Originally Posted by
JamesKidd
Exactly this, there is nothing wrong with local laws, I mean just because the Western countries frown upon it, doesn't make it wrong. Just ask Mary Robinson, a revered western diplomat who was specifically invited to Dubai after some unfair criticism in their treatment of women, and she was all praises. The reference to Dubai is purely because Emirates is based in Dubai and their policies will be partially based on laws of the region.
Lucky for the cabin crew this didn't happen in the west. I believe in the US, the airline would have fired her on the spot and side with the passenger right away. No airline union/HR to turn too there. The cabin crew have little or nil influence in the US. Emirates' cabin crew behave like they are on a power trip. So what if he wanted to sit in the business class or first class. It was empty anyways. The cabin crew should have been taking his cocktails order.
Are you for real?
#1 . If I
as a passenger had paid a small fortune to sit in First Class and some lunatic on a power trip in his economy seat decided to come and sit in the same cabin as I and the crews reaction had been 'oh can I take your cocktail order' i'd be furious. What the heck, why don't we all just do that? Buy the cheapest economy ticket and just move into whichever seat we want and ignore and then verbally assault the cabin crew when asked to return to our allocated seat? What a great idea! Why don't they remove the onboard bar and install a boxing ring so passengers can fight over the empty J/F seats? Actually if i'm staying at the Ibis and there's an empty room in the Fairmont next door I should be entitled to just go stay there, right? Oh, i'm eating my Burger King meal but I spot an empty table in Nobu across the road, i'm gonna go there and demand to be served. Ridiculous!
#2 your assertion that in the US a flight attendant would be fired on the spot LOL. At the large airlines in the US F/A's are union represented. As are flight attendants for large companies in europe, most of south america, south africa, australia, nz, canada - even india. Remember the 'Dr Ho' incident in the US? He had done far less than this fool on the EK flight and was literally dragged off the United flight kicking and screaming (I am not condoning his treatment).
I am not saying that it was 100% wrong to suspend the crew member. This could happen at any airline worldwide although it would be probably termed as 'ground' them. And this is understandable. If there are questions as to how that crew member dealt with a situation then these need to be investigated. During the investigation interviews take place, reports read, witnesses accounts taken into consideration. Eventually a conclusion reached. What I cannot understand is why this suspension period would be
without pay when the only factual evidence at that stage is that some idiot caused a ridiculous situation on board for the crew to deal with.