<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Pakse:
Howdy,
Ok, so riddle me this one folks.
I'm actually sitting in F (most of my flights don't have one). We're 20 minutes away from touchdown.
The until-now friendly FA says to me, "Sir, I need you to finish your drink now as I have to clear the glass.".
I reply, "Ma'am may I hold on it for a bit, my ears are bothering me with the pressure change on the descent".
She firmly states, "Sir, you must allow me to take the glass now, that is a direct order from a member of the flight crew".
Ok fine - I know they are supposed to do this. And I also know that 99% of the time when I have made this request they have allowed me to hold onto my diet coke (generally I'm down to less than an inch of liquid in the glass by the time this happens).
Now, I'm not looking to hassel anyone - and I have never claimed my ears were bothering me when they weren't (by the way - they rarely bother me - I've done this maybe 20 flights total? if that many).
But my question is why? If it's true that I am supposed to be allowed to keep a drink I bring with me - why is it verboten to keep a drink the FA gives me?
I'm not complaining - I've complied and will comply in the future - I'm just wondering why? (although I'll certainly ask in the future when my ears are popping again...).
Keep the faith,
Pakse</font>
Pakse -
I don't know what the difference is between a cup you bring on yourself and one that the airline gives you. The FAA ruling, however, requires the airline to pick up ALL cups, glasses and food serving items that they distributed. That not withstanding, depending on how much time we have before we touch down, I will allow a passenger to finish a drink. I generally just let them know that I will have to pick the glass up shortly and they should try to finish it up. If they are really enjoying the drink (???) or want it to help relieve the pressure in their ears, I have been known to pour it into a plastic cup for them before landing and just let them keep it. Even that, though, is against the FAA rule.
As and aside to all that, it is in very poor taste for a crew member to tell you that you are "disobeying crew orders" in order to get you to comply unless it is an extreme situation. Perhaps if you are drinking from your own bottle and refuse to put it away or if you are walking about the cabin during turbulence despite several requests to be seated. Even then, I would feel akward telling a customer they "must obey my orders". It can usually be resolved long before it ever gets to that point.
[This message has been edited by AS Flyer (edited 10-27-2002).]