Should a passenger have been kicked off the flight for becoming snippy with flight attendants after he was admonished not to use a first class overhead bin when traveling in economy class?
Economy Class Passenger Kicked Off After Quibbling With Flight Attendants Over The Use Of First Class Overhead Bin Space
View From The Wing shares of a story with the headline, Coach Passenger Kicked Off American Airlines For Using First Class Overhead Bin, but it seems to me he was kicked off for his tone and language toward flight attendants instead.
- He boarded his flight, noticed an entire empty overhead bin in first class even though all but one first class passenger had already boarded, and stuffed his bag in
- A flight attendant standing in the forward galley told him to take his bag to economy class
- Rather than simply complying, he said, “Why? The bin is empty!” and asked how the last remaining first class passengers could possibly use the entire bin
- The flight attendant responded, “Are you refusing to be compliant?”
- He grabbed the bag and said, “This is idiotic,” while walking back to his seat
- After finding his seat, he asked a flight attendant in the back whether there was a specific rule limiting first class overhead bins to first class passengers
- A third flight attendant approached and said the captain was wondering if he will be “compliant” for the rest of the flight
- He mentioned his bag was removed as requested and also asked for a copy of the “passenger rules I need to abide by.”
- Shortly thereafter, two members of ground staff came onboard to escort him off
- He was rebooked immediately on the next flight, which took place about four hours later
The bins in “first class” (what American Airlines calls its domestic front-cabin product in the USA) do have stickers that state they are reserved for first class passengers (the crew use the space too).
But it was the verbal exchange, particularly calling the policy (or perhaps the flight attendant) idiotic, that doomed this guy’s chances of remaining onboard.
Without being there, my take is that the passenger sounds unnecessarily combative, probably is not used to being told no, raised his voice or was menacing in demanding to see the rules, and therefore likely raised the alarm of flight attendants.
While I am not sure his actions rose to the level of “kick him off” worthy, you simply do not argue with a flight attendant over things of this nature–especially the “is there going to be a problem?” power-tripping mamas who seem hellbent on making the flight experience as miserable as possible (I am NOT saying that was necessarily the case here).
I think View From The Wing is correct to say that a better way to handle this would have been for the flight attendant to say:
Excuse me sir, would you mind taking your bag out of that overhead bin please? We’re restricting the use of that bin right now, and there’s plenty of space towards the back of the aircraft. [And, if possible under the circumstances] I’d be happy to show you.
I’m also not sure that the response would have been any different with this guy.
CONCLUSION
I’m not making any definitive conclusions over this incident because I was not there and because it sounds like both parties could be at fault. My takeaways are: 1.) do not use the first class overhead bin space if traveling in economy class without asking the flight attendant first, no matter how much space you think is left. 2.) when you encounter a rude or hostile FA, don’t make the matter worse by being argumentative or insulting.
image: United Airlines
As always, it’s not the crime, it’s the coverup.
When will people learn to shut up and stop complaining. The next person to win an argument with a FA will be the first.
Silly Group 9 travelers.
I have no issue with this. One of the biggest problems I see when boarding is passengers putting their bags in the front of the plane then going to their seats in the back. Makes zero sense. Bins are for passengers in the seats below them. If the front bins are already filled by the time passengers assigned to those seats board the plane, then are they to go to the back of the plane to use those bins? That’s ridiculous. We recently saw a petite flight attendant with a huge voice pause all boarding when she noticed the front bins filling up while the seats below them were empty. She announced that if those bags were not immediately removed by their owners and placed in bins over their own seats, she would have them removed from the plane. She asked the first owner, “where did you think the passengers in these seats should put their bags?” He said “not my problem”. She said “Well, it is now”. Loved her!
He booked economy and needed to comply with AA’s rules. If he disagrees with their policies, he can find another carrier. We have another loudmouth who felt entitled.
I have zero issue with this. I’m sick of people just finding the closest bin to the front of the plane to throw their crap in and then walking to the back. This is literally the only reason I try to board early because jerk faces like this will take my bin space because they care more about themselves than how it affects everyone else. Again, assign bin space. This problem goes away.
@Brandon … even better , drastically restrict carry-on .
Eh, I’d stop traveling if that was the case. I don’t check bags. I have one small carryon and my backpack that goes under the seat. I don’t want to wait 20 minutes for my bag at 12am Sunday night going to work.
Airlines that allow free bags have fewer issues with bin crowding and enjoy faster boarding and deplaning. SWA figured it out.
This is the fault of airline management.
AA and the FA was wrong. If he is really a danger then refuse all boarding, even a later flight, refund him the money, and get him arrested.
The man should choose his battles carefully. He went into a gun fight with a knife. He should have either been nice about it or get into a brawl and break the FA’s neck. I would not choose the brawl unless the FA was a rapist.
Polite refinement of U.S. passengers and airline staff is usually no longer taught , practiced , or enforced . I am glad to see it was enforced in this case . The captain asked a legitimate question about future compliance , but the passenger continued to argue . The flight does not need any hassle , so ‘bye-bye’ .
First rule of Passenger Flight Rules: Don’t ask for a c0py of the Passenger Flight Rules.
He got busted for Questioning Authority not just once, but three times involving 4 members of the crew and making a silly request for written copy of the “passenger rules.” I can see why they might want him thrown off in that captains now will divert flights if there’s some of in-flight altercation even if there’s no real significant danger costing tens of thousands of dollars in delays. This guy’s story reminds me of Sheldon from The Big Bang: He seems autistic failing to pick up on social cues. The threatening tone of the first FA was quite clear.
On the other hand, as Matt points out, there crew didn’t attempt to engage in de-escalation but rather made veiled threats which probably was the worst thing to do since it doesn’t communicate clearly. Since the passenger flew successfully 4 hours later, it’s likely that de-escalation would have been successful but the attitude of many flight crews is one of passengers as cargo.
I’m reminded of the old announcements at the end of a flight: “We know that you have your choice of flight carriers and we’re thankful you chose X airlines.”
So yes, I see the crew’s point of view in that the passenger must “comply” with crew’s reasonable orders but on the other hand, their tone is indicative of a poor attitude towards customer service.
I fly Air Canada regularly and the FA will fill the business class overhead bins with economy passengers carry on luggage, only after business class passengers have fully boarded and the baggage is placed by the FA in the bins. Mostly happens on YVR to YYZ or YUL.
Old news but the FA was right.
A perfect example of a flight attendant exerting power and acting like the POLICE
Another entitled (I bet he’s under 50) kid who feels the rules no longer apply to him. Next he’ll show up with a support Giraffe and sue because the planes are not tall enough to accommodate his giraffe.
I immediately think of the scene in Anger Management when Adam Sandler just wants to be treated with respect and everyone else is over reacting. Of course that was on purpose.
I also think of “seek first to understand than to be understood.”
Seems like everyone needs to slow down take a deep breath and treat each other with humility and grace before jumping to conclusions. Maybe the guy was wrong, maybe something terrible was going on in his life. Maybe he was drunk – you just don’t know. But – there are ways to handle this stuff and words matter.
Good riddance.
Just follow the rules.
as always these days it’s the digital radiation…but hey – be ignorant about 2.4 Ghz and native bioelectric waves…like alpha, delta, etc…