Why did the captain do this?
Jul 26, 2018 | 5:43 pm
#61
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I don't know why we keep going down this line. I'm not saying the FA never has authority to overrule the captain. What you stated, as a basis for the fact that the FA can overrule a captain, is the fact that a GA can overrule a captain. What I was saying in my post is that, just because someone can overrule a captain, doesn't mean an FA can overrule a captain.
Jul 26, 2018 | 5:46 pm
#62
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not sure I understand your question.
i know for a fact that the action of the captain cost me time and money and I know for a fact it cost Delta money.
i think what he did was stupid and it seemed as if the FA and the other pax did also, it wasnt for safety, if it was he would have told us to leave our carry ons and get off quickly, and he would have let the FA know what was happening.
So, did the captain tell the FA why he was making everyone get off the plane? And if he didn't, you're not concerned about the fact that the FA, not knowing why a captain was taking this drastic step, decided to overrule him?
Jul 26, 2018 | 6:04 pm
#63
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He didnt tell her initially, and my concern would be why he didnt if he has a legitimate reason.
Jul 26, 2018 | 6:07 pm
#64
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What many of us are saying is that in the absence of knowing all the facts, sometimes you need to have some trust in the people who are actually in a position to know more than you. This applies to both the FA and the pax.
This is separate from the discussion of whether the FA or captain acted appropriately/professionally.
We will probably never know if the captain was "right" to deplane, but based on everything you've said and repeated here, I very much think the FA was unprofessional in her actions, regardless of whether they were justified.
Jul 26, 2018 | 6:08 pm
#65
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Jul 26, 2018 | 6:11 pm
#66
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If the captain knew there was something wrong that would have risked a larger failure in the air, wouldn't NOT deplaning have potentially cost you and Delta even more time and money, or worse?
What many of us are saying is that in the absence of knowing all the facts, sometimes you need to have some trust in the people who are actually in a position to know more than you. This applies to both the FA and the pax.
This is separate from the discussion of whether the FA or captain acted appropriately/professionally.
We will probably never know if the captain was "right" to deplane, but based on everything you've said and repeated here, I very much think the FA was unprofessional in her actions, regardless of whether they were justified.
What many of us are saying is that in the absence of knowing all the facts, sometimes you need to have some trust in the people who are actually in a position to know more than you. This applies to both the FA and the pax.
This is separate from the discussion of whether the FA or captain acted appropriately/professionally.
We will probably never know if the captain was "right" to deplane, but based on everything you've said and repeated here, I very much think the FA was unprofessional in her actions, regardless of whether they were justified.
I'm starting to wonder if maybe OP is a DYKWIA type.
Jul 26, 2018 | 6:39 pm
#67
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Many of the pilots may have come from the military, but Delta is not the military. Absolute respect for "the hierarchy" is asinine.. If there was indeed a real emergency, the Captain should have informed the crew before he, himself, walked off the plane.
Emergency or not, the Captain was wrong.
Emergency or not, the Captain was wrong.
Jul 26, 2018 | 7:13 pm
#68
Join Date: Oct 2014
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Interesting. I was on 426 ATL MSP yesterday evening and after some of the pre boards, somehow boarding was stopped by someone on plane... not sure if pilot or FA. We were waiting next to podium and waiting for SKY to be called and stood there for a good 10 minutes after boarding started. Folks were backed all the way up the jetway. The gate agent got on the phone to someone and was somewhat emotionally telling the party on the other end that "someone" stopped boarding and she needed someone to intervene. We ended up departing 17 minutes (officially) late but was really longer and didn't take off until 40 minutes late. I wonder if there is some sort of grievance slow down going on?
Jul 26, 2018 | 7:43 pm
#69
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Except, there wasn't a "real emergency". The plane was parked at the gate, with the door open and the jetway still attached. For all you know, the Captain was going up the jetway to talk to the GA about the decision, probably a reasonable action in this circumstance.
Jul 27, 2018 | 2:50 am
#70
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Keep in mind no one wants a panic. If the issue was serious but not immediate danger it makes sense for the pilot to ask everyone to get off the plane due to 'comfort' as it is more likely not to incite a panic and any kind of emergency evacuation carrys a high risk of injured passengers from the panic.
Whatever happened might have only had the potential to turn into an emergency in the air or it might have been a slowly developing issue that might turn the environment into a danger once x happens.
I trust the pilot to know more about technical failure - even of the HVAC than the FA.
And while a technical error situation might frustrate me and might inconvenience me I'd rather the pilot takes a cautious approach and not fly with a plane with problems.
The most likely way to figure out how serious the situation was from our position would probably be figuring out if and when that flight actually left the gate and if it was still the same plane. A longish delay might mean mechanics fixing the issue (and depending on the issue passengers might not be allowed to be on the plane during the repair) a full cancelation or change to another plane will also vindicate the pilots decision.
I get the OP was inconvenienced AMD rebooked but I wouldn't blame the captain without knowing a lot more about at least the fate of the original flight
Whatever happened might have only had the potential to turn into an emergency in the air or it might have been a slowly developing issue that might turn the environment into a danger once x happens.
I trust the pilot to know more about technical failure - even of the HVAC than the FA.
And while a technical error situation might frustrate me and might inconvenience me I'd rather the pilot takes a cautious approach and not fly with a plane with problems.
The most likely way to figure out how serious the situation was from our position would probably be figuring out if and when that flight actually left the gate and if it was still the same plane. A longish delay might mean mechanics fixing the issue (and depending on the issue passengers might not be allowed to be on the plane during the repair) a full cancelation or change to another plane will also vindicate the pilots decision.
I get the OP was inconvenienced AMD rebooked but I wouldn't blame the captain without knowing a lot more about at least the fate of the original flight
Jul 27, 2018 | 3:03 am
#71
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Just a guess (like everyone else here 
), but I would bet the pilot told the GA to wait on boarding and the GA boarded anyway. Then the pilot decided to prove a point.
), but I would bet the pilot told the GA to wait on boarding and the GA boarded anyway. Then the pilot decided to prove a point.
Jul 27, 2018 | 6:05 am
#72
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Keep in mind no one wants a panic. If the issue was serious but not immediate danger it makes sense for the pilot to ask everyone to get off the plane due to 'comfort' as it is more likely not to incite a panic and any kind of emergency evacuation carrys a high risk of injured passengers from the panic.
Jul 27, 2018 | 6:28 am
#73
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Jul 27, 2018 | 6:53 am
#74
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Many of the pilots may have come from the military, but Delta is not the military. Absolute respect for "the hierarchy" is asinine.. If there was indeed a real emergency, the Captain should have informed the crew before he, himself, walked off the plane.
Emergency or not, the Captain was wrong.
Emergency or not, the Captain was wrong.
Second, I would disagree that in an emergency the captain's actions were wrong, as it seemed his primary goal (if this was an emergency) was to protect the passengers. From the OP, it didn't seem like he was trying to escape while leaving everyone else on the plane, as your post implies.
Third, I'm pretty sure no one has said that the captain's actions in this circumstance were not wrong. No one knows exactly what has happened. However, just because the captain was wrong, doesn't mean the FA was not also wrong. Even if the reason the captain did this was because he was lazy and wanted to time out so he could go have drinks at a bar, the FA's actions were still wrong.
Jul 27, 2018 | 8:50 am
#75
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Ah, the armchair airline CEO takes issue with someone calling out people who think they know more than the experts? Didn't see that one coming.