C'mon folks, let this thread die the death it so richly deserves. Who KNOWS what happened? None of us were there, including Ryan (hic), I would submit.

And then Pilot Roger Ramjet and Sally Stewardess show up in this thread, citing FAA Regulations and "airline" (they don't even fly for CO) Rules as if they were Moses delivering the Ten Commandments. "Upon visible signs of intoxication, the FAA Regulations empower the flight crew to blah blah blah..." Well, DUH! Yet the airlines liquor us up in the PC and in FC. Not just allowing us to BUY drinks, but GIVING us UNLIMITED FREE drinks. Hence, if these "FAA Regulations" were actually consistently enforced by Roger Ramjet and Sally Stewardess there would be no one left on the plane for them to fly!

What really is going on here is that Roger Ramjet and Sally Stewardess just pull out and dust of the 'ol standby Visible Intoxication "FAA Regulation" when it suits their needs. No, friends, this is not really a Visible Intoxication "FAA Regulation", it is a Piss Off The Flight Crew and You're Tossed "FAA Regulation". Roger Ramjet and Sally Stewardess have DISCRETION to enforce or not enforce rules. They are EMPOWERED. Now so more than ever. And some of them really, really like this. So just sit in your seat with your seatback raised to its full, uncomfortable position; ensure that your seatbelt is securely fastened around your waist; and DON'T PISS OFF THE FLIGHT CREW. It's not that hard. Really. Most of them are very nice, on Continental anyway.

For the record, Ryan appears to be the slight bit of a dumbass, and I would have tossed him, too.

[This message has been edited by Joey (edited 03-22-2003).]