Pilot walks off plane for wrong meal
#16
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: ORD
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That is true, but based on the original post, the co-pilot/passengers are all willing to chip in to pay for his meal of his choice, the grandstanding by the pilot just unnecessary.
#17
Join Date: Nov 2006
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I live in WI, Scott Walker would love this story.
#18
Join Date: Jun 2009
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I am assuming they fly several flights a day. Or a couple of legs. If he doesn't get what he asked for, then he is hungry the rest of the day. Den TPA is at least a 4 hour flight. Then they screw up there. Then what. I'm sure that this isn't the first time this is happened to him.
I am a teacher, and often have missed lunch for this reason or that. It does get annoying. And some days if I am really hungry, I make a stand.
I do plead total ignorance of airline operations and pilot work rules. However, I do think people should get the basic consideration of getting to eat during the day. Airline passengers included. LOL.
I am a teacher, and often have missed lunch for this reason or that. It does get annoying. And some days if I am really hungry, I make a stand.
I do plead total ignorance of airline operations and pilot work rules. However, I do think people should get the basic consideration of getting to eat during the day. Airline passengers included. LOL.
I guess if I do not get my first choice of meals I will demand a refund in the future....
#19
Join Date: May 2003
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Could be a "one time exception"?
I would be more comfortable with this thread if it were a bit more, er, hypothetical. It brings up a lot of interesting points that should be looked at more generally and less specifically to the incident involved. Identifying the situation so specifically puts things into a mode that almost requires action for this particular instance, boxing people into corners that are tough to come out of. Everyone protecting their own turf, everyone with justification for their (seemingly ridiculous) actions, rather than being able to look at things from a distance and say y'know, there really should have been a better way of dealing with this.
For all we know, the pilot's actions could have represented the sum of a number of things from a very bad day, and this was the last straw. I wouldn't want my life to be judged by the worst I've been. On the other hand, this could be just one thing in a long line of relatively minor issues that resulted in major consequences with this Captain.
We just don't know. We know that what happened should not have happened, but we don't really know enough to figure out how best to deal with it.
But hey, I'm the guy in F once in a while (much less recently than before) who doesn't complain when they offer my meal choice and it's cheese ravioli or cheese ravioli because the other option is gone.
For all we know, the pilot's actions could have represented the sum of a number of things from a very bad day, and this was the last straw. I wouldn't want my life to be judged by the worst I've been. On the other hand, this could be just one thing in a long line of relatively minor issues that resulted in major consequences with this Captain.
We just don't know. We know that what happened should not have happened, but we don't really know enough to figure out how best to deal with it.
But hey, I'm the guy in F once in a while (much less recently than before) who doesn't complain when they offer my meal choice and it's cheese ravioli or cheese ravioli because the other option is gone.
#20
Join Date: Oct 2004
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He should have asked for an apology card.
#21
Join Date: Oct 2006
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These prima donna antics just don't endear anyone to the public.
As a white collar, middle management schlub who works his behind off, I have a difficult time sympathizing with this. Years of corporate downsizing and compensation reductions have taken their toll on me and my coworkers. Yet, we still come to work everyday and do our best. We didn't pull these antics when first our raises stopped and then our 401k matches stopped and then our compensation was reduced and then 75% of our coworkers were laid off and then when our medical insurance costs were increased. We could always look for a new job.
I just don't see what is gained by the posturing in this example. Can't a grievance of some sort be filed after the fact? The 150+ people in the back are the ultimate reason the pilot has a job. Let's not forget that. Inconveniencing them to make a point with the company or the union does not make the right point with the customer.
The pilot needs to get over it.
As a white collar, middle management schlub who works his behind off, I have a difficult time sympathizing with this. Years of corporate downsizing and compensation reductions have taken their toll on me and my coworkers. Yet, we still come to work everyday and do our best. We didn't pull these antics when first our raises stopped and then our 401k matches stopped and then our compensation was reduced and then 75% of our coworkers were laid off and then when our medical insurance costs were increased. We could always look for a new job.
I just don't see what is gained by the posturing in this example. Can't a grievance of some sort be filed after the fact? The 150+ people in the back are the ultimate reason the pilot has a job. Let's not forget that. Inconveniencing them to make a point with the company or the union does not make the right point with the customer.
The pilot needs to get over it.
#22
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#24
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#25
Join Date: May 2002
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I can see it both ways, somehow. I am inclined to see the passenger's POV and wonder how delaying a flight for a dessert snafu can be wise, but if this happens frequently, then this may be what needs to happen in order to get long-term resolution.
Also, UA pads their flight times quite a bit and it may have been that the captain knew he could take a departure delay without causing a significant arrival delay at an airport where there should be ~0 connections.
Also, UA pads their flight times quite a bit and it may have been that the captain knew he could take a departure delay without causing a significant arrival delay at an airport where there should be ~0 connections.
#26
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,123
Ahh, another FT thread with partial information. Gotta love it.
The OP may not know all the issues involved here unless he can say he talked to the captain or FO directly. Talking to a FA doesn't suffice.
Secondly, crew meals are part of our contract, we pay for them, so we want them onboard, just as you do when you have a FC seat with a meal. They are also a safety aspect, since low blood sugar and flying are not a good thing, that's why we have them in our contract. I always check before we leave for my meal to make sure it's there, and that it's what I can eat. We can't depend on uneaten FC meals, most of the time we don't get leftover FC meals.
This captain might have ordered a special meal (we have everything from salad meals to kosher to low sodium) and needed that meal. If I have a full crew meal, and I get a salad instead, that's not a meal so I wouldn't take it either.
Third, going into the terminal to buy food is an option, and one I usually choose since the food is better. The problem with that is you're loaning the company your money, since it can take months to get reimbursed, there may not be a restaurant close by or open, and sometimes you run into a flight manager who wants to argue that you spent too much for lunch and hassle you.
We delay trips for catering for passengers. I see no problem with the delay for crew catering either. However, delaying this long for just a side item for a meal I would not agree with. I'd just run inside and buy some items and expense it.
AD
The OP may not know all the issues involved here unless he can say he talked to the captain or FO directly. Talking to a FA doesn't suffice.
Secondly, crew meals are part of our contract, we pay for them, so we want them onboard, just as you do when you have a FC seat with a meal. They are also a safety aspect, since low blood sugar and flying are not a good thing, that's why we have them in our contract. I always check before we leave for my meal to make sure it's there, and that it's what I can eat. We can't depend on uneaten FC meals, most of the time we don't get leftover FC meals.
This captain might have ordered a special meal (we have everything from salad meals to kosher to low sodium) and needed that meal. If I have a full crew meal, and I get a salad instead, that's not a meal so I wouldn't take it either.
Third, going into the terminal to buy food is an option, and one I usually choose since the food is better. The problem with that is you're loaning the company your money, since it can take months to get reimbursed, there may not be a restaurant close by or open, and sometimes you run into a flight manager who wants to argue that you spent too much for lunch and hassle you.
We delay trips for catering for passengers. I see no problem with the delay for crew catering either. However, delaying this long for just a side item for a meal I would not agree with. I'd just run inside and buy some items and expense it.
AD
#27
Join Date: Dec 2007
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Only difference is, when food is not catered (as was for a flight I was on last week)-we paying pax don't demand that the flight be delayed in order to accommodate our request
#28
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Gotta love it, yeah we're all just stupid pax and the OP and FA made up everything.
#29
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,123
Are you flying the plane? I think that answers your question, there is a big difference there. You can go fly as a passenger with 2 hours sleep, you don't want your pilot doing the same.
Last edited by aluminumdriver; Jul 27, 2011 at 8:01 pm