Jet Blue Flight Attendant -JFK

[babyrich]

I was on a Jet Blue flight coming home from WDW. I was in the window seat, the middle was empty and a woman was sitting on the aisle, her hubby and 2 kids were in front of us. Well the satellite TV went out and I thought this woman was going to explode. She started screaming like a maniac about paying for their tickets and she uses this airline for the TV and what where her kids going to do... mind you its only a 2 1/2 hour flight and the TV was out for about 3 minutes when she started screaming. All I could think was does she think they are going to go out on the plane and jiggle the antena???

I felt so sorry for the FAs who were apologizing like it was their fault. She kept threatening to have their jobs and she was going to write a letter. Over TV!!!!! What is wrong with people?????

 

[ols386]

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

I read somewhere that the pressure of the slide when it's being depoyed is pretty great. From the looks of the video, if someone were standing right below where the slide comes out, and if they didn't move quickly to get out of the way, I believe someone could be injured, maybe not killed.

It's not just the people on the flight who may have been delayed, it would also be other passengers on flights scheduled for that particular plane, for that particular day, as well. I would think it would take some time to get that plane turned-around and ready again, for another flight. And even if they happen to have a back-up plane available, that takes time too. Having a flight delayed due to weather is one thing, having a flight being delayed because of something silly that a FA did, is different, IMO.

 

[NotUrsula]

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.

This is a BIG inflatable raft, and a heavy one. The size and weight varies by the type of aircraft, but they generally deploy at 3000 lbs. per sq. inch, and they weigh around half a ton. If one hit you it could easily knock you several feet across the tarmac, and if it landed on you it would take quite a few people to lift it off. If you were unfortunate enough to have it cover your head it would probably suffocate you in just a few minutes, particularly if you were knocked out by the impact.

Remember than an automobile airbag is capable of killing at 2000 lbs. per sq. inch, and you can see what an escape slide might do.

 

[Jennasis]

This is a BIG inflatable raft, and a heavy one. The size and weight varies by the type of aircraft, but they generally deploy at 3000 lbs. per sq. inch, and they weigh around half a ton. If one hit you it could easily knock you several feet across the tarmac, and if it landed on you it would take quite a few people to lift it off. If you were unfortunate enough to have it cover your head it would probably suffocate you in just a few minutes, particularly if you were knocked out by the impact.

Remember than an automobile airbag is capable of killing at 2000 lbs. per sq. inch, and you can see what an escape slide might do.

Watch the video I posted. No way that thing is killing anyone (unless they were hovering in the air right outside the door where it's deployed from). Injury, perhaps.

 

[bettymae1121]

I read somewhere that the pressure of the slide when it's being depoyed is pretty great. From the looks of the video, if someone were standing right below where the slide comes out, and if they didn't move quickly to get out of the way, I believe someone could be injured, maybe not killed.

It's not just the people on the flight who may have been delayed, it would also be other passengers on flights scheduled for that particular plane, for that particular day, as well. I would think it would take some time to get that plane turned-around and ready again, for another flight. And even if they happen to have a back-up plane available, that takes time too. Having a flight delayed due to weather is one thing, having a flight being delayed because of something silly that a FA did, is different, IMO.

That plane would have to be taken out of service for the rest of the day, it can't fly without all slides at all doors in operation. JetBlue would have had to find another aircraft to put into service. Since it's at their hub (JFK) the odds were good that a back up was available, but no guarantee depending if other aircraft also had mechanical problems. The rest of the flights that day for that aircraft would have been massively delayed at best and simply canceled at worst, with the passengers on the canceled flight(s) having to be rebooked on flights later that day or the next. Delayed flights can also mean missed connections down the line. The domino's on a delayed/canceled flight are huge, which is why weather delays are so devistating to airline operations.

Again, I don't blame this FA for "snaping", it's just the way he did it. Things like this cause huge problems for a lot of people.

 

[NotUrsula]

Watch the video I posted. No way that thing is killing anyone (unless they were hovering in the air right outside the door where it's deployed from). Injury, perhaps.

And in this one? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EC-FHUfb9RA&feature=related

That's an Airbus A320, the same type of aircraft that Mr. Slater was on. I certainly think that the bottom half of that slide could smack someone pretty darn hard when it flipped out and hit the ground. That's at least 500 lbs dropping from 15 feet up and hitting the tarmac with one heck of a thump. I can easily see someone getting flipped by that and hitting the concrete head-first.

 

[JessicaR]

And in this one? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EC-FHUfb9RA&feature=related

That's an Airbus A320, the same type of aircraft that Mr. Slater was on. I certainly think that the bottom half of that slide could smack someone pretty darn hard when it flipped out and hit the ground. That's at least 500 lbs dropping from 15 feet up and hitting the tarmac with one heck of a thump. I can easily see someone getting flipped by that and hitting the concrete head-first.

I have no doubt that these slides could cause serious damage to someone in the way. Thankfully that didnt happen!

 

[jme829]

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.

I worked at the customer service desk at Sears in Toledo for about 5 years (late 80's/early 90's)and DH worked for Sears for 15 years ; 1984-99 (thats where me met.) . While he doesn't work FOR Sears any longer, he still works WITH Sears (his company is one of their vendors)..I'll have to warn him to stay out of the mens dept. next time he's doing store visits..lol

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

http://www.clickorlando.com/news/24598650/detail.html

Very interesting:

A flight attendant was rude to passengers and instigated the confrontation with a traveler that led to his now-notorious slide down a plane's emergency chute at New York's Kennedy Airport and, ultimately, to his arrest, a pair of Pittsburgh women aboard the JetBlue flight said.

Marjorie Briskin, 53, told The Wall Street Journal for a story Thursday that Slater blurted out an expletive during an otherwise normal conversation with a passenger over luggage just after the plane landed in New York from Pittsburgh.

A young woman asked Slater which overhead bin her bag was in, and the conversation quickly and unexpectedly turned nasty after Slater slung the expletive, Briskin told the newspaper.

"I didn't think she was rude in the least," Biskin, who said she was visiting New York for the first time, told the Journal. "It really blew my mind. It was so inappropriate."

Slater hadn't emerged by Thursday from his home a few miles from Kennedy Airport in Rockaway Beach, Queens. His boyfriend, Kenneth Rochelle, said Slater was "at home, relaxing."

Rochelle called Slater a "lovely, classy, beautiful person" who in the past had been very patient with passengers having a bad day.

Slater had a "nice gash" on his head during the flight, and when it ended began flinging open the overhead bins and slamming them shut, Briskin told the newspaper. Another passenger noted that he spent much of the 90-minute flight slamming overhead bins and refrigerator doors in the galley.

"He looked disturbed at that point," Briskin said.

It's unclear exactly how Slater's face was cut, though he had it as passengers boarded in Pittsburgh and joked that "they're always trying to kill me around here," passenger Kati Doebler told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

Another woman, 25-year-old Lauren Dominijanni, told the Journal that Slater was immediately rude to her after she boarded in Pittsburgh. She said he "rolled his eyes at me" when she asked for a wipe to clean up coffee someone spilled on her seat.

Dominijanni said that she had asked Slater for napkin to clean up the coffee and that he "rolled his eyes at me and said, 'What?' in a real rude manner."

She added that when she pointed to the spilled coffee, Slater responded, pointing to the gash on his head: "No! Maybe when we get in the air! I need to take care of myself first, honey!"

Passengers and authorities say Slater unleashed a profanity-laden tirade before deploying the emergency chute, sliding down and racing to his home in Queens. He is free on bail after being arraigned on criminal mischief and reckless endangerment charges.

His grand exit almost instantly turned him into an online hero, with many people saying they've dreamed of walking off the job in such a grand fashion. More than 100,000 people had joined a Facebook page supporting his actions.

Dominijanni, though, questioned the response.

"Why are they applauding what he did? I don't understand," she told the Journal. "There are people out there who are dying for a job. I'm glad he's gone because someone can step in and do a much better job."

Slater's ex-wife, Cynthia Susanne, came to his defense Thursday, calling him a consummate flight attendant who would always act in the most appropriate manner.

Speaking on ABC's "Good Morning America," Susanne said she did not believe some passengers' suggestions that Slater started the confrontation on Monday, when he exited the parked plane by the emergency chute at New York's Kennedy Airport.

She said Slater was extraordinarily tolerant and patient and added she had not yet spoken to him about the confrontation on the Pittsburgh-to-New York flight.

They have a son together.

At least two witnesses (whom I don't believe are the passenger in question that set him off) claim that he was rude to them on the same flight.

 

[JessicaR]

http://www.clickorlando.com/news/24598650/detail.html

Very interesting:


At least two witnesses (whom I don't believe are the passenger in question that set him off) claim that he was rude to them on the same flight.

That sure puts a different spin on things. I bet there will be lots more unfolding when others start talking and then again when he does.

 

[JessicaR]

http://abcnews.go.com/US/steven-slater-jetblue-flight-attendant-wife-blame/story?id=11382099

Steven Slater may have been drinking long before he grabbed a beer and made a dramatic exit from a jetliner by opening an emergency slide to the tarmac at New York's Kennedy Airport, police said today.

More PhotosWitnesses have also told police that it was Slater who was rude to passengers, and the cut on his forehead came at the beginning of the flight, not during an altercation with a surly passengeer after the plane landed as Slater has claimed.

Police tell ABC News that interview with the plane's crew and passengers suggest Slater began drinking before the Pittsburgh to New York flight.

 

[Jennasis]

And in this one? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EC-FHUfb9RA&feature=related

That's an Airbus A320, the same type of aircraft that Mr. Slater was on. I certainly think that the bottom half of that slide could smack someone pretty darn hard when it flipped out and hit the ground. That's at least 500 lbs dropping from 15 feet up and hitting the tarmac with one heck of a thump. I can easily see someone getting flipped by that and hitting the concrete head-first.

No diff to me. Injury...perhaps...death no way. In fact, I'd say that one unfolded more gently than the ones i posted.

 

[auntie]

I'm not exactly sure, but doesn't the door dislodge..when the chute is deployed?..In any case..I believe he could have injured a member of the ground crew with his reckless behavior. I think one of the chages he's faces is based on that. Seems that earlier tonight Jet Blue said replacement of the chute is some $25,000.

I gotta tell ya, I flew Jet Blue out of Kennedy last week. Those employees are NOT happy campers that's for sure. We had an employee turn and walk away from us with a "I didn't say "nest" person in line"..while we were waiting patiently (and without any drama) to check our luggage. She then turned and walked into the nearby ladies room. We just stood there looking at one another wondering what the heck just happened. Of course we went to the next counter where the employee there wasn't sure if he had to charge us to check a bag we were planning to bring on the plane. Turns out it was 24 inches, and we could have easily brought it on. Wasn't over stuffed. We didn't want to make a big deal of it, and figured maybe they had change requirements and checked it. Later at the gate we saw almost every passenger taking on that very same sized bag. They just ripped us off.
I remember thinking with the economy the way it is, that these guys should be happy to have a job. That something is wrong with management if these employees are so damn miserable. I believe they could also actually hire someone who could pronounce the word next..as opposed to nest.
Once at the gate..passengers could not board the flight at the designated time as the required three flight attendants were not on board. They were still waiting on the arrival of one. When we were finally able to board the plane the Jet Blue employee taking our passes was speaking to another employee and said the third attendant was on the plane..but "she ain't happy". Oh great, I'm thinking to myself..just what we need a ticked off flight attendant. Who knew.. Turns out "kiesha" was the attendant who greeted you at the plane door. SHE WAS NOT HAPPY. I remember thinking.."jeeze not even a little smile"..or a welcome aboard. Now..I'm just happy she didn't deploy the chute and hop out!

In my experience the JFK Jet Blue employees were some nasty rude folks. I don't know the inner workings of that company..and maybe they have a reason for being so. I don't know, but they sure don't have the right to take it out on the flying public either. It's not the first time I've flown out of JFK on Jet Blue, as I do like the direct flight it offers to our destination in Florida..but I'm tellin' ya..it was only a matter of time before one of those people went "postal".

After our last experience I plan to fly out of Islip, on Southwest to Tampa even if it means driving 45 minutes to our destination once we reach Fl. Just don't need to be treated rudely.

That being said, our return flight left from Sarasota, and the people we dealt with on the ground were nothing but pleasant and helpful.
We even had an incident on the flight back with a dopey passenager who decided to smoke. HOLY COW..this dopey kid is facing a $5000 fine! The three flight attendants were on him like white on rice, as they should have been.

 

[Jennasis]

I'm not exactly sure, but doesn't the door dislodge..when the chute is deployed?..In any case..I believe he could have injured a member of the ground crew with his reckless behavior. I think one of the chages he's faces is based on that. Seems that earlier tonight Jet Blue said replacement of the chute is some $25,000.

I gotta tell ya, I flew Jet Blue out of Kennedy last week. Those employees are NOT happy campers that's for sure. We had an employee turn and walk away from us with a "I didn't say "nest" person in line"..while we were waiting patiently (and without any drama) to check our luggage. She then turned and walked into the nearby ladies room. We just stood there looking at one another wondering what the heck just happened. Of course we went to the next counter where the employee there wasn't sure if he had to charge us to check a bag we were planning to bring on the plane. Turns out it was 24 inches, and we could have easily brought it on. Wasn't over stuffed. We didn't want to make a big deal of it, and figured maybe they had change requirements and checked it. Later at the gate we saw almost every passenger taking on that very same sized bag. They just ripped us off.
I remember thinking with the economy the way it is, that these guys should be happy to have a job. That something is wrong with management if these employees are so damn miserable. I believe they could also actually hire someone who could pronounce the word next..as opposed to nest.
Once at the gate..passengers could not board the flight at the designated time as the required three flight attendants were not on board. They were still waiting on the arrival of one. When we were finally able to board the plane the Jet Blue employee taking our passes was speaking to another employee and said the third attendant was on the plane..but "she ain't happy". Oh great, I'm thinking to myself..just what we need a ticked off flight attendant. Who knew.. Turns out "kiesha" was the attendant who greeted you at the plane door. SHE WAS NOT HAPPY. I remember thinking.."jeeze not even a little smile"..or a welcome aboard. Now..I'm just happy she didn't deploy the chute and hop out!

In my experience the JFK Jet Blue employees were some nasty rude folks. I don't know the inner workings of that company..and maybe they have a reason for being so. I don't know, but they sure don't have the right to take it out on the flying public either. It's not the first time I've flown out of JFK on Jet Blue, as I do like the direct flight it offers to our destination in Florida..but I'm tellin' ya..it was only a matter of time before one of those people went "postal".

Personally, I prefer to fly out of Islip, on Southwest to Tampa even if it means driving 45 minutes to our destination once we reach Fl.

That being said, our return flight left from Sarasota, and the people we dealt with on the ground were nothing but pleasant and helpful.
We even had an incident on the flight back with a dopey passenager who decided to smoke. HOLY COW..this dopey kid is facing a $5000 fine! The three flight attendants were on him like white on rice.

You mean does it "fall off" the plane? No it does not.

 

[auntie]

You mean does it "fall off" the plane? No it does not.

Well, thank goodness for that at least!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

http://abcnews.go.com/US/steven-slater-jetblue-flight-attendant-wife-blame/story?id=11382099

Steven Slater may have been drinking long before he grabbed a beer and made a dramatic exit from a jetliner by opening an emergency slide to the tarmac at New York's Kennedy Airport, police said today.

More PhotosWitnesses have also told police that it was Slater who was rude to passengers, and the cut on his forehead came at the beginning of the flight, not during an altercation with a surly passengeer after the plane landed as Slater has claimed.

Police tell ABC News that interview with the plane's crew and passengers suggest Slater began drinking before the Pittsburgh to New York flight.

Interesting.
If he were under the influence, that does make his behavior with the slide a little more wreckless. And to think that people are praising an alleged intoxicated employee. Unfortunately, since it seems he was drinking after the fact, without his admission or other evidence--there isn't real proof.

But it is not surpising that there are other sides to the story. Shocking that so many on this thread were so quick to jump to conclusions that the passenger either deserved it, that he was without fault, or that his actions were justified. Isn't that the trademark catch phrase of the dis--3 sides to every story---party A, party B, and the truth?

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

No diff to me. Injury...perhaps...death no way. In fact, I'd say that one unfolded more gently than the ones i posted.

Not to beat a dead horse--but the slide could cause death...all it takes is a freak accident....slide knocking someone to hit there head in the perfect way (like Natasha Richardson's simple fall that causes a fatal head injury).

Death may be unlikely---but it isn't impossible.

 

[Jennasis]

Not to beat a dead horse--but the slide could cause death...all it takes is a freak accident....slide knocking someone to hit there head in the perfect way (like Natasha Richardson's simple fall that causes a fatal head injury).

Death may be unlikely---but it isn't impossible.

About as likely as dying from being hit in the head with a piece of luggage by a surly passenger.

 

[simpilotswife]

I was a passenger on that flight.

I can tell you that there was not an altercation at the end of the flight about staying seated. There were several people who got up when we got to the gate (or so we thought) but everyone sat back down without any conflict that I was aware of.

Steven Slater had the cut on his head before we left Pittsburgh. He was standing by me and another FA asked him if he was alright.

My own impression of him was that something was not right. When he came through the cabin to offer beverages he was very haphazard and passed a lot of people by. That could be explained by the bump on his head but it could also have been due to any drinking that he may have done.

I can tell you that he was very sweet to a little girl who was throwing up behind me. He got her some animal crackers and ginger ale (which was not part of the in-flight service-our flight had express service which is very limited selections of food and snack).

I did see him flounce (for lack of a better term) onto the jetway and then go back into the galley cursing under his breath but I was already off the plane when he made his announcement and exited so dramatically. The only reason that I knew there was a blow up was because one of the passengers at the baggage claim was asking me what happened with him.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

I was a passenger on that flight.

I can tell you that there was not an altercation at the end of the flight about staying seated. There were several people who got up when we got to the gate (or so we thought) but everyone sat back down without any conflict that I was aware of.

Steven Slater had the cut on his head before we left Pittsburgh. He was standing by me and another FA asked him if he was alright.

My own impression of him was that something was not right. When he came through the cabin to offer beverages he was very haphazard and passed a lot of people by. That could be explained by the bump on his head but it could also have been due to any drinking that he may have done.

I can tell you that he was very sweet to a little girl who was throwing up behind me. He got her some animal crackers and ginger ale (which was not part of the in-flight service-our flight had express service which is very limited selections of food and snack).

I did see him flounce (for lack of a better term) onto the jetway and then go back into the galley cursing under his breath but I was already off the plane when he made his announcement and exited so dramatically. The only reason that I knew there was a blow up was because one of the passengers at the baggage claim was asking me what happened with him.

Knew there had to be a Dis'er on the flight.

Thanks for the update. Weird with the skipping people with the beverage cart but good about helping the little girl.

And as you were off the plane already it doesn't sound like he delayed your flight at all. This whole thing is weird.