Was escorted off flight for complaining about 1 hour delay
 

Hi,

I want to ask everyone here if you have any advice for me regarding an airline/travel incident that happened to me yesterday. Basically I was escorted off a flight by police officers for complaining to a flight attendant while a flight was on the tarmac for an hour waiting for a gate to open.

I took an American Airlines flight which arrived at Washington Reagan airport and had to sit on the tarmac for about an hour because the gates were full. After 30 minutes, I complained to a flight attendant on board, and asked what was causing the delay, how much longer the delay would last, and what kind of compensation the airline would offer passengers for the delay. She said that she didn't know any of this, and when I described the situation as "....ing ridiculous," she said that I shouldn't swear at her unless I wanted the police to meet us at the gate. I said that I didn't swear "at" her, and that this is America, we have freedom of speech here, and I would used whatever adjectives I wanted to describe this situation, even though she might find that distasteful. The whole conversation was in a normal tone and not loud at all... actually kind of quiet, although other passengers in the adjacent rows could hear. The flight attendant left abruptly and apparently called police because when the plane finally got to the gate everyone was told to retake their seats and I was singled out and escorted off the plane by two police officers. They ordered me to sit at one of the lounge chairs, where I explained what had happened. I was not arrested or charged with anything, although the lead officer told me that swearing in Virginia is a misdemeanor. I was also told that I could be charged with "starting a riot" since I had told the flight attendant that I would tell other passengers nearby me to complain to the gate agent along with me. I was followed by the officers to the baggage claim area where I got my luggage. Two other passengers came up to me and showed their support. One of them gave me her cell phone number. I left after getting the officers' badge numbers and names.

I told the officers that this was nothing more than an intimidation tactic by the airline and flight attendant, although they couldn't care less. By the time I was leaving, they were getting into an argument with another passenger and his wife from the same flight. What do you think my first step in pursuing redress for this should be? I plan on contacting a few lawyers. I've never had any problems like this with airlines before. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

Even without the cursing, I've seen flight crews and heard them throw a fit when customers complain about a delay in flight, even when done in a joking manner. As far as I've observed it or heard about this, this happened way more often on US airlines, but never on any of my international flights.

My advice: don't curse and you are less likely to get ejected.

Although it is easier said than done, swearing rarely helps ones cause in such instances. It allows others to duck out of the real dispute in hand and play the "abuse" card.

While I wasn't witness to what occurred I can tell you cursing never helps anything.
cheers
Howie

Amazing but true. I saw a "No @#!" sign on the Va Beach Boardwalk on 9/2/07. Hampton Roads area is very appealing but for its extreme Redness.

Tis true, just about everything imaginable in Virginia is a misdemeanor. :td: I think you need to chalk this one up as a lesson in life and move on. Oh yeah, perhaps curbing the obscenities will help. You catch more flies with honey than vinegar...

Did the airline cause the delay? No. I think it was actually the airport company who provides the gates to the airline. Cabin Crew are sick to death of being cursed at because of things that are beyond their control. We understand patience wears thin among people in these occurances, but bare in mind the Crew are right there with you going through the same frustration. Their day has now been made longer, their passengers they have been working hard to build a rapport with for the duration of the flight are now left with a tarnished view and to top it off a passenger always wants to know what is going to be done to compensate them.

IMHO you didnt deserve to be taken off the flight in that way and I would not have contacted sucurity as my company is very thorough with its training and threat management and the threat module is to be followed at all times. Be rest assured that FA will have to answer to the company in question for requesting assistance of that nature. HOWEVER - unless the Cabin Crew were actually to blame for the delay or the company itself - I would take much more care in the future to mind my P's and Q's. I doubt you would accept being spoken to like that in any situation so why not be an adult about the situation like the other 300 odd people onboard?

When you curse, you play into the hands of people who want to discredit you. They'll say that you were out of control, "frightening people," or whatever -- and your own words will prove their point. When a confrontation of some sort looms, you need to be totally cool from start to finish. Your mistake, swearing, cost you your credibility.

Bruce

The FA wasn't the target of the curse. The pax, however, was the target of the FA's petty acts. This is just another example of why it is improper to grant quasi-police powers to FAs. As noted, FAs get frustrated along with the pax and have been known to act petulantly against the interest of those who pay their salaries.

Further, FAs have little appreciation for the real world, as reflected in the "would you like to be spoken to" comment above. F-bombs fly when things go wrong in the America. I'm not suggesting it's right, but that's the reality. Calling the police to detain a pax because the FAs sensativities were hurt over such a trivial use is amazing. If the OP version is true, and if we could peer into the heart of the FA, I would not be suprised to learn the real reason she called the police is that she didn't mind the swear as much as it was the pax's subsequent dismissal of her complaint. Note, she didn't feel the need for police involvement until the pax - gasp - told her this was America.

There is little recourse here for the OP. He may wish to get a copy of the police incident report to determine if the FA lied in what she reported to them and learn if there are any false reporting remedies in VA.

Otherwise, the OP should file a complaint with the airline and hope they care enough to stick it in her file. Maybe if she has some past incidents she can be culled from the herd. I definately don't want to fly with this FA onboard. She seems to lack a certain emotional stability. If this is how she reacts to a single, softly spoken curse, then I doubt she will be of any value in a real emergency.

BTW: in case the OP didn't get it the other 5 times - more flies with sugar ...

As others have said, swearing doesn't help.. then, playing the "freedom of speech" line doesn't help at all. You don't have freedom of speech when it comes to a private company on their property.. That is probably what pushed her over the edge moreso than the swearing.

Questioning someones authority, which is what you indirectly did, is never good. Much like someone told me to do when facing someone who can make your life difficult (cops, flight crews), do what they say, document, and report later. Its not worth going to jail/getting kicked off/getting banned.

I'm not a lawyer, but unless you asked the police "Am I free to leave" they have the right to "question" you. It would be very hard to prove false arrest or unlawful imprisonment.

Did the FA step over the line to "teach you a lesson?" Sure. But, if you press this further in all likelihood AA will circle the wagons around the FA, and could perhaps go as far as suspending you FF account and refusing to transport you in the future.

Plus, in the court of public opinion you could lose in the press too when your own words are used against you.

I would make sure I got a copy of the police report to make sure there are no errors, but then I'd let it go.

geheim, welcome to FlyerTalk!

Please keep us posted as to how this eventually plays out.

You got what you deserved. Please do not abuse the 1st Amendment, it's under enough attack as it is. If you can't speak without being a foul-mouthed lout then zip it.

Clear enough ?

It seems that way too many people travelling think they should be treated as "first class" when their behavior doesn't indicate anything but Trailways Bus. Just because someone bought a ticket, doesn't give them the right to verbally abuse another. Even though it may seem as it was one little remark, how many remarks do these people have to put up with over the course of the day?

How True

Im wondering if the OP feels they are due Compensation, then what do they feel they owe to the other passengers on that flight, since everyone was required to retake their seats and were delayed even further getting off the Flight Because of the OPs mouth.

Sorry OP you were Way out of line! Not only for the lack of tack and lousy choice of Language used. But once you are on teh ground theres very little any carrier can do. Besides they want you OFF that plane more then you want to get off. Till its at the gate and unloaded they cant get it back in the air earning more $$$.

There was a Great post by an AA employee who assigns the gates basically just cause a gate is open doesnt mean it can be used, they are alot of other considerations that have to be taken into consideration, eg, is the gate able to handle that type of aircraft (not every gate can handle every type of aircraft), what type of planes are parked at the gates next to that 1 or will be,could be the wings will hit each other or not allow another plane to park or move back.

Till I read that post I also didnt understand why we simply couldnt be assigned any free gate. Now I know its Not so simple as simply putting your car into any parking spot. More like youre driving a large SUV and the only spots available have a sign Compacts or Economy cars only- sure you can put a Hummer into there but it will stick onto the road way and cause every vechile trying to drive problems and make that 2 way path into a 1 way