HKT to HKG - connecting pax behavior
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 2,340
HKT to HKG - connecting pax behavior
First time I'm posting a "rant" or something of this kind in over 1k posts - hope it doesn't rub anyone the wrong way; understand this may be a one off. Took Y class HKT-HKG, understand that it seemed like a codeshare between some North American airline, and most passengers seated at the front of Y were scheduled to fly onward to destinations like SFO and MAN.
These passengers also caused serious discomfort to those seated around them, and were extremely rude to F/A's. Without stereotyping the "angry gweilo", the passengers spent a good 45 minutes complaining to the F/A about needing a personal escort from gate to gate, otherwise he would be "stranded in the middle of nowhere." Terrible attitude, loud voices. On the other side, 3 pax with 2 kids constantly held up boarding by standing in the middle of the aisle while accessing the bin countless times. More than once, they hit the F/A button asking them to retrieve items from the overhead bin when they could have done so themselves.
I'm not one to rant. But it's not my first time on CX/KA nor in HKT-HKG, and each time I've witnessed sub-par behavior from passengers on connecting flights. Am I alone in this observation? Do other pax and crew have the same views? Or am I just a nut who should keep his rants to himself
These passengers also caused serious discomfort to those seated around them, and were extremely rude to F/A's. Without stereotyping the "angry gweilo", the passengers spent a good 45 minutes complaining to the F/A about needing a personal escort from gate to gate, otherwise he would be "stranded in the middle of nowhere." Terrible attitude, loud voices. On the other side, 3 pax with 2 kids constantly held up boarding by standing in the middle of the aisle while accessing the bin countless times. More than once, they hit the F/A button asking them to retrieve items from the overhead bin when they could have done so themselves.
I'm not one to rant. But it's not my first time on CX/KA nor in HKT-HKG, and each time I've witnessed sub-par behavior from passengers on connecting flights. Am I alone in this observation? Do other pax and crew have the same views? Or am I just a nut who should keep his rants to himself
#2
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: HK
Programs: Qantas (Lifetime Gold), PAL (Elite), British Airways (now sadly blue), Cathay MPO DM
Posts: 647
The longer I live outside of western countries, the more I cringe at my counterparts who come to Asia on a short holiday and act like they own the place......
#3
First time I'm posting a "rant" or something of this kind in over 1k posts - hope it doesn't rub anyone the wrong way; understand this may be a one off. Took Y class HKT-HKG, understand that it seemed like a codeshare between some North American airline, and most passengers seated at the front of Y were scheduled to fly onward to destinations like SFO and MAN.
These passengers also caused serious discomfort to those seated around them, and were extremely rude to F/A's. Without stereotyping the "angry gweilo", the passengers spent a good 45 minutes complaining to the F/A about needing a personal escort from gate to gate, otherwise he would be "stranded in the middle of nowhere." Terrible attitude, loud voices. On the other side, 3 pax with 2 kids constantly held up boarding by standing in the middle of the aisle while accessing the bin countless times. More than once, they hit the F/A button asking them to retrieve items from the overhead bin when they could have done so themselves.
I'm not one to rant. But it's not my first time on CX/KA nor in HKT-HKG, and each time I've witnessed sub-par behavior from passengers on connecting flights. Am I alone in this observation? Do other pax and crew have the same views? Or am I just a nut who should keep his rants to himself
These passengers also caused serious discomfort to those seated around them, and were extremely rude to F/A's. Without stereotyping the "angry gweilo", the passengers spent a good 45 minutes complaining to the F/A about needing a personal escort from gate to gate, otherwise he would be "stranded in the middle of nowhere." Terrible attitude, loud voices. On the other side, 3 pax with 2 kids constantly held up boarding by standing in the middle of the aisle while accessing the bin countless times. More than once, they hit the F/A button asking them to retrieve items from the overhead bin when they could have done so themselves.
I'm not one to rant. But it's not my first time on CX/KA nor in HKT-HKG, and each time I've witnessed sub-par behavior from passengers on connecting flights. Am I alone in this observation? Do other pax and crew have the same views? Or am I just a nut who should keep his rants to himself
I often find this to be the case on certain routes, given the influx of inexperienced flyers with unfounded expectations flying at the same time on such flights... Often can be obnoxious, but they're attitude is not a choice we can make...
One time, my flight was delayed for two hours, as someone was getting kicked off for making a stupid joke... and then a man came up front to complain that he was losing time for which he paid at his hotel, and demanded compensation for several thousand indian rupees... Bizzare to say the least given how it was a 2 hour delay on a morning flight scheduled to arrive at midday...
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 2,340
I always wonder if they pull the same stunts on AA or other airlines. The crew there aren't as patient to deal with this type of garbage. I've seen my fair share of DYKWIA's in my years of travel, but this new breed of obnoxious and loud expat travel group is becoming unbearable.
#5
Join Date: Jan 2006
Programs: AAdvantage Asia Miles Air China
Posts: 870
It remainds me of the 'Tai-Tai' rants I used to see.
I once commented to a gate agent "There goes a person in First Class with absolutely no class" after the way a passenger in front of me treated the staff.
Sadly in a world were personal responsibility counts for zero better get used to the 'new norm'
I once commented to a gate agent "There goes a person in First Class with absolutely no class" after the way a passenger in front of me treated the staff.
Sadly in a world were personal responsibility counts for zero better get used to the 'new norm'
#7
I always wonder if they pull the same stunts on AA or other airlines. The crew there aren't as patient to deal with this type of garbage. I've seen my fair share of DYKWIA's in my years of travel, but this new breed of obnoxious and loud expat travel group is becoming unbearable.
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: BOS/UTH
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One big difference bewteen Asia and the U.S. is that in Asia, if someone is behaving or treats the cabin crew badly, we all shake our heads and think to ourselves how rude s/he is. In the U.S., cabin crew is just as likely to tell the police that the person is a threat and have him/her removed.
#9
Join Date: May 2010
Location: FSD
Programs: BAEC, Delta SkyPesos, VS FC, SQ KF, AA, HHonors
Posts: 1,884
One big difference bewteen Asia and the U.S. is that in Asia, if someone is behaving or treats the cabin crew badly, we all shake our heads and think to ourselves how rude s/he is. In the U.S., cabin crew is just as likely to tell the police that the person is a threat and have him/her removed.
I will echo Fairhsa's sentiment. As a frequent sojourner and now peripatetic "resident" of sorts, I cringe when I see iterations of "Beer me, oriental slave!" or an attitude that Asia is some sort of personal narcotic/sexual/alcoholic playground.
#10
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: PVD, BOS
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,664
I suspect this sort of behavior is most common on the major tourist routes, as those are the routes likely to be frequented by, shall we say, inexperienced pax. And this is especially true of "cheap" destinations, like Phuket. I'm guessing DPS flights would get a decent amount of bogans, given its proximity to AUS. If anyone here has ever flown to MCO (Orlando) from basically anywhere, you'll see much the same thing. Definitely an "interesting" cross-section of the populace...
The most obnoxious pax I've seen in SE Asia was a 20-something Brit traveling on my PNH-SGN flight with QR. He was clearly altered (pain meds) and having a very loud conversation with an older South African couple at the gate. Basically, he'd been in Sihanoukville where he'd been hit by a truck and ended up in a coma for a month. He'd just been cleared to fly and was heading to SGN (and onwards to the UK, perhaps) to get "real" medical treatment (his words). His arm was clearly broken, but not in a splint/cast/sling and was obviously in pain. And he loudly discussed how he was going to get blotto once in the air. The GAs eventually approached him because of how loud he was; they were clearly trying to figure out if he'd be a problem on the plane and trying to decide if they were going to IDB him. He was allowed to fly; luckily he was in Y, so I didn't hear him from my seat in J.
The most obnoxious pax I've seen in SE Asia was a 20-something Brit traveling on my PNH-SGN flight with QR. He was clearly altered (pain meds) and having a very loud conversation with an older South African couple at the gate. Basically, he'd been in Sihanoukville where he'd been hit by a truck and ended up in a coma for a month. He'd just been cleared to fly and was heading to SGN (and onwards to the UK, perhaps) to get "real" medical treatment (his words). His arm was clearly broken, but not in a splint/cast/sling and was obviously in pain. And he loudly discussed how he was going to get blotto once in the air. The GAs eventually approached him because of how loud he was; they were clearly trying to figure out if he'd be a problem on the plane and trying to decide if they were going to IDB him. He was allowed to fly; luckily he was in Y, so I didn't hear him from my seat in J.
#11
Join Date: Apr 2001
Programs: Air Krapistan Poop Points "Scooper Level"
Posts: 248
As a gweilo or lo fon if you prefer, I have found that every race and every culture has it's share of rude idiots. Add a little alcohol and some pills to these people and it's showtime!!!. Have fun with them. Tell them that they are right, the flight attendant should have brought them their first choice of meal, or not cut them off after 5 double vodkas. Agree that they should be waited on hand a foot, and that if loud is good, then louder is better.
I was on a flight from Miami once in business class and while on the ground seated across from me was a guy talking really loudly into his phone so we all could hear him. It got louder and louder. I put my thumb against my ear and extended my pinky and began to talk loudly into my pretend phone. As he spoke louder so did I. After about 5 minutes the rest of the cabin is looking at me and laughing. It took Mr. Important Phone Guy about 10 minutes to realize that the whole cabin was looking at him and laughing. He then ended the call and pretended to sleep the entire flight.
I was on a flight from Miami once in business class and while on the ground seated across from me was a guy talking really loudly into his phone so we all could hear him. It got louder and louder. I put my thumb against my ear and extended my pinky and began to talk loudly into my pretend phone. As he spoke louder so did I. After about 5 minutes the rest of the cabin is looking at me and laughing. It took Mr. Important Phone Guy about 10 minutes to realize that the whole cabin was looking at him and laughing. He then ended the call and pretended to sleep the entire flight.
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Boston, Jo'burg, HK
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The most obnoxious pax I've seen in SE Asia was a 20-something Brit traveling on my PNH-SGN flight with QR. He was clearly altered (pain meds) and having a very loud conversation with an older South African couple at the gate. Basically, he'd been in Sihanoukville where he'd been hit by a truck and ended up in a coma for a month. He'd just been cleared to fly and was heading to SGN (and onwards to the UK, perhaps) to get "real" medical treatment (his words). His arm was clearly broken, but not in a splint/cast/sling and was obviously in pain. And he loudly discussed how he was going to get blotto once in the air. The GAs eventually approached him because of how loud he was; they were clearly trying to figure out if he'd be a problem on the plane and trying to decide if they were going to IDB him. He was allowed to fly; luckily he was in Y, so I didn't hear him from my seat in J.
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 2,340
These situations are pretty much lose-lose, you don't want to get involved unless things are really getting otu of hand, but it also sucks when you're just stuck in your seat witnessing everything unfold.
On a side note, does this qualify as a first world problem?
On a side note, does this qualify as a first world problem?
#14
Join Date: Sep 2011
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#15
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Given all the sorts of people travelling these days, there will at some point, be some sort of an obnoxious passenger on flights.
I often find this to be the case on certain routes, given the influx of inexperienced flyers with unfounded expectations flying at the same time on such flights... Often can be obnoxious, but they're attitude is not a choice we can make...
.........
I often find this to be the case on certain routes, given the influx of inexperienced flyers with unfounded expectations flying at the same time on such flights... Often can be obnoxious, but they're attitude is not a choice we can make...
.........
Add liquor and you end up with those headlines in the Daily Mail.
And to be clear, there are several groups of travellers who have no grasp of civility when it comes to airline travel - not just in their home countries.
While generally fine, why is boarding CX 829 in YYZ orderly and civilized, but boarding CX 826 in HKG a less organized experience with a lot of pushing and yelling? Just saying...and BTW, I find the same applies with some other airlines based on different departure points.
One big difference bewteen Asia and the U.S. is that in Asia, if someone is behaving or treats the cabin crew badly, we all shake our heads and think to ourselves how rude s/he is. In the U.S., cabin crew is just as likely to tell the police that the person is a threat and have him/her removed.