Jet Blue Flight Attendant -JFK

[gometros]

Can you imagine of a Disney cast member went off on a guest lime that?

I'm willing to bet if you polled CMs working the parks, there are more than a few who secretively envy the guy. I've seen some pretty bizarre guest behavior, so it would not surprise me in the least. There's acting out and wishful thinking. The FA just acted out other's fantasies, CMs included.

 

[Heidict]

Sorry I dont have any sympathy. This guy got paid to do a job. He should suck it up and do his job. Why dont we just all quit when the going gets a little tough.

So, a person should endure abuse because they are getting paid? Sounds pretty masochistic to me.

Thank goodness I don't work for a company that allows people to abuse me. If a customer curses at me or threatens me in anyway, I warn them. If they do it again, I disconnect the call. There are have been a couple of times when we have had to call the cops because of people leaving threatening messages.

No amount of pay should ever justify the abuse of another person.

 

[gometros]

I'd like to ask our resident FA what would have been the proper action to handle this passenger? She was clearly breaking the rules. I've heard similar stories where passengers were detained in some manner until local authorities can arrest them on the ground. Wasn't the passenger's actions illegal? Heck, a couple of months ago, a young Jewish boy got detained for putting on prayer implements while in flight (coincidentally, I believe it was also a flight from Pittsburgh. What is it with Pittsburgh? ) because the flight crew thought he was a terrorist. He was not acting improper in any other manner. Yet this passenger is allowed to behave to the point that she sets a crew member off and the only one to suffer any punishment is the crew member? Do different airlines have different sets of rules?

 

[Darsa]

BULL!! No one should have to "suck up" abuse. If a guy was beating his wife should she just "suck it up" because he's providing for her? Should those people in Conneticut just have to suck it up when a wackadoodle walks in and starts blowing people away because he got fired. Why the hell should anyone be forced to tolerate abuse?

You go to work to do just that. WORK! not to get beat up, hit in the head or any other crap. My neighbor is a ticket agent for USair. this winter she has had hot coffee thrown on her, spit on and cursed out. Why? because flights were cancelled due to the snow. I posted a thread begging people to give them a break. So you're saying that because some one works with the public you get to punch them in the head and they are supposed to "suck it up"? Does your boss get to harrass you?

When they closed down the airports due to the volcano she started carrying a can of pepper spray because she knew people were going to start acting like park apes. How horrible does the public have to act when in order to do a routine job causes you to carry pepper spray?

And YOU are MY hero for that post right there!

 

[gometros]

 

[eliza61]

Send your US Airways friend the link, too, eliza. Sounds like she needs the laugh!!!

We swap stories. I worked in customer service at my local sears for 10 years.

I had a 90 year old man come into the store livid because he purchased a pair of BVD's and they did not suppport his "boys" like they use to. (his words). He then proceeds to pull down his pants to show me the lack of support.

 

[princesspiglet]

I'm another one on the side of the FA. From what I have read, he is taking care of his ill mother as the primary caregiver and was just diagnosed as being HIV positive. (this is from Perez Hilton, so take with a grain of salt). If all of that is true, then the guy probably just snapped and couldn't take it anymore.

I worked as a ticket/gate agent for AA for 2 years at GSO and I put up with a lot of abuse. So much so that I would get to my car and start crying on my way home at least 2-3x a week. This guy put up with this for 20 years. There is only so much one can take before they break.

 

[Anjelica]

Per at least one other passenger Mr. Slater had physical signs of an injury early in the flight (I presume from the overhead bin hitting him in the head):

A passenger on the flight, Greg Kanczes, said that he saw a large, fresh-looking gash on Mr. Slater’s forehead at the beginning of the flight. “It was about an inch-and-half long, and it was a big red mark or cut,” Mr. Kanczes said by phone Tuesday. “There was no bandage.”

 

[Anjelica]

Did he actually curse out the other folks over the PA system? If below is truly what he said it doesn't seem that bad:

"Law enforcement officials said that after the passenger cursed at Mr. Slater, he grabbed the intercom, cursed her out, bid passengers goodbye, grabbed a beer and activated the inflatable exit chute. In court, an assistant district attorney, Benjamin Martell, said that Mr. Slater said over the plane’s intercom, “Those of you who have shown dignity and respect for 20 years, have a great ride,” before making his final exit."

 

[Shih-Tzu]

When I flew last year to MCO, I could not believe the number of people who did not follow FA instructions (i.e. remain seated, turn off cell phones, etc). You see, everyone has to make a bee-line to get off that plane before it even stops and get by everyone else, so they can be there 2 minutes before the others at the baggage claim check (which means they can wait two minutes longer before the luggage from that flight starts to arrive....)

The point that I noticed the most agression towards the attendants was when the plane was loading and unloading. As I posted in a thread a while back, most of the problems I have seen as of late (and in increasing numbers) are because of people insisting on carrying the biggest suitcase that they can onboard that is within regulations so they don't have to pay any baggage fees - the overhead bins are full by the time 1/2 of the flight is loaded and flight attendants are trying to help passengers, passengers are getting upset with the request by the FA to gate check items, etc., etc.
Can you really imagine if any FA had to listen to/put up with several times a day, every week just what I witnessed in 10 minutes during loading on a tarmac??? No wonder after all these years........

My recommendations to airlines to help their employees rather than to have them stressed:
(1) One piece of luggage for free in cargo, one SMALL carryon. Carryon things over a certain size, then a charge....(and only if there will be room);
(2) When employees have a problem with a customer, listen to both sides - I find that airlines are too quick to side with the customer, no matter how unreasonable their requests/expectations are. It seems in the airline industry that people are raising complaints (sometimes to receive free vouchers, etc) and the airlines are overly generous in rewarding sometimes abusive and agressive behaviour of passengers towards FAs and ticket agents, etc. Employees who feel valued by their employer are typically happier employees.

No - don't work for an airline, or the airline industry...and truly appreciate everything that FAs do to try to make our travelling experience as easy as possible.....Thank you to all those who work the counters, gates and on board for your smiles, long hours and patience....

 

[Pugsley]

According to the Washington Post, there is now an entry in UrbanDictionery.com for the phrase "Hit the slide." Definition: "To quit one's job in a truly stunning fashion."

 

[Wishing on a star]

Sounds to me that this guy didn't just snap....
He had played this whole scenario out in his mind many times.... Practically scripted.
Then, when he encountered this rude irate passenger, just at the right moment... Well.... Carpe Diem!!!!!

As others have said, his 15 minutes of fame are now well underway...

 

[JessicaR]

Reporters have been camped outside since last night where he is staying. Local news said don't be surprised if he hosts a new reality show titled - Take this job and shove it! Tee shirts have been printed - guess his 15 minutes may be extended.

Interviews of his Mom and ex-wife were on the news too.

I'm waiting to see if another passenger outs the woman who started the ruckus.

I have witnessed extreme rude behavior by a passenger more than a couple of times over the years. Working with the public is not for the faint of heart.

Still, I don't think he should have hero status for what he did. I am curious to hear what he has to say when hes finally able to speak publicly.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Did he actually curse out the other folks over the PA system? If below is truly what he said it doesn't seem that bad:

"Law enforcement officials said that after the passenger cursed at Mr. Slater, he grabbed the intercom, cursed her out, bid passengers goodbye, grabbed a beer and activated the inflatable exit chute. In court, an assistant district attorney, Benjamin Martell, said that Mr. Slater said over the plane’s intercom, “Those of you who have shown dignity and respect for 20 years, have a great ride,” before making his final exit."

I bet he referred to her using the B word (perfectly acceptable to the FCC, but 'bleeped' on the DIS ). Even if he used a more colorful term or two, who could really blame him?

 

[bettymae1121]

First off, I'm 34 and have worked with the public in one form or another since age 16. For the last 13 years I've been a travel agent, working with the traveling public. I know how looney-toons some of these people are, and that's before they've even traveled. I've always said you couldn't pay me enough to work at an aiport with the public, be it a ticket agent or an FA. These people should have combat pay.

All that said, where I lose any sympathy for this FA is when he deployed that slide. He could have hurt or killed someone with that thing, and that's where I personally draw the line. A YAGE is great, especially after an incident like the one he experianced with that passenger, but putting other people's saftey at risk is never excusable or understandable, not ever!

He's obviously got some problems in his personal life, and I hope he gets the help he needs. I don't think he should go to jail, but there should be some consequences for his actions.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Okay, I found something on YouTube - it's called Steven Slater: American Hero, and it's by NickosBlog. It's - obviously a blog, and while he doesn't give the words that were used, they were apparently in the range of m---f--- and f---.

 

[GeorgeG]

In addition to the usual instructions regarding seat belts, electronic devices, emergency exits and oxygen masks, there should be instructions regarding behavior and the consequences of not following the rules and FA instructions. Passengers should be warned that they will be asked to leave the plane for failure to comply followed by a demonstration of how to don and properly use a parachute. Planes should also be fitted with an air-locked ejection tube. Behavior among passengers should improve significantly.

 

[Jennasis]

In addition to the usual instructions regarding seat belts, electronic devices, emergency exits and oxygen masks, there should be instructions regarding behavior and the consequences of not following the rules and FA instructions. Passengers should be warned that they will be asked to leave the plane for failure to comply followed by a demonstration of how to don and properly use a parachute. Planes should also be fitted with an air-locked ejection tube. Behavior among passengers should improve significantly.

 

[ols386]

It seemed he must not have enjoyed it if something was stewing that bad inside of him to verbally abuse a passenger.

I find it interesting that this "harmless" act is okay. He cost the airline money and possibly delayed passengers. No big deal in the long run--but that doesn't make what he did okay.

Can you imagine of a Disney cast member went off on a guest lime that?

No--no employee should have to deal with "abuse" of any customer--doesn't make it right nor deserves celebration if they do. In fact, shouldn't their be protocols in place if said FA wanted to get the point across--maybe have the passenger detained as a terrorist threat or something? Authorities called for
assault? The outlandishness of his action makes this a funny story, but it doesn't make him a "hero".

I agree with you, especially the bolded parts. His reaction to the situation is not ok in my mind. I agree that employees should not have to be abused by customers/passengers, but there are better and more professional ways he could have handled it.

His reaction did cause the airline money and I'm sure it impacted a lot of other people that day, who were scheduled for various flights throughout the day, on that particular plane. Not to mention the fact that if anyone had been on the ground below the slide, they could have been seriously injured or killed.

Also, I think the behavior and actions by the passenger were indeed wrong. Not sure if there will be charges filed against her.

He's no hero as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Jennasis]

Out of curiosity, how forceful is the deployment of a slide? I can't imagine anyone getting killed by essentially an inflatable raft...injured maybe. As for the time/money cost...what's the REAL number here? Passengers got delayed? How long exactly? An hour...two...four? They get delayed longer for bad weather. And what's the actual monetary cost of replacing the slide?

In the grand scheme, his stunt caused minimal damage to anyone or anything. It was stupid, no doubt. But it is what it is....nothing more and nothing less.

Here's a good article: http://www.airspacemag.com/flight-today/HTW-evacuation.html

Video of deploying slide: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DL-_pNEaygY (deployment at 1:59) I have a hard time seeing anyone killed by that.

Another: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulov-yzBtQM&feature=related