Consider that just because something doesn't hit, say, the Austin American-Statesman doesn't mean it didn't happen. ;)

This individual has written his side of the story on his own blog with his own name. That makes it IMHO at least as plausible as threads about equally unsubtantiated experiences started on FT by posters who retain their anonymity. @:-)

Yes, an accent can play havoc with understanding in bad conditions. Even after decades of marriage I sometimes have trouble understanding my wife when it's noisy when I would still be able to understand a native-born speaker.

I am skeptical because he promotes himself as one of America's top copywriters.

He authored the following books which are available on Amazon (through links on his blog):

The Adweek Copywriting Handbook: The Ultimate Guide to Writing Powerful Advertising and Marketing Copy from One of America's Top Copywriters

Television Secrets for Marketing Success: How to Sell Your Product on Infomercials, Home Shopping Channels & Spot TV Commercials from the Entrepreneur Who Gave You Blublocker(R) Sunglasses

Marketing Secrets of a Mail Order Maverick : Stories & Lessons on the Power of Direct Marketing to Start a Successful Business, Create a Brand

Advertising Secrets of the Written Word: The Ultimate Resource on How to Write Powerful Advertising Copy from One of America's Top Copywriters and Mail Order Entrepreneurs

Triggers: 30 Sales Tools you can use to Control the Mind of your Prospect to Motivate, Influence and Persuade

This supposed incident occurred on his way back from The Internet Marketing Mastermind Festival.

Actually, 10-15%, and as many as 25%, of Americans are mentally ill to varying degrees, myself included. So it's not surprising that airlines hire mentally ill people. To do otherwise could possibly run amuck of the ADA. We are everywhere.

Mental illness is no different than having a physical illness, like cancer or asthma. The Mental Health Parity Act ensures that mental illnesses are treated on par with physical ones for health insurance purposes.

--------

Also, I read a comment that the passenger was asking for donuts, and the FA thought he meant cops, since donuts is slang for cops. haha!

Actually, many of us that are hearing impaired never assume we heard it right the first time. When people say odd things or things that seem controversial, I always ask for a clarification. It is the hearing non-impaired that occasionally get irritated with me for asking and clarifying.

could that read, " does she sleep under her bed due to an abundance of caution"?

I am curious, with UA and delta merging, I wouldn't be surprised if whe was a Delta FA:rolleyes:

An FA with a hearing problem??

Wouldn't a hearing problem be an automatic disqualifier for the job??...

The ones that admit they have a hearing problem aren't a problem. It's the ones that try to deny it.

Assuming this event is true, I think every UA Elite should carry a poster on board with them that says:

Will there be food on board?


They can wave it in the FA's face so there are no misunderstandings.

I think you go WAAY off the reservation right about there, kimosabi!! ;) :D

Dave

And take the risk of waving it at a FA with vision problems who thinks the sign reads

We have a bomb on board?

;)

Just treat the FA as if she isn't there. IME with Skywest she'll do the same to you.

This was OO? That explains a lot. While I applaud SkyWest's safety record, decent ground handling (relative to other regionals) and generally better working conditions for their staff (again, relative to other regionals), they are notorious for pulling this "abundance of caution" BS. Remember, they are the ones who pretended that the FAA said that nothing other than inflight magazines and the safety card could be in the seat back pocket until a complaint was filed and the FAA sent out a formal rule clarification that wasn't needed. The reality was almost assuredly out of a desire to cut down on repairs of the pockets.

From Sugarman's blog (describing himself in the 3rd person): "He fasts regularly."

I guess not on the day of his flight.

What I love about this story is that there was a UA CS agent waiting to cheerfully book him on the next flight out. If he was so damn dangerous, then why ... oh forget it, my brain hurts.

Who got the last minute op-up? It better not have been a non-rev.