Witness to a serious incident on a plane

[red-beard]

Yesterday, I did a quick one-day trip to West Texas on the feasibility of powering a Natural Gas processing plant with generators running on the plant gas.

I flew to Midland from Houston and returned the same day. I'm "1K" on United, which means I'm often flying first class. Plane was a regional, ERJ-175 which is 4 rows of 3 seats in First. I was in a Window/Aisle single seat. The flight is a bit over an hour while actual flight time of about 50-55 minutes.

The guy behind me would not get off his phone after the door closed on the ground. And when the Flight attendants confronted him, he said he was just "recording something" not talking on the phone. Which was a lie. And the FA heard him talking! And him telling his "boss" he had to get off the phone...

It takes about 10 minutes to get "In the air" and stable enough that the FAs come around. And landing takes about 20+ minutes of "prep" along with the landing. So, there is maybe 20-25 minutes where the FA are serving the drinks and "snacks" (basket with pretzels). There is enough time for basically throwing some pretzels to us and offering us one drink. The guy behind me pushed the FA to give him 2 beers. And when the flight was about to descend, he is pushing her for a third beer. She politely told him we are starting to descend for landing and there would not be any more drinks served.

The guy became belligerent. And the other FA came up and stood behind, hearing the guy go on and on about how the First Class FA ignored him and that was why he couldn't get his third beer. He said she had been treating him very poorly on purpose. After the mention of the phone call, he said "That was just a joke. Can't you take a joke?" He also said he bought his First-class seat so he could get his service. The FA pointed out she has to serve 11 other people in addition to him. His response as a "see, she was ignoring me!". And that when you get a First-Class ticket, you get a seat in First Class, not unlimited drinks.

It sounded like we were heading to a police officer waiting at the gate situation. The guy started to be calm down when he understood that we were going to be landing. And probably because he was going to get arrested if he didn't stop.

The obviously older/wiser FA told him that he is welcome to write to United about the incident. Because the FAs would be writing the incident up and forwarding to United for disposition. I know it is purely at the discretion of the FAs to serve alcohol to anyone. And I think I saw him at the bar in the airport before we left.

Thank goodness we did not have to wait to deplane because of the police. It did come close to ugly.

So, 3 drinks too much for 25 minutes?

[Norm K]

Originally Posted by red-beard

So, 3 drinks too much for 25 minutes?

I'm among those who believe that if the airline genuinely cared about its clients and employees, any drinks for a flight of any length of time is too much.

_

[911boost]

I am Global Services with United (for how long I do not know as global travel has really slowed down) and had I been in your shoes, I would have reached out to United and given the FA kudos for how she handled a difficult passenger. I have done that a few times, also when I feel like I have gotten exception service.

As for the drinks, I rarely if ever drink on a plane and I can get free drinks no matter where I am sitting. Going to Las Vegas with buddies for a hockey tournament being the exception, because we are not driving, but typically when I land I am either driving my vehicle or a rental.

I have seen folks put down the drinks though, however talking on the phone is one of the biggest drivers for upset people on planes I have found. Thank god you can't do that in the air.

[Rick Lee]

I was on a flight from Dulles to San Diego and we got held at the gate upon landing due to a drunk and belligerent passenger in bus. class. Mrs. Lee and I were pretty far back. But when those cops boarded with a restraint chair, they manhandled that jerk like a rag doll. It was a beautiful sight.

[911 Rod]

Strange how sometimes planes bring out the worst in people.
Entitlement because they paid for the flight?

[stevej37]

I never order a drink on a flight because I hate using their bathroom.

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by 911boost

I am Global Services with United (for how long I do not know as global travel has really slowed down) and had I been in your shoes, I would have reached out to United and given the FA kudos for how she handled a difficult passenger. I have done that a few times, also when I feel like I have gotten exception service.

I did say that to the FA as I left the plane. She did the right things.

Somewhere around here, I still have a letter from the President of Pan Am. About 2 weeks after Lockerbie, I was flying back to the US from India, in Business Class. Flight was a good 6+ hours late leaving New Delhi. A Family nearby were not happy that their "Non-vegetarian Indian Meals" were not on the plane. the FA was extremely professional.

I found the pursor and asked for the FA's name. He was concerned she did something wrong. Nope, I said she was extremely professional under terrible circumstances. I was writing a letter to the President of Pan Am. I'm sure the President of an Airline gets a LOT of nasty mail. I bet my letter was one of the few rays of Sunshine. I hope that FA received more than just an "attaboy".

[matthewb0051]

A few years ago I spent a summer in DC while the family remained in El Paso. I had several hundred thousand miles on United so I was able to fly home for free a bunch of times and several of those were in 1st. It always struck me as strange there was 1st on some of those small regional jets. Not much difference from the back of the bus.

On one flight I got on and the FA asked if I'd like something to drink before we took off. Sure, bourbon rocks thanks, it had been a crap and long week. Sorry sir, they forgot to load us with an alcohol cart and we have none to offer. Next guy, same question, same request, same response. It was a long flight...

As for your guy: my guess is that he doesn't frequent the front of the plane that often and was; a. going to get what he was entitled to, and b. didn't know how to act and thought acting like a big shot was acceptable. It was not.

[matthewb0051]

BTW, my first trans-Atlantic was on Pan Am about a year before Lockerbie. San Fran to London on a 747. They came around and told us they weren't full and to spread out and find a row for ourselves.
The good old days of free drinks on international flights. The bad old days of a smoking section on planes.

I was in the US when the Lockerbie plane was downed. Had to fly back to the UK a couple of weeks later. Bit of a pucker factor.

[KFC911]

The airlines need to get serious about azzholes on flights. Ban him and any like him from flying again on commercial flights... problem solved.

[slow&rusty]

I'm on that United IAH to MAF flight every few weeks, been doing it now for 5+ years, there has been some nutty passengers for sure.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by stevej37

I never order a drink on a flight because I hate using their bathroom.

Same. I don't drink alcohol, and usually severely limit non-alcoholic consumption so I don't have to get up, navigate the aisles, use the restroom, etc.... That process is far worse than not drinking or limited drinking for a couple/few hours.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by KC911

The airlines need to get serious about azzholes on flights. Ban him and any like him from flying again on commercial flights... problem solved.

Yep. Arrested and banned or tossed out the door. Those are your options.

[jamesnmlaw]

I've flown some, sometimes up in front, most of the time in the back. Question: why do people in the front board first? Do the persons up front enjoy seeing the steerage class passengers slog on towards the back? Some kind of thrill watching proles shuffle by? When I've flown up front, I always wait until just about everyone has gotten on the plane and then I take my seat. I don't need the show.

[blucille]

was on a flight from Orange county CA to San Fran, one hour flight, up in first, the young lady next to me had 3 Moscow mules before we even took off, two more during the flight. All I could think was I needed to get to my car before she got to hers. oh boy....she stumbled off that plane. hope she got home safe. Happens way too often.

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by jamesnmlaw

I've flown some, sometimes up in front, most of the time in the back. Question: why do people in the front board first? Do the persons up front enjoy seeing the steerage class passengers slog on towards the back? Some kind of thrill watching proles shuffle by? When I've flown up front, I always wait until just about everyone has gotten on the plane and then I take my seat. I don't need the show.

If first boarded last, the steerage passengers would use the first class overhead space.

[stevej37]

Replace the facilities in the bathroom with just an open pan...and don't empty it between flights.

[matthewb0051]

Originally Posted by jamesnmlaw

I've flown some, sometimes up in front, most of the time in the back. Question: why do people in the front board first? Do the persons up front enjoy seeing the steerage class passengers slog on towards the back? Some kind of thrill watching proles shuffle by? When I've flown up front, I always wait until just about everyone has gotten on the plane and then I take my seat. I don't need the show.

Depends on the aircraft. On larger jets, front borders/sitters turn to the left and steerage folks turn right and never walk past them. Plus folks in the front also get pre-flight beverage service and again on larger aircraft coats taken and hung up. International, the FA comes by and knows your name and introduces them self and makes pleasantries.

Redbeard is right though. Dang sure someone from the back row would put their 18 carry on bags in the front just to make it closer to the door. Then they would waddle down the aisle with their gigantic starbucks and bags of food while wearing their PJs and hitting every person sitting in an aisle seat.

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by matthewb0051

Redbeard is right though. Dang sure someone from the back row would put their 18 carry on bags in the front just to make it closer to the door. Then they would waddle down the aisle with their gigantic starbucks and bags of food while wearing their PJs and hitting every person sitting in an aisle seat.

I see the FA's always watching for that while coach boards.
They always have one standing just at the end of first class.

[LWJ]

I have seen other situations where people acted poorly.

It is grounds for termination.

What an azz.