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Home » American Airlines » American Airlines Suspends, But Does Not Ban, Passenger Who Wrote Nasty Note To Flight Attendant (Yet)
American Airlines

American Airlines Suspends, But Does Not Ban, Passenger Who Wrote Nasty Note To Flight Attendant (Yet)

Matthew Klint Posted onSeptember 4, 2020November 14, 2023 12 Comments

the tail of an airplane

Earlier today I wrote about a passenger on American Airlines who wrote a horrific note to a flight attendant after she asked her to place her mask above her nose. Now American Airlines has suspended that passenger. That leaves me hope for reconciliation.

Confirmed: American Airlines Suspended Nasty Passenger

Sometimes we have to hit rock bottom in order to finally realize how lost we are. A nasty, mean-spirited, bullying note to a flight attendant suggests that the person who wrote it may be at that point.

Per JonNYC, the passenger has been suspended. American Airlines is investigating the incident and has made clear it will not tolerate such abuse toward its flight attendants.

a screenshot of a message

I’m happy the action was swift. It was also appropriate considering the passive-aggressive, mean-spirited nature of the note. No matter what the circumstances that led up to this, such discourse is destructive and must be condemned.

But do note above that AA is just suspending her while it investigates. While a suspension and temporary ban are virtually synonymous, a ban suggest something more permanent.

I think the distinction between suspension and ban is important, which is why I wanted to add my two cents.

Any person who would write such a nasty note is desperately crying out for help. Whether she knows it or not, being so nasty is a like a blinking red warning sign of instability, self-hatred, and insecurity.

So here’s what I hope: I hope that the woman will apologize. Not only apologize, but sincerely apologize. Such repentance and reconciliation is deeply cleansing to the soul.

And if she does “come to her senses” and realize the error of her ways, I hope there is forgiveness, not a permanent ban.

We cannot force people to apologize…that’s not a real apology. But what I’m hoping for this day is that the poor woman realizes just how horrible she was.

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About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

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12 Comments

  1. Christian Reply
    September 4, 2020 at 6:45 pm

    You’re being too kind to the hate spewer IMO. That speaks well of you but the person has to accept the consequences of their completely intentional actions. It’s not like they can’t drive or fly another airline. One other option would be to only ban the person for a set time like ten or twenty years.

    • Al Reply
      September 4, 2020 at 7:25 pm

      I agree that Matt is being way too kind to this passenger who intentionally, willfully with deliberation very carefully drafted this evil letter that she wrote. She’s “desperately crying out for help”? Give me a break…

  2. RLB Reply
    September 4, 2020 at 8:24 pm

    Nope. No mediation. No forgiveness. None.

    Ms. Nasty can stay home and spend the next several dozen years thinking long and hard on her actions.

    I completely agree that her actions are a cry for help, and I sincerely hope she gets it. And while nothing will ever make this situation right, it would be wrong for AA to ever allow her onboard again. It just sends a message that they do, at some level, tolerate abuse.

    As someone who has overcome verbal and emotional abuse (and this is abuse), it’s important for an employer to stand up for their people and say “No. This is never alright and you can never be forgiven for emotionally scarring one of our family.”

    • G Hadhi Reply
      September 4, 2020 at 10:03 pm

      Agreed, RLB. I too lived with verbal abuse growing up and even a “one time” note with this much meanness – to anyone! – has an emotional effect thats not easily forgotten. I agree with Matthew that we should give people another chance to redeem themselves – USUALLY. But not here.

      As RLB just said, it’s NEVER alright to abuse anyone, verbally or physically, At home, but as much or more in the work place! AA needs to take a hard stand on this on. They need to set an example here and now, that abusing one of their own is not acceptable under ANY circumstances. Let this be the bar to which any future abuse will not be tolerated under any circumstances.

  3. Jackson Henderson Reply
    September 4, 2020 at 9:54 pm

    Airlines are federally regulated and now receive federal government aid. Given the latter, Airlines can not ban someone for speech. Even the former prevents it because travel is a utility on routes with limited service. Banning someone for speech sets a dangerous precedent. We should have zero tolerance for this. If a person complains about poor service, he or she can be banned because the flight attendant and management didn’t like the tone of the complaint; it might be you next. Businesses absolute should have right to sell to who they prefer and ban any person or group of people for whatever reason. Domestic air travel that crosses state lines and is not a charter but regularly scheduled commercial flight is a different matter entirely.

    • 747always Reply
      September 5, 2020 at 1:58 am

      As usual you come up with a loonie Trumpette excuse. Grow up @JacksonHenderson

    • UA-NYC Reply
      September 5, 2020 at 10:53 am

      Classic right wing “slippery slope” argument…it never ends.

      Repeat after me…”the First Amendment doesn’t apply to private companies…”

      Name and shame the pax IMO

      • Rick Reply
        September 6, 2020 at 8:19 pm

        I don’t think it’s fair to call a slippery slope right wing. Liberals also warn of slippery slopes when it comes to abortion regulations or voter ID laws. I agree with Matthew, if she apologizes the ban should be temporary. Anyone who would write a note like that, even if they found the attendant to be rude, is disturbed.

  4. dom Reply
    September 5, 2020 at 9:15 am

    Suspended? oh that’s gonna hurt ! NOT.
    “we will not tolerate mistreatment of our flight attendants”>>>yeah, that’s managements job!
    so suspend the crazy ass Bit(h for a couple of weeks , until her next reserved flight…make sure she knows
    she’s not welcomed….
    I say publish her name and ban her until she PERSONALLY and publicly apologizes to the FA and the airline..
    but that’s just me, I want people to learn a lesson. not just sweep it under the rug…

  5. roger Reply
    September 5, 2020 at 12:01 pm

    Without knowing ALL the Details of the situation siding with the FA who the Note was directed At is misguided. What exactly PROVOKED the Situation? I can assure You that the Passenger didn’t write This Note singling out this FA without a REASON. Was it a Seat Issue where the Passenger didn’t sit in assigned Seat? Moved to a New Seat without Asking? Reseat Herself into a Premium Cabin Seat? Many unknowns and They will probably never reveal All the Facts. From My understanding, the FA is about to be Furloughed (Laid Off) from the Airline….did That tidbit of information get relayed to the Customer (As If they Care?). people are dealing with multiple hardships these Days but SOMETHING triggered the Note. Did the Customer do something They shouldn’t have done and was addressed in a Rude, Aggressive tone by a stressed out Employee (happens All the time). Facts need to be Disclosed to Draw a better Picture, more than likely it was a misunderstanding on the Part of Both Parties and attitude, tone and One Upsmanship played a part on How this Situation played out.

  6. seekingserenity and harmony Reply
    September 7, 2020 at 1:16 pm

    AS long as she learns her lesson from a suspension. My feeling is that might not be likely and they might need to take stronger action.

  7. N. Kiser Reply
    September 12, 2020 at 9:29 pm

    Typical AA…Always bringing out the worst in there management, employees, and passengers.q
    Some things never change.

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