toomanybooks

https://www.heraldmailmedia.com/news...8cb936c33.html

NoStressHere

Once you read the news report... it does not look good for the guy.

As to Southwest... hard to say.

MSPeconomist

IMO it doesn't look goof for the FA who told him to slow down but continued serving him.

However, I'm confused by the sequence of events, including the seat change(s) the FAs required the alleged perpetrator to make. If he was flirting with the 13 year old and then his seat was changed, how does this fit with the molestation? Was a sexual predator required to change seats so as be next to a 13 year old girl? Also, where was her brother seated before and after the alleged predator moved?

storewanderer

Alcohol is not allowed on other forms of public transportation like bus, train, etc. Maybe it is time that it is not allowed on airplanes either.

I am sure this post will go over the rocks hard.

DC9

Although, I’ve had alcohol served on long distance train travel. But what happens elsewhere is probably not really on point, I guess.

Edit: While horrendous for this to occur, and can’t be excused, would it be usual for a parent to allow their young child to sit next to an adult stranger on a flight, where they are not in view of the parent?

Often1

This is completely wrong. Many trains and some bus services serve alcohol.

But, too the broader point, this is a simple "dram shop" case in which the holder of the liquor license, e.g. WN is liable for the damage caused by serving an individual who evidently should not have been served (and likely should not have been permitted to board).

Needless to say, a Complaint is simply a set of allegations and here we have a news report of a Complaint. But, if the facts are proven as alleged, WN may be on the hook for a great deal of money (unless it settles).

The solution is not to ban the service of alcohol, but for FA's, who are all trained, to abide by federal law and WN policy, and not serve those who appear intoxicated. GA's likewise are trained to deny boarding and FA's to recognize signs of intoxication before departure.

LegalTender

They're also trained to avoid sparking confrontation. "One angry person can change our employment status" is a workaday refrain.

GoldenArgosy

You've actually heard someone from Southwest say that?

Often1

While non-confrontation is part of training, I have seen plenty of FA's cut passengers off and do it in such a way as not to cause a confrontation at FL 39.

LegalTender

"Ben, a flight attendant working for a major U.S. airline" is AFA's attribution.

Flight Attendants Say Conflict Is Creating a Big Safety Problem on Planes

No issues, no drama, just easy-breezy flying is Southwest lore.

rickg523

That article is over three years old and written a couple of months after the Dao incident. FA authority has been significantly upheld by carriers since then, including authority to refuse boarding ticketed passengers if they're judged unfit to fly. As mentioned above the news report cited is a recitation of plaintiff's charges, but if Ryan was allowed to board while noticeably intoxicated and subsequently served unlimited alcohol onboard, there will and should be consequences for the ground and flight crew members responsible and WN will have to swallow whatever financial penalities accrue due to their agent's actions and inaction.

LegalTender

"Authority to refuse boarding ticketed passengers if they're judged unfit to fly" has been significantly upgraded? As far as I know, it's "visibly impaired" and remains so. The airport bar that allegedly served him "as many as seven alcoholic beverages" may need representation, as well.

If "Ryan was booked for public intoxication and police were investigating the assault," what's taking so long?

Bogwoppit

Sadly airlines do not consider a 13 year old a child and parents often get separated from teens, and younger. It has happened to me, even with pre booked seats.

rsteinmetz70112

Many years ago I was on a flight where a passenger was so drunk the plane returned to the gate to remove him. The FAs tried to calm him down but were unsuccessful. That guy was not violent but was loud and obnoxious.

EAJuggalo

I think that if the FA made those comments and continued to serve the jackwagon, WN is going to have to pay something, the FA will be let go and the jackwagon put on the DNF list. I have no issue with the two teenagers sitting seperately from mom and the 5 year old. 13 and 15 are certainly old enough to sit by themselves on a plane, I would be curious as to why the brother didn't say or do anything. Hope the drunk guy likes having to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. Who would have jurisdiction on the criminal case?