Every now and again I like to tap into my wife's opinion on FA matters. She used to be an FA, but it was many years ago and for a now defunct airline that is so dismal I shouldn't name them. Canada3000 made Air Transat seem luxury...but I digress.

I asked her about what she felt the job was all about and whether she felt that putting bags up was part of it. I quote:

"The job is about safety first and foremost and that's what we spend months of our lives training for and what we're always told we're there for. Of course, you also get fired if your "lippy" isn't red enough or your shoes aren't patent-leathery enough, so the message is mixed from the employer anyway. I always felt a part of safety was keeping everyone happy and calm so I focused on having excellent customer service..."

The last sentence was the one that jumped out at me and I felt was an interesting point. Relating it back to this thread, it seems my wife may have ultimately viewed this PAX as a security/safety threat also, since he seemed impossible to please.

Anyway, just an anecdote/perspective from someone who used to be an FA for an "airline". (My GOD were they bad from what I hear from her)