United Airlines Kicks Elderly Professor Couple Off Late-Night Flight
Sep 17, 2019, 1:20 pm
#211
Join Date: Oct 2009
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I am nearing a massive headache sifting through the information of this thread, but weren't there two distinctive and separate "You're getting kicked off this flight!" episodes?
In this incident that I am referring to in post number 193, I suspect the FA made the threat, then left to discuss the issue with the pilot (or other FAs) up front. It was at this time, or close-thereto, when 21C got up and followed the FA with assistant camera operator 21A in tow.
In this incident that I am referring to in post number 193, I suspect the FA made the threat, then left to discuss the issue with the pilot (or other FAs) up front. It was at this time, or close-thereto, when 21C got up and followed the FA with assistant camera operator 21A in tow.
Having witnessed several of these FA power trips, I've never seen an FA lose on appeal once they decide to remove you-the captain always backs-up his crew.
Here are some other examples of FAs on power trips:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/28289730-post59.html
This one happened to me in DEC 17:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/29241961-post29.html
Last edited by zombietooth; Sep 17, 2019 at 1:26 pm
Sep 17, 2019, 1:44 pm
#212
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 2,531
I do not know which of the pax in this situation had the latest (i.e., most correct) BP. Giving the BP to the FA can only be for the purpose of demonstrating that your claim to the seat is not ridiculous. It is not a demonstration that your claim to the seat is correct.
I'm not a GA but I imagine that in most cases of double-assigned seats, I'd resolve them in favor of the first-boarded, currently-sitting passenger holding a boarding pass with that seat printed on it, unless there were compelling reasons to favor the person standing in the aisle (medical issue, small children near guardian, etc.). But I would not resolve seat-poaching by giving the poached seat to the poacher. So having a boarding pass showing that seat is actually an important part of the story, and having the FA take it and then claim not to have it would be distressing.
The additional complication of switching to the middle seat assigned to a non-rev is important; it's possible at some point the FA or GA though you were a non-rev refusing to move, because one of the party was in the non-rev's assigned seat. So that could have been a contributing factor.
I wasn't there so I don't have much to say about the rest of the story. I've seen stressed-out under-rested jet-lagged hangry FAs go off for no reason and I've seen passengers be extremely belligerent and abusive towards staff and then claim to have done nothing wrong. So just a case of he said / she said, except it's pax said / UA won't comment.
Sep 17, 2019, 1:59 pm
#213
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: United Global Services, Amtrak Select Executive
Posts: 4,098
It doesn't matter what actually happened, it matters how the FA perceived it. This is the same situation with sexual harassment these days; you should never touch anybody unless you know the person very well. Also, you'll note that I said you shouldn't argue with a FA either. There was no de-escalation here by either party and, in the end, the FA is always going to win. Being right doesn't get you anything.
Sep 17, 2019, 2:07 pm
#214
Join Date: Oct 2009
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You can see in some of my other posts where I have documented power-tripping FAs. But, perhaps due to their inexperience with the powers of flight crews these days, the OPs were trying to prove their innocence and/or get an apology, which was a losing strategy. Once the FA became irritated by OP's actions, there was literally nothing they could do to improve their situation.
Sep 17, 2019, 2:10 pm
#215
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 7,875
I wasn't there so I don't have much to say about the rest of the story. I've seen stressed-out under-rested jet-lagged hangry FAs go off for no reason and I've seen passengers be extremely belligerent and abusive towards staff and then claim to have done nothing wrong. So just a case of he said / she said, except it's pax said / UA won't comment.
Sep 17, 2019, 2:15 pm
#216
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I agree completely.
You can see in some of my other posts where I have documented power-tripping FAs. But, perhaps due to their inexperience with the powers of flight crews these days, the OPs were trying to prove their innocence and/or get an apology, which was a losing strategy. Once the FA became irritated by OP's actions, there was literally nothing they could do to improve their situation.
You can see in some of my other posts where I have documented power-tripping FAs. But, perhaps due to their inexperience with the powers of flight crews these days, the OPs were trying to prove their innocence and/or get an apology, which was a losing strategy. Once the FA became irritated by OP's actions, there was literally nothing they could do to improve their situation.
Sep 17, 2019, 2:21 pm
#217
Join Date: Oct 2009
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These are customer service positions. It's inappropriate to relatiate because the employee is irritated by a customer. It's also inappropriate to punish a traveling companion who doesn't seem to be accused of anything wrong (except swapping with someone to take a middle seat, which most people would consider to be a generous gesture toward someone else).
FAs continually point out via announcements that their primary job is safety. I don't see much evidence that they are interested in providing good onboard customer service at UA.
Sep 17, 2019, 2:31 pm
#218
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Mechanics who sabotage planes are arrested (and suspended without pay).
If a FA is uninterested in providing good customer service, he/she should be forced to seek other employment. The same for anyone faking maintenance orders to cause delays.
If a FA is uninterested in providing good customer service, he/she should be forced to seek other employment. The same for anyone faking maintenance orders to cause delays.
Sep 17, 2019, 2:34 pm
#219
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: TX
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Agree with this and this is where I come down in this particular instance as well. I probably go 50:1 the other way with these. Roulette hit 0.
Sep 17, 2019, 2:35 pm
#220
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: United Global Services, Amtrak Select Executive
Posts: 4,098
I agree completely.
You can see in some of my other posts where I have documented power-tripping FAs. But, perhaps due to their inexperience with the powers of flight crews these days, the OPs were trying to prove their innocence and/or get an apology, which was a losing strategy. Once the FA became irritated by OP's actions, there was literally nothing they could do to improve their situation.
You can see in some of my other posts where I have documented power-tripping FAs. But, perhaps due to their inexperience with the powers of flight crews these days, the OPs were trying to prove their innocence and/or get an apology, which was a losing strategy. Once the FA became irritated by OP's actions, there was literally nothing they could do to improve their situation.
Did we get any clarity on this?
Sep 17, 2019, 2:44 pm
#221
Join Date: Oct 2009
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Reality is that nothing will happen. The union would fight tooth and nail to defend their FAs in this sort of situation.
The thing I'm still confused about in terms of the fact pattern is whether they were trying to prove their innocence by displaying the lost-then-found BP in order to not get thrown off the plane, or if the incident had ended and they were trying to prove their innocence purely gratuitously. If the former, then I suppose it makes sense to at least try to not get thrown off the plane, if that's impending. If the latter, then absolutely, just suck it up until the flight is over.
Did we get any clarity on this?
Did we get any clarity on this?
Sep 17, 2019, 2:48 pm
#223
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I am nearing a massive headache sifting through the information of this thread, but weren't there two distinctive and separate "You're getting kicked off this flight!" episodes?
In this incident that I am referring to in post number 193, I suspect the FA made the threat, then left to discuss the issue with the pilot (or other FAs) up front. It was at this time, or close-thereto, when 21C got up and followed the FA with assistant camera operator 21A in tow.
In this incident that I am referring to in post number 193, I suspect the FA made the threat, then left to discuss the issue with the pilot (or other FAs) up front. It was at this time, or close-thereto, when 21C got up and followed the FA with assistant camera operator 21A in tow.
Sep 17, 2019, 2:59 pm
#225
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After 10-15 minutes, a passenger who was an off-duty UA crew member took the 21B seat. After chatting for a few minutes about her upcoming assignment xxx, my husband asked if it would be acceptable to switch seat with her. She concurred. After the switch, my husband sat in 21B.
A few minutes later, another passenger (xxx, BG5 and BE) showed up with a boarding pass for my husband’s original seat (21A). I explained there must have been a mistake as my husband had the 21A seat assignment for several days.
A few minutes later, another passenger (xxx, BG5 and BE) showed up with a boarding pass for my husband’s original seat (21A). I explained there must have been a mistake as my husband had the 21A seat assignment for several days.
