Originally Posted by Kacee (Post 31521132)

And btw, the reference to the author's airline stock holdings is undoubtedly mandated by Forbes' disclosure policies. That some here believe that somehow reflects on the quality of the journalism is [deleted to conform to FT rules].

Originally Posted by sexykitten7 (Post 31521674)

People aren't upset the author disclosed his stock holding. The outrage stems from his ownership of the fictional SouthwestERN Airlines! If he can't be bothered to learn the name of the fourth largest US airline...

Originally Posted by docbert (Post 31519992)

If it were me, I'd be rather concerned about the fact Forbes included an underacted copy of the boarding pass - with details including like their Frequent Flyer number (it's masked in the text, but not in the barcode).

It's amazing sometimes what sort of information you can get out of United with nothing more than a name and an FF number...

Originally Posted by jsloan (Post 31521622)

Any unwanted touching is assault. (Not all assaults will be, or should be, prosecuted). And, again, I'm assuming this is painted as rosily as possible for the soon-to-be-plaintiffs.

Originally Posted by COSPILOT (Post 31521728)

No idea what sensitivity people have, but I tap people all the time, for stupid stuff like your kid's shoe fell off, you dropped your wallet, let me help you with that. Never once have people overreacted, ever. Instead they are thankful I took the time to care.

Originally Posted by COSPILOT (Post 31521728)

UA has self created a toxic environment for everyone, passengers and employees. Most employees are fine, and it's the few that create the toxic environment, just as a few bad passengers do so as well.

Originally Posted by COSPILOT (Post 31521728)

However status passengers with no previous issues lead to me to believe this is the FA on a power trip, not the couple.

Originally Posted by MSPeconomist (Post 31521743)

FAs sometimes touch passengers, for example to wake someone for breakfast. Can the FA then be fired for assaulting the customer?

Originally Posted by wco81 (Post 31521598)

What could she have possibly done to the stewardess? Pinch her? Sock her on the back of the head? Grab her butt?

Originally Posted by MSPeconomist (Post 31521743)

FAs sometimes touch passengers, for example to wake someone for breakfast. Can the FA then be fired for assaulting the customer?

Originally Posted by jsloan (Post 31521622)

Any unwanted touching is assault. (Not all assaults will be, or should be, prosecuted). And, again, I'm assuming this is painted as rosily as possible for the soon-to-be-plaintiffs.

Originally Posted by COSPILOT (Post 31521728)

Most employees are fine, and it's the few that create the toxic environment...

Originally Posted by narvik (Post 31521804)

The couple's urgency in getting the FA's immediate attention stems from their anger/rage over what had transpired; this is exactly the reason why I believe they weren't particularly gentle in their approach. Adrenaline has that effect.

Originally Posted by rickg523 (Post 31521808)

I find that excessively legalistic and challenge that FA to demand charges be pressed against grandma for criminal assault based on her tapping his/her elbow. It's utterly laughable.

Originally Posted by jsloan (Post 31521622)

Any unwanted touching is assault. (Not all assaults will be, or should be, prosecuted). And, again, I'm assuming this is painted as rosily as possible for the soon-to-be-plaintiffs.

Originally Posted by MSPeconomist (Post 31521743)

FAs sometimes touch passengers, for example to wake someone for breakfast. Can the FA then be fired for assaulting the customer?

Originally Posted by rickg523 (Post 31521808)

I find that excessively legalistic and challenge that FA to demand charges be pressed against grandma for criminal assault based on her tapping his/her elbow. It's utterly laughable.

Originally Posted by quantumslip (Post 31522021)

That's completely wrong. By that logic bumping to someone on a crowded subway on accident would be consider assault based on your strict definition. Are you really going to call it assault if a passenger hits you while walking down a narrowbody aisle? Trivializing assault like this only hurts those who experience real trauma.

Originally Posted by jsloan (Post 31521969)

That's my belief as well.


I was intentionally trying not to suggest that. As I said, not all assaults are prosecuted, nor should they be. It doesn't change the fact that it's assault.


I mean, you can assume anything that you like, but I take umbrage to your assumption. I cast down on the veracity of the report because it's ridiculously hyperbolic, not because I fly United. The attitude that "the customer is always right" is one of the biggest problems that we have as a culture, because it leads to service employees being treated like dirt.

Is it possible that the couple was entirely in the right? Sure, but it doesn't seem likely. It sounds like both sides are at fault -- the FA, for insisting that the couple was lying about the boarding pass (why would they lie?), and then the couple, for escalating the situation after they were already seated in their seats.

If they'd simply dropped the matter, they would have flown and had a story to tell about the ridiculous FA. Instead, it seems that they were determined to get the last word, and look where it's gotten them.