Programs: AA Plat, AA 2M, UA, Starwood Plat, Priority Club Platinum, Marriott Gold
Posts: 41
What's an example of an arrogant or annoying airline passenger you've seen?
There must be some good stories of witnessing arrogant or annoying passengers. In decades of flying I've seen surprisingly few such examples. Once on a long, overseas flight the person next to me was scratching and itching, exfoliating through most of the flight - it was uncomfortable to watch. Recently, had a compulsive finger nail biter biter seated next to me - as someone who occasionally bites the nails, it made me realize how unsightly this is.
On flights to las, there are frequently groups traveling together (generally one of them is getting married and the others are there for the bachelor party), and after they have had several rounds of drinks, they can get boisterous--when I was flying DL I noticed this more than AA, since I am now usually in fc and with the few seats available one would not have a group in fc--but on dl in economy there were instances where they were tipping the fa (in addition to the price of the drinks) and so were probably drinking many more rounds than they should have.
I have twice had seatmates so drunk that they were arrested. One groped me prior to takeoff and the flight attendant did nothing to reseat me. Upon landing, once the pilot found out, he flipped a lid and had the guy arrested.
After that incident, I no longer put up with the smell of booze. Next time a guy sat next to me so intoxicated I could smell it, I alerted the flight attendant, who simply had him removed (and subsequently arrested) before takeoff.
I have only been flying frequently for about two years now, and I've seen TONS of examples. If you've seen suprisingly few, you are either lucky, or you have thicker skin than I.
Last edited by scraps; Oct 20, 08 at 1:52 am..
Reason: fixed "you've"
If you were groped prior to takeoff, there should have been no need for you to be reseated, You should have demanded his removal. I don't see why another person should have been forced to sit next to him.
If you were groped prior to takeoff, there should have been no need for you to be reseated, You should have demanded his removal. I don't see why another person should have been forced to sit next to him.
I don't really think "you should" is an appropriate phrase to use towards someone who was sexually assaulted. One doesn't act as one would plan; the entire experience is very debilitating. In the end, it was rectified, and it turned out to be a case of an awful passenger and an insensitive FA. The fact that after the experience I am still loyal to AA just goes to show I believe they did right by me.
But believe me-- this by no means ends the list of annoying passengers I've seen. I encounter one just about everytime I fly. I call them "airport .........s"-- they are the ones who talk loudly on their cell phones in such a manner that everyone around them is aware of their (1)position, (2)wealth, and/or (3)fabulous social life.
I've only flown AA a small handful of times, but my personal favourite (thus far) has been a seatmate who used a paper cup as his tobacco chew disposal -- and then left it stuck in the seat back pocket at the end of the flight!
Other than that, I'm endlessly entertained by the amount of stuff people will attempt to cram in to the overhead bins, especially the ones who try to use FC overhead bins when they're flying down the back.
Is it weird that I'm looking forward to reading what gets posted to this thread?
Bringing a whole hot pizza onto a plane has to be up there as 'annoying, but not over the top'.
Ummm. Stuck for a better example. Suprisingly my seat mates have normally been relatively well behaved, and the gate lice - although annoying, just more comical than bad.
Programs: Reine des Muccis de Pucci; BA Apologist par excellence, Preferred Pin-Up of HIDDY
Posts: 8,211
Quote:
Originally Posted by skylady
How about a 14 year old posing as an EXP for an upgrade? He must have thought we were all new, and couldn't read.
Ah! I wondered when we would have news of CharlesMD..
I am unsure why AA fliers are any worse than some that your OneWorld friend carries. I have had toes being clipped and flying round the cabin, diapers being changed in First Class, underwear thrown on the floor in front of staff (after changing into pyjamas I should add), drunks, denied upgrades are usually good for a laugh, and the good old stand-by Dont You Know Who I Am.
Probably the worst that I have ever encountered in my time was on a flight out of Tripoli (BCAL before the take over) in the days when we used to have loads of oil people aboard. (I think - it was years ago) There was an incident so serious aboard where a passenger crawled up the aisle behind a crew member who was serving drinks. He got his hands up her uniform (we wore kilts in those days) and attempted to pull down her knickers. She screamed and instinctively hit him. As she did the stone in her ring caught his face and he bled like the pig that he was.
The girl was deeply distressed, the Pig was screaming blue murder and the passengers were wonderful (as they often are). They dragged him back down the aircraft and we had to stop them hitting him as many of them were Fathers themselves and they let him know what they thought in no uncertain fashion. The police were called on landing and the only thing that any concern was shown was for the girl in question. We all had to give statments and happily the airline pressed charges. She and I were called on to go to court she for obvious reasons, me because I was the No 1 on board.I believe that he went to prison - if they threw the key away that would not have met with any oppostition from me. She did not give up her job and is with BA to this day. I have checked my recollections and that is the worst ever.
No, AA probably has their fair share of Charm School Alumni (with honours) but they are not alone!
Just this morning, leaving AA88 in BRU, I was in a rush to catch the train since I had no luggage to wait for. At the jetbridge, when I asked to be excused to cut ahead, an EXP passenger walking alone in the jetbridge commented "so does everyone". He tried to keep blocking me off the whole way until reaching the terminal, which really I think was arrogant.
If the bridge is wide enough for two to walk and you take the whole place because you don't like others to be ahead or can walk faster.. than please move aside..
Since I was in no mood to cause a scene.. just left it..
btw: worst International crew I had.. no interest at all for service. They did not even leave any water in the galley..
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott Plat, National Executive
Posts: 347
In F, an EXP gets cut off by the FA for being clearly intoxicated (she, in fact, questioned why the GA's let him board). His is quite loud about his EXP status, he's a PFL, and then...
"Don't you realize I pay your salary, you ungrateful ***ch!"
FA kept her cool, told the captain, person in the next seat let his displeasure be known, the guy cooled off and was met by police at the gate.
--
I was in the FC line in DFW, but flying Y, which was about 30 people deep. There were 250+, easy, in the economy queue. I was in line by virtue of status.
As I approach the table to grab my tray, from over my shoulder I hear "Hey! You aren't in first! Get out of line!" I ignore the person, completely unaware that it is directed at me. Guy taps my shoulder and points out "I spent $5k for this ticket and to be in this line. Get out!"
I reply "Actually, this line is for First, Business, EXP, and PLT, look at the sign, and I'm not sure why this is your business".
"I don't give a ....! Freeloaders like you are clogging up my line!"
TSA comes over, tells the guy to calm down, he starts frothing at the TSA guy about "I paid a lot of money" and "I don't fly this airline to travel with the general scum", and, lastly "DYKWIM?" TSA guy removes him from line, at which he goes apoplectic.
--
I'm not sure why I ever aspired to business travel... It's just so glamorous!
Next time a guy sat next to me so intoxicated I could smell it, I alerted the flight attendant, who simply had him removed (and subsequently arrested) before takeoff.
Arrested for what? Just for having drinks? I am sure many people on any given flight have drinks at the airport/onboard. You want them all arrested?
I have to agree with you on that remark. People can smell of booze yet act like angels. The OP should not tar everyone with the same brush!
This happened on my last TATL flight. My seatmate was a middle-aged woman, who after couple minutes of conversation admitted that she is afraid of flying and booze lets her sleep. You could "smell" her already, she ordered two more drinks and got a "lights out" until the very landing. Couldn't have asked for a better seatmate.
