FA: " Rule is your food must be on floor not in overhead bin. Move it."
Jan 24, 23, 11:06 am
#106
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: AA LT Gold
Posts: 3,270
Originally Posted by WeekendTraveler
You’ve repeatedly cast doubt on what the OP has stated. Yes, you haven’t specifically used the word “lied”, but you’ve repeatedly cast aspersions about the OP’s truthfulness. There is no justification for doing that.
I don't think anybody is casting doubt on what the OP has stated.
Let's keep it simple.
It is a fact that there are lot of details missing in the story. For example what the food was that the OP has obviously avoided to say.
There is also no information of the full context of the situation, what the FA did before or after the OP's interaction.
In context with all details, the story may come across VERY differently than the OP's narrative.
Does omitting details make the OP a liar? Who cares? The fact is that there are details missing.'
There are always two sides to a story. That does not make either side a liar. It just two different perspectives of what happened.
Last edited by carlosdca; Jan 24, 23 at 11:32 am
Jan 24, 23, 11:39 am
#107
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 90
I think the flight attendant was about to force more luggage into the space and didn't want to be blamed if the food was squished. A canvas bag - to me that sounds soft sided. Lots of food items in a bag feel funny from the outside. For example, a pre-made sandwich in one of those flimsy triangle cartons would feel different if she was grabbing the bag to make more room. As to why she said the bit about it had to be below the seat - no good guesses except maybe that line was used to expedite the whole process versus having to discuss with someone.
Jan 24, 23, 6:01 pm
#108
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: LAX
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold but PlatPro thanks to LPs
Posts: 4,403
Originally Posted by Antarius
On a case like this, it's best to not argue and deal with it later. However, the "must follow crew member instructions" isn't a blanket statement allowing them impunity. There are rules within which you must follow them.
If a crew member asks me to change my shirt because they don't like the color blue, I'm under zero obligation to adhere to what they say.
If a crew member asks me to change my shirt because they don't like the color blue, I'm under zero obligation to adhere to what they say.
Doesn't matter. You have to follow crew member instructions. Take it up, later, with the airline or DOT.
Jan 24, 23, 6:17 pm
#109
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Madison WI
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT - 2.9MM, Lifetime AC, HHonors Gold, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat Ambassador, Hertz Gold
Posts: 2,144
Originally Posted by QueenOfCoach
They could ask you to change the shirt if there was foul language printed on the shirt, or if the shirt was immodest or a safety concern.
Doesn't matter. You have to follow crew member instructions. Take it up, later, with the airline or DOT.
Doesn't matter. You have to follow crew member instructions. Take it up, later, with the airline or DOT.
Last edited by Madison Guy; Jan 24, 23 at 6:26 pm Reason: Further clarify thought
Jan 24, 23, 7:16 pm
#111
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: HH Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 10,339
"Passengers must follow all crew member instructions". One has a choice when silliness occurs: get thrown off the plane and possibly arrested/banned from the airline OR follow the instructions and write a letter to customer service after the flight.
Jan 24, 23, 7:50 pm
#112
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Portland, OR.
Programs: AA EP
Posts: 523
I was on a flight from AUS to PDX and stopped to get ribs to take home to my boys. The entire plane smelled like a smokey bbq joint and people were coming up an offering me $100 for the ribs. They were in the overhead bin and made it safely to their bellys.
Jan 24, 23, 10:26 pm
#113
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 7,642
Originally Posted by nk15
The assumption is that FAs know the rules better than you and there is a reasoning for the request, they are not irrational.
Yes, most FAs are reasonable, rational people. All of them? LOL no.
Jan 24, 23, 10:30 pm
#114
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU/KIAH
Programs: AA "mid tier" elite | Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador | Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 9,098
Originally Posted by QueenOfCoach
They could ask you to change the shirt if there was foul language printed on the shirt, or if the shirt was immodest or a safety concern.
Doesn't matter. You have to follow crew member instructions. Take it up, later, with the airline or DOT.
Doesn't matter. You have to follow crew member instructions. Take it up, later, with the airline or DOT.
Generally speaking, it's best to listen. But if an FA came up and demanded to see the contents of my laptop or something like that, not a ....ing chance in hell that I'm going to comply.
Originally Posted by Madison Guy
I rarely disagree with your views, but I do here. (Although I admit I had the same thoughts about an offense shirt.) And I admit it reaches to the level of absurd, BUT.... If a deeply disturbed FA asked you to assult your seatmate "Punch him" - for no apparent reason - would you comply? A level of common sense must be applied to directives from FA, although in most reasonable (that is, almost all) situations I would agree it's better to comply and sort later.
Last edited by Antarius; Jan 25, 23 at 2:23 pm
Jan 25, 23, 10:47 am
#115
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Midwest
Programs: Marriott Platinum. United Silver. HHonors Diamond
Posts: 499
Originally Posted by corky
Back in the old days, more than once I put an entire box with a NYC pizza in the overhead bin. I put the box in a garbage bag....no problem whether flying coach or first. One time my whole pie was a lifesaver as a blizzard caused me to spend the weekend in the Admirals club at JFK and the airport ran out of food everywhere. The bartender let me store (and eat as needed) my pizza in the bar fridge. Another time, I bought some Stilton at LHR and put it in a plastic bag with some ice and stored it in the overhead (coach). Well of course the ice started to melt halfway through the flight and water was dripping from the overhead plus Stilton is a pretty fragrant cheese. 
We all laughed and the FAs came to my rescue (remember I said this was the old days) and stored it for me in the galley. Now I always pack slices of pizza rather than a whole pie after NY visits. I pack foil and zip bags and put them in my suitcase which goes in the overhead. I have also packed burritos in my suitcase in the overhead. TSA was interested in the burritos but let them slide.
We all laughed and the FAs came to my rescue (remember I said this was the old days) and stored it for me in the galley. Now I always pack slices of pizza rather than a whole pie after NY visits. I pack foil and zip bags and put them in my suitcase which goes in the overhead. I have also packed burritos in my suitcase in the overhead. TSA was interested in the burritos but let them slide.
Jan 25, 23, 2:14 pm
#116
Join Date: Aug 2014
Programs: Top Tier with all 3 alliances
Posts: 9,449
Originally Posted by tfizzle
I was on a flight from AUS to PDX and stopped to get ribs to take home to my boys. The entire plane smelled like a smokey bbq joint and people were coming up an offering me $100 for the ribs. They were in the overhead bin and made it safely to their bellys.
Jan 25, 23, 2:29 pm
#117
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Bham, AL
Programs: Marriott Gold, AmEx Plat, Agnostic on Airline Programs
Posts: 315
Originally Posted by nk15
That's completely different I believe, you were out hunting trying to feed your kids, and you had to transport the prey back to the nest. FAs are aware of this and it is allowed in the overhead compartment.
Jan 25, 23, 2:48 pm
#119
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: North Oregon Coast
Programs: AS, AA, BA, HH Gold, MR Gold
Posts: 205
Originally Posted by Antarius
Right, but those are requests in line with published rules. If an FA said they don't like blue or they hate bowties because their ex wore them, there's no rule behind that and "must follow crew member instructions" doesn't encompass these situations.
Generally speaking, it's best to listen. But if an FA came up and demanded to see the contents of my laptop or something like that, not a ....ing chance in hell that I'm going to comply.
has.
Generally speaking, it's best to listen. But if an FA came up and demanded to see the contents of my laptop or something like that, not a ....ing chance in hell that I'm going to comply.
has.
I see this as something similar to what we were told when I was in a union for a few years. Union leadership told us that if management told us to do something that violated our CBA, unless it was illegal or a health/safety hazard, comply with the order but follow it up with a grievance after the fact. If it were illegal or hazardous, we could (and should) refuse to follow orders. This sort of feels the same to me.
Jan 25, 23, 6:21 pm
#120
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: LAX
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold but PlatPro thanks to LPs
Posts: 4,403
If a FA were to request someone totally out of line ("Punch your seatmate" or "Let me see you laptop contents"), I would ask another FA to confirm the request or ask the Captain. This is, in my opinion, ridiculous speculation. An FA who wanted to stay employed wouldn't make such requests.
Getting back to the OP.
The OP was asked to remove "food" from the overhead bin and put it under the seat. Is that a reasonable request? Who knows.
The OP came here for some kind of back up. However, most of us reasonable folks wanted more details such as the type of food and how it was packed. The OP left, and we are debating what kind of reasonable FA requests we would follow or question.
A reasonable person would say that "food" such as granola bars would be OK in an overhead bin. A reasonable person would say that "food" such as airport fast-food in a flimsy paper bag that can leak, stink and make a mess during turbulence would not be OK in an overhead bin.
Getting back to the OP.
The OP was asked to remove "food" from the overhead bin and put it under the seat. Is that a reasonable request? Who knows.
The OP came here for some kind of back up. However, most of us reasonable folks wanted more details such as the type of food and how it was packed. The OP left, and we are debating what kind of reasonable FA requests we would follow or question.
A reasonable person would say that "food" such as granola bars would be OK in an overhead bin. A reasonable person would say that "food" such as airport fast-food in a flimsy paper bag that can leak, stink and make a mess during turbulence would not be OK in an overhead bin.
