Originally Posted by
s0ssos
Just because you make a command doesn't mean you have authority. Authority and issuing commands are unrelated.
That's true as stated, but doesn't fit this situation. Sure, issuing a command by itself is not a claim to authority...but if you issue a command
and then claim a title which carries authority you are explicitly claiming authority. When the FA said "turn your phone to airplane mode; I'm a flight attendant" it was the latter part of the sentence that was claiming authority.