in on-time arrivals for all of 2008 means telling your boss, colleagues and customers you flew American and your flight was delayed means they will believe you!
- Don't worry about looking strung out and disheveled when you finally roll in. Our most recent 10th place performance (last!) in lost luggage means you can simply come straight from that after hours party and tell your co-workers we lost your luggage. It probably happened to them to!
- Make some money on us! Everyone knows now we charge you for bags you check, bags we lose, food on board and soon even water. How will your boss expect us to provide receipts for all of these add-ons. Simply take a small carry-on, starve yourself and forge some expense receipts. We became an additional source of income in these difficult times.
Mr. Elite Traveler, I hope next time you fly, or don't fly, you will consider using American Airlines as an iron clad alibi.
Yours truly
AA Marketing
Last edited by elitetraveler; Jan 6, 09 at 9:26 pm.
If you have one of the older clockwork powered blackberries, then I don't have a problem. If on the other hand it is electronic, and has an off switch, then in needs to be off. The rules are there for a reason and I dislike self important twerps who think they are above the rules and therefore that it is okay for them to jeopardize everyone's safety.
What safety? Are you suggesting that airline safety depends on everyone remembering to turn off cell phones? And WIFI is also restricted, EXCEPT on planes where the airline is charging for WIFI access.
So, a terrorist could really screw things up by bringing on a small device capable of broadcasting the equivalent RF of a few cell phones
Maybe to you. Fortunately, you don't speak for everyone.
Are you actually claiming that someone using a Blackberry during takeoff (rules aside)- something known not to cause any safety problems whatsoever, is on the same level of annoyance as kids running amok? I wouldn't want to speak for you, of course, but I have to question if you're seriously saying this.
The point is, that some of us find it ridiculous that elite passengers in F cannot obey simple airline rules, yet get in a tizzy when kids and their parents cannot do the same. Of course, some believe that the FA and pilot should "control the kids". What if the parents scolding doesnt work. Then what? Tie them up? arrest them?
Whenever I see an EXP in F with the BB on or getting up to use the RR when seat belt light is on, i can also make the case for a safety issue.
The point is, that some of us find it ridiculous that elite passengers in F cannot obey simple airline rules, yet get in a tizzy when kids and their parents cannot do the same. Of course, some believe that the FA and pilot should "control the kids". What if the parents scolding doesnt work. Then what? Tie them up? arrest them?
Whenever I see an EXP in F with the BB on or getting up to use the RR when seat belt light is on, i can also make the case for a safety issue.
OK, forget the safety issue. Do you find the same level of annoyance with someone using a BB, or getting out of a seat when the seatbelt sign is on as you do by getting smacked in the head, or having incessant noise? If so, I'd suggest that you not let the actions of others that don't actually impact you bother you so much.
As for the threat of arrest, as noted several times (as BenkaminNYC suggested, it really helps to read what is written here before ranting) it is for the parents, and not the kids. Depending upon the level of noncompliance this is a viable solution.
The point is, that some of us find it ridiculous that elite passengers in F cannot obey simple airline rules, yet get in a tizzy when kids and their parents cannot do the same. Of course, some believe that the FA and pilot should "control the kids". What if the parents scolding doesnt work. Then what? Tie them up? arrest them?
Whenever I see an EXP in F with the BB on or getting up to use the RR when seat belt light is on, i can also make the case for a safety issue.
Have you heard of the concept of relativity? By your argument, jaywalking and murder are the same thing, because they are both "against the rules".
More important, the data support a conclusion that continued use of portable RF-emitting devices such as cellphones will, in all likelihood, someday cause an accident by interfering with critical cockpit instruments such as GPS receivers. This much is certain: there exists a greater potential for problems than was previously believed.(1)
and
Quote:
interference levels produced by a portable telephone, used near the flight deck or avionics equipment bay, will exceed demonstrated susceptibility levels for equipment qualified to standards published prior to July 1984 (2 - PDF)
Are you actually claiming that someone using a Blackberry during takeoff (rules aside)- something known not to cause any safety problems whatsoever, is on the same level of annoyance as kids running amok? I wouldn't want to speak for you, of course, but I have to question if you're seriously saying this.
Cheers.
I'm claiming that some people can take unruly kids in stride. I personally find people using their BlackBerrys and cell phones long after the boarding doors have closed to be an extreme annoyance. A very good friend of mine does it and it has driven me batty the few times I've flown with him. Doing that screams "Look at me, I'm so important!"
Different people have different hot buttons. I personally find adults with an exaggerated sense of their own importance much more annoying than a bunch of noisy kids. You and BenjaminNYC have a different view. I can fully accept that, until you tell me that my view is wrong and yours is right.
What was AA to do. Land at the nearest airport and kick the parents and kids to the curb.
EXACTLY.
What AA should have done has been mentioned numerous times in this thread. If you won't bother to read the thread, you really shouldn't bother posting.
