AA FA out of control or badly behaving passenger ?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Huntington Beach, CA, USA
Programs: AA PLT 2mm
Posts: 212
AA FA out of control or badly behaving passenger ?
Please be kind 😀 I'm only reporting this incident
https://thepointsguy.com/2018/01/ins...ent-attendant/
https://thepointsguy.com/2018/01/ins...ent-attendant/
#3
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: SFO
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat
Posts: 756
Based on discussions elsewhere, it basically comes down to this. FA might have picked on her despite other people standing and waiting to use the restroom, however her refusal to comply with a simple request needlessly escalated things. I haven't seen the videos, but who knows what her initial response was and she does seem she wasn't taking them seriously with her sarcastic responses. Basically dug herself into a hole.
#5
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Location: jfk area
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The article notes they were sitting on the tarmac for 2 hours and 46 minutes, in 14 more minutes the 3 hour rule would have "kicked in" and any pax should have been allowed to deplane...she should have been more patient.
#6
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 4,374
It does sound like the passenger was indignant and untactful, but nowhere near an abusive level that warrants being kicked off.
And I'm with the passenger, in spirit - it's fundamentally American (the country, not the airline) to stand up for yourself when you're being picked on.
Alas, too many front line employees in this country have absolutely zero sense of subservience. You can be yelled at for putting money on the counter instead of in the cashier's hand during a retail transaction.
And I'm with the passenger, in spirit - it's fundamentally American (the country, not the airline) to stand up for yourself when you're being picked on.
Alas, too many front line employees in this country have absolutely zero sense of subservience. You can be yelled at for putting money on the counter instead of in the cashier's hand during a retail transaction.
#7
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 5,270
Not that your opinion is of any consequence, but why do you think it's "American" to treat front line employees as "subservient" (some might say, pick on them)?
#9
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: SFO
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Posts: 756
I'm not saying I agree with this or even practice it, but many Americans do believe it and forget basic mutual respect goes a long way when getting service employees to help you.
#11
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Please be kind 😀 I'm only reporting this incident
https://thepointsguy.com/2018/01/ins...ent-attendant/
https://thepointsguy.com/2018/01/ins...ent-attendant/
#12
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: USA
Programs: AA Platinum Pro
Posts: 652
#13
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: AA Gold, Enterprise PLT, Marriott Gold
Posts: 604
Yeah, this sounds like an FA power trip to me. I am not saying the passenger was little miss innocent, but it sounds more like a ridiculously snarky FA, who escalated things with the passenger. FA's are trained to de-escalate, which often times doesn't seem to be the case.I've met many of these types when I worked for AA. The ones who think they are the police or something rather than what they really are, essentially servers in the sky, no matter what they tell themselves.
So congrats I guess to Miss Selter on a nice payday coming your way courtesy of AA.
So congrats I guess to Miss Selter on a nice payday coming your way courtesy of AA.
#14
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: It's hot here
Posts: 4,284
Funny that this would be the example because something similar in my past is part of what first made me realize just how awful and mean a lot of the public is to workers and how often the customer is not right.
I was literally 18 years old, a kid. I was working at a cash register, guy paid, as I am getting his change he turns to look at something and walks away from the register. I stand there for a second and then the phone rings. I am one of two people in the whole store and I will get yelled at if I don't answer it (store manager often calls). I put his change down on the counter and grab the phone which is a few steps away. Phone call is something quick, I hang up and turn around to him yelling at me that I am a racist and have disrespected him. I was stunned, said something about how I have to answer the phone and he yells at me again. My coworker (who happens to be a well over 6ft tall black guy) hears this and starts to walk over while saying "what did you say to her??". Dude leaves, coworker gives me a hug as I am a freaked out 18 year old girl. ....
Anyway, long story short, situations like that and some other rude interactions I had in my youth while working with the public definitely shaped my opinions and made me decide I would never work in a customer facing job again. People can be truly hateful.
Just a couple of weeks ago, I saw a guy throw a wadded up boarding pass at a GA and make this "shoo" hand gesture at him like he was an animal. All because (from what I overheard) the GA said they could not move his seat on a full flight. GA was not phased, just kept doing his thing and moved on.
Not at all saying the FA wasn't at fault, just thought the juxtaposition of the example was funny. Meanness can easily go both ways, but I do tend to not believe a lot of people who proclaim how horribly they were treated. I'll watch the video when I'm not at work.
Last edited by MissJ; Jan 30, 2018 at 10:06 am
#15
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 794
Other passengers corroborated with her version of the story. People in the same row are in the bathroom, waiting for the bathroom. If she wants to stand in her own area, let her stand. FA is aggressive and needs to be fired. Who needs this kind of FA around. It will happen to the next passenger soon enough.