Look at it this way. There was one happy passenger aboard the plane: the one who did not have to sit next to a drunk. Sometimes the worse drunks are thow who try to be friendly or funny.

The CO personnel went by the book, and should be lauded for their knowledgeability and application of the rules.

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Thank you for choosing Continental Airlines, a proud member of the SkyTeam Alliance.

There were times I wish the pilot would have removed some unruly drunk passenger on my flight. I had a smelly drunk seat mate once on a red eyes flight. He kept making wierd nosie and comments during the whole flight and I have to say it's worse than a crying baby at a red-eyes flight.

The truth is some people just don't know they drink too much. 70% DUI drivers don't believe they are drunk. Alcohol does impare our judgement and commone sense.

Or just fly AA instead...

Just to play devil's advocate, the original post does indicate that CO served him the alcohol. Now, if he was overserved to the point CO then found it necessary thereafter to tell him he could not fly, wouldn't CO be in violation of the dram shop laws regarding overservice, not to mention just kind of cynical in then denying him any help at all, such as arranging for accomodations?

I realize alcohol consumption is somewhat of a personal matter bearing to an individual's responsibility, but, laws relating to overservice and civil and criminal liability for such overservice are there for a purpose, no? The serving party should bear some responsibility at least, I would think.

I can't remember how it is in EWR, but in IAH the bartenders work for the catering company (CA One Services), not for CO.

Maybe it was because you wanted to be closer to the cockpit.

They delayed my JetBlue flight for 30 minutes once out of Las Vegas as they booted a trio (including a lady) of somewhat obnoxious drunks off the plane. I've seen it happen before but it happens a lot more now 'in the name of security' as our pilot told us. Shrug. It's just a power trip, but as the Seinfeld episode told us all, the pilot can do whatever he wants whenever he wants.

Just wait till they get guns, then they can shoot you too http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

EWR-SFO is a long flight.

And how many stories start with "well, he didn't seem too drunk, so we didn't toss him off..."

I can't blame any crew for not flying someone's who is clearly intoxicated.

I do believe that it should be made a little more clear to folks that being under the influence is a reason to deny boarding, regardless of how friendly one may be while intoxicated.

Steve

Wait a minute. . .sounds like your whole day got off to a bad start. First, you missed your flight and went BACK to the PC. Does that mean you missed your flight because you were in the PC not paying attention to the time, rather than missing a connection or getting stuck in traffic or something?

CO accomodated you on a later flight, albiet in coach, apparently without any change fees.

If you are elite, you probably know the upgrade procedure, and that the FA's don't have the authority to upgrade people. Did you ask at the PC about an upgrade on your re-scheduled flight; or did you ask the gate agent? If you are not elite, why did you expect CO to accomodate you from your missed flight by putting you in First?

I have been told by a GA that if you are standing by for a flight you can't also stand-by for an upgrade. You must be confirmed on the flight before you can stand-by for the upgrade. So, if you were flying on stand-by that is quite possibly
why you were'nt offered an upgrade.

As others have said, I would just chalk the episode up to experience, and try to stay sober next time. The CO staff did what they were supposed to under the circumstances.

Amen, I once sat next to a woman who started talking to me the second she sat down. My first impression was that she was just the outgoing talk to anyone type, but quickly realized she was just plain drunk. She was happy as a manic talking non-stop to me and the person across the aisle, knocked her water off the center armrest onto my lap during the beverage service, went on to apoligize for 5 minutes, burst into tears when she started talking about her boyfriend & then slept for the next 3 hours.

Flying brings out the worst in many people, alcohol only seems to fuel the fire.

Please don't.

1. People who are intoxicated should not fly.
2. If you are in doubt as to whether you are intoxicated, keep your mouth shut.
3. The original poster was wise to get off of the plane. Any redress should be later.

That being said,
A. The pilot should have been willing to give his name. A police officer cannot get away with writing you a ticket without giving his or her name. With very rare exceptions, a witness in a trial cannot refuse to give his name. A judge renderin a legal decision must give his or her name. In effect, the pilot was both the complaining witness and the judge in punishing you for being intoxicated.
B. Under our system of government, you generally have a right to due process and constitutional protections even if you are guilty.
C. In times of threats to public safey, those making and inforcing the laws often get carried away. Duing WW II, the courts approved "internment" of U.S. citizens of Japanese descent solely on the basis of their race, an action eventually ruled unconstitutional. Of course, we all remember the "no-nail-clipper" rule.
D. Should you decide to persue the matter talk with a lawyer with civil rights experience. The pilot was "acting under color of law" in enforcing the regulation. Your lawyer may want to subpoena the names of the airline staff involved, and perhaps even the passengers seated around you, and use them as witnesses.

However, if you were intoxicated your damages for any breach by the airline of your constitutional or other civil rights may be small.

It may be best to suck it in and recognize that there is a tendancy for some people in power to abuse the power, whether it be a homeowner association board member, a TSA employee, a police officer, etc. It is a pitty that some airline employees take an absurd view of what "interfering with the duties of the flight crew" means.

Whoops, Jon, ya scooped me by two hours. *LOL*

[This message has been edited by kanebear (edited 03-20-2003).]