Interesting replies from one & all. I knew that I could count on that!
BTW, on the flight from DFW to LAX that I was (finally) placed on by AA, the FA made the announcement that "Cellular phones may be used until the captain orders the main cabin door closed." Hearing that announcement I felt:
a) Relieved & vindicated, since that was exactly what I was doing when FA Eva Braun gave me the heave-ho for being on the phone as we sat at the gate for the first DFW-LAX flight.
b) Annoyed, since there seems to be no firm & consistent AA policy on phone usage.
c) Screwed, because FA Eva was obviously in a position of authority & power over other humans & she grossly abused her authority.
As events unfolded, I thought of calling powers-that-be & refusing to leave, much as JRF has mentioned. I quickly decided that in this day & age, that course of action would more than likely land me in the airport clink with some sort of federal charge slapped on me. Then lawyers fees, more Kafka-esque behavior from the Controllers of Our Destinies...nah! That's why I went gently into that good night.
I disagree with drtravels: your interpretation of my actions is off-base ("...not made a big deal about others"). You seem to have missed the fact that I DID suck it up & Snake Pliskin didn't bite, as eastwest has noted. However, I cannot & will not just roll over, kick my paws in the air, & whimper when someone is abusing me with their authority. I turned the cheek far enough - at some point one must speak up for oneself before there ain't any cheeks left.(: Especially when it is moi who gets the hook from stage-left while the suits in first chat merrily away on their cellphones.
Then again, maybe your style is just different from mine, eh?
As CFM3RD so aptly put it (to paraphrase), sometimes ya gotta handle it as best ya can
& look at the bright side: the upgrade.(: BTW, CFM3RD...whip-snap wicked sense of humour you've got there, yow! If you & JRF had this happen to you all, you'd probably be flying free for life.
Actually, Warrenim hit the nail on the head re: the captain's responsibilities. It's the cap's ship, his flight crew, & his passengers. When he told me to wait a moment, then turned & nipped through the main cabin door, and the next thing I see is the door being sealed with me standing forlornly in the jetway......I actually laughed out loud. Talk about avoiding the issue & refusing to make a valid decision: he scooted into the ship, probably told everyone he made a captain's decision re: said dangerous passenger with cell-phone & then in his most stentorian tone said "Seal the main cabin door!" Ah, the drama. No cojones there at all.
------------------
Only one thing endures & that is character.
- Greeley