Have you ever?????

[Passenger Mark]

Seen behavior like that shown on Airline???

I know I am no seasoned passenger, but in all the flights I have been on, I have never seen people like the ones they show on Airline.

And don't these people know they are being filmed? That their image and actions are going to be broadcast all over the place?

I tell you what, if I was an airline employee, it would not take me long to loose my patience with some of these people.

Just wondered if anyone has actually witnessed this type of behavior???

[WillFlyToDisney2]

Yep, I have. Most recently was the flight during the hurricane where we were delayed 2 hours leaving CHS due to ATC in ATL then when we got to ATL we found that our connection to BNA had already left even though they told us that it hadnt. There was a family also traveling from CHS to BNA that really raised holy HECK about it. The father was screaming so loud at the gate agent that his face was red and flushed. The man demanded refunds, upgrades, faster flights but got none of them since the whole issue was weather related (tropical storm/hurricane rolling thru).

I was in line behind the screaming psycho family and when I got the gate agent I just smiled and told him that I wasnt going to scream at him because I knew it wasnt anyone's fault but could he please just direct me to the flight they had rebooked me on. The gate agent seemed so relieved and smiled and pointed me to the right place.

Ugh. Some people. Of course there was the incident at LAX that involved mild mannered ME raising my voice, but we won't talk about THAT.... :nag LOL

Kelley

[noflyingfan]

I want to hear the story! I don't think I ever heard it before!

I don't think I've ever seen anything all that exciting at an airport, although I've certainly caused a scene enough times by crying my eyes out at the gate, and in one instance, dropping a bottle of ginger ale on the floor, then not letting it settle long enough before trying to open it and therefore having it explode all over me when I opened it. Which just made me cry more. I did it all as quietly and discreetly as possible, but it was still embarrassing enough that I got up and moved to another nearby gate.

[LesliePHX]

A couple of years ago I saw something that might've been "Airline"-worthy, although it didn't involve anybody behaving badly.

We were flying home from Las Vegas on Southwest the night before the Fiesta Bowl -- Oregon vs. Colorado.

A bunch of Oregon fans were changing planes and they were all in the boarding lounge with us, waiting for the Phoenix flight.

I don't know if y'all know this, but University of Oregon is the Ducks. Boy, I sure learned it that night. The place was swarming with oversized mallards: Everybody had on a goofy duck hat, they wore weird green duck clothes, they carried all sorts of duck paraphernalia. And they shouted "Go Ducks!" a lot.

It was cute, in a scary lunatic sort of way.

I dunno, I think it might've made a good visual for "Airline." Plus the captain's announcement over the PA to his planeload of Ducks: "I went to University of Colorado, so I can't make any promises about the landing."

Leslie

(p.s.: They booed him when he said that, and I thought, "No, no, don't boo the captain!" He made a nice landing and followed up with "May the best team win.")

[Amelia]

I've noticed how many people on Airline are denied boarding due to drinking...or are obnoxious due to drinking. My gut feeling is that people are trying to mask their fear of flying with alcohol. (I must admit I've tried it myself, but it didn't work for me.) I'm also surprised that the airlines don't seem to know much about fear of flying. There are things they could do to make flying more comfortable for people. Like on Continental. I've even written to them, but I don't think they get it. I really dislike Continental, but I'm usually flying between Houston and Newark and don't have much of a choice. I flew a few weeks ago. They have a new flight out of Hobby to Newark. On the flight to Newark the pilots made no announcements. They told the flight attendants to be seated for take-off and landing, but that was it!! We didn't even get a weather report. (I didn't feel like my business was appreciated at all...not even a thank you for flying Continental.) In all fairness to Continental, the pilots on the return trip were very good about making a friendly announcement at the beginning and end of the flight, but I'd sure love to hear their voices during the flight too. Then on Continental's newer, larger planes they have a recording that goes off whenever the seat belt light goes on. Come on...can't the pilots tell us themselves? I find the recorded announcement offensive and unfriendly. Continental has no clue about the importance of announcements to fearful flyers (yes, I did write and tell them, but it didn't do any good). By the way, I love United and their earphones where you can listen in to the pilots talking to ATC. I consider them a real fear of flying friendly airline. I just wish they had a direct flight from Houston to Newark. :nono Amelia

[Amelia]

I just wanted to add that I'm amazed at how well the SWA employees handle some of these people. Whatever they're getting paid it's not enough. I just loved the way the lady the other night told the man that his behavior wasn't acceptable and he couldn't talk to their employees at the gate that way. Then she went on the plane and got him off! I thought she was great. She's the person I want in my corner. :pompoms And last season (I think) the male employee who helped a lady with her husband. The husband had Alzheimer's and had an unfortunate bathroom accident. That employee went above and beyond the call of duty and was so kind and compassionate. :sunshine It almost makes me want to fly Southwest, but I have this thing about where I sit on the plane. I'm always over a wing and near the exit. I book early just to get "my" seat. Amelia

[LesliePHX]

Amelia, I've never flown Continental, so I can't comment one way or the other, but one thing I'd suggest: Meet your pilots before the flight. I know it sounds crazy, but lots of us do it, and it helps a lot. That way, even if they don't make announcements, you've got them with you in some unspoken way.

About the drunk folks on Southwest who show up on "Airline" ... I have this feeling that the Southwest employees in "Airline" are much more strict about the rules than Southwest employees are when the cameras aren't on them. I remember a Southwest flight where an obviously drunk passenger in the A line shouted boisterously to his companion, who was heading away, "Get us another drink! I'm afraid to fly!" Nobody stopped him from getting on. If someone had, I'm sure it would've made great television.

[Passenger Mark]

Not too sure about that Leslie...

I was on a flight from Vegas to Ontario, and they denied boarding to a guy for being a bit tipsy. He did not cause a scene, and agreed that he should wait. He was across the aisle from me. And you know me... I notice anything unusual about a flight.

And I have asked FAs before, and they tell me they are very strict about it. They DO NOT want to have a problem at 37k!

Mark

[LesliePHX]

Hm. Well, maybe that guy wasn't as drunk as I thought, maybe he was just naturally loud and obnoxious.

I wonder how they tell the obnoxious drunk people from the generally obnoxious people? By smell?

[WillFlyToDisney2]

You can definitely tell an alcoholic by their "smell" and I don't mean their breath. They sweat the alcohol out thru their pores. I'm sure anyone who has to deal with drunks on a regular basis knows how to tell. I can spot them!

Kelley

[spiffytoo]

I witnessed an incident at BWI which Southwest handled well. There were two men with a close resemblance to Cheech and Chong loudly using four letter words and making a spectacle of themselves. When they tried to board, the agent took them into the jetway and they argued for about 5 minutes. I couldn't hear much, except a whiny stoner voice saying over and over, "Hey, man, we didn't do nothing, man," etc. etc.

I assumed they were going to be arrested, but then a Southwest supervisor showed up and convinced them to leave. Perhaps they were allowed to board a later flight, though I wonder if their choice of intoxicant got them into trouble first.

:thumbsup