What–other than languishing in a supreme state of wretchedness–would move a passenger to take the time to write a condescending, bitter, angry, handwritten note to a flight attendant?
Angry Passenger Writes Horrific Note To Flight Attendant
A passenger was asked to pull her mask over her nose. She responded by writing the note below to a flight attendant on an air sickness back labeled “Waste.”
You mean sh*t in life.
You are nothing but a glorified MAID who needs to jump down off her high horse and learn how to speak to ppl. Nobody cares about your stupid seat policies or your nose issues. We pay your salary and your attitude is unnecessary.
The very fact that we have to listen & kow tow to a nobody who does sh*t except collect our trash and serve crappy food makes me absolutely ill. You are a mask nazi and a 4 eyed c*nt, and if it wasn’t for this job, you would be cleaning motel rooms for $2 tips and meth.
I made sure to write this on a bag labeled as to what I think your life actually is… A WASTE.
Warm Regards
A person who hates your guts
Let’s just assume the flight attendant was rude, as the note implies. Doesn’t matter. Doesn’t change the analysis one bit. To speak to a fellow human being like this is to show a shocking disregard for basic decency.
Why even share this? Because we need to grapple with the reality we find ourselves in and use disgusting events like this as a lesson to consciously try harder to be more civil, kind, and empathetic to others.
According to View from the Wing, this took place on an American Airlines flight and involved a flight attendant who will be furloughed next month.
What a sad way to end a career.
I feel horrible for the flight attendant. No one deserves to be spoken to like that. Their job is noble (all honest work is noble) and to disparage it is the most cowardly form of bullying.
Perhaps it is easy just to dismiss the passenger as irredeemable and move on. But imagine how miserable you have to be in order to write such a mean-spirited note. My heart breaks for her too. May she find the help she needs before it is too late…
CONCLUSION
Such a depressing story, but worth sharing. Let’s use this vicious note as a chance to be a little nicer to those around us today.
(H/T: One Mile at a Time)
Wholeheartedly agreed, Matthew. That was worth sharing indeed, and your analysis is spot on.
So it turns out when you leave an “i” out of “civil” it looks like “evil” at a first glance:
“as a lesson to consciously try harder to be more cvil, kind, and empathetic to others.”
That nitpick aside, thank you for your analysis here, Matthew. I think you’re spot on.
Fixed! Thank you sir.
Everyone has the right to respect and common courtesy. Covid and hard times aside, being a decent, fair and non- judgmental human being should take little effort. Treat others as you would like to be treated. I doubt this person would have wanted to receive such a viscous note not one to a family member. I definitely agree with the person who said this passenger has some significant anger issues. She needs help.
I personally would not want to be flying on the same aircraft with her – her actions are way out of proportion to whatever this incident was or could have been and I think AA did the right thing by banning her. I just hope it’s a lifetime ban. AND that she’s on the FAA list and other airlines lists as well.
To get a note like that, it’s reasonable to ask what the behavior of the flight attendant was. Not all of them are professional. We don’t know the full story…the passenger might just be b%tsh*t insane and a horrible person but it just might be that there is an action/reaction side to this story as well. Without knowing the whole story, judgement is not possible
But even if the flight attendant was WORSE (more ill-behaved) it does not justify that note. Nothing does.
I absolutely agree. The level of ugly she displayed was clearly a bit aggressive and of course this is just my opinion, the women has some anger management issues she needs to work out like how to act like a mature adult, self respect and how to handle and represent yourself in such situations. There’s a broad range of just how lil or how much hostility is needed for any situation. Clearly she surpassed the needed amount. I recently flew American Airlines from SFO to PHX. My boyfriend has CHF, enlarged heart and has sleep apnea so breathing can be a bit of a challenge during things such as exercise, high elevation and such. He knows and takes full responsibility for his health and does not expect any “special” type of care or tending to while flying. We always try to get (extra cost) the seats right after first class as they have more leg room (hes 6’4) and that’s a extra option if you choose to pay extra but clearly it doesn’t come with anything other than just the leg space. While on this specific flight it was announced there would be no beverages or snacks (just 1st class which is whatever those seats aren’t cheap! Throw in a wet wipe n a pair of slippers for what those seats cost$$$) and had we known we may have grabbed something before boarding. So mid flight his O2 dropped to 88% and as the flight attendant walked by we asked if he could please get a cup or bottle of water cuz he wasn’t feeling very well and before we could finish she put both of her hands up as to stop us from talking and said “ Sorry you arnt being served any beverages in these seats”. Then just stared at him WIDE EYED. As if he knew better then to ask. I spoke up and said “we understand ma’am but he has CHF and he can’t brea…” she interrupts me and now a bit louder, eyes bigger and hands closer to his face with not a glance towards me and says “IM SORRY NOT MY PROBLEM!” while shaking her head! Another attendant came over to be of assistance, this time a very nice gentleman, the rude women tells him “I’m very busy up here and he is asking for water!!”
…. Let me also add in that there were 2 people in 1st class! … 2 people!!! ….
But the dude sitting in row 7 seat D was having the best conversation with that rude flight attendant the ENTIRE 1 hr 20 some odd minutes flight and we watched as she delivered him drink after drink, even sitting in the empty seat next to him watching a movie on his tablet And helping herself to a few sips of his beverage that was 100% alcohol. But she couldn’t get my bf WATER and we were taking up too much of her time?!?! I was LIVID!!! As we departed the plane she politely told us to have a great rest of our day and Her words “I hope you fly with us again. By the way you have beautiful hair! Wow! Take care now, bye bye” ….
and even then we never said 1 rude thing nor did we make any fuss. My bf did get a small plastic cup with around 6oz of water in it from the gentleman who ended coming over as she was clearly having some kind of customer service overload!
Hey where did my comment go?!?
NVRMIND!!! **Face Palm!!!**
If the attendant were rude, the incident should’ve been addressed one-on-one after the other passengers debark. Leaving a note, especially with this use of language is complete cowardice, intended to elevate the writer’s sense of self without having to be accountable. The attendant should feel powerful, knowing that someone who was unable to say things in person actually feels lesser than her target.
I agree Brad, this “should have” been quietly handled one on one, with all the “YOU YOU YOUs“ removed by this attacking passenger. Obviously that would have been impossible and could
possibly have escalated into something worse, like physical abuse along with more verbal abuse. I can’t imagine anyone writing something like this, let alone handing it to the intended person.
Maybe now the FA has risen above it, maybe regained some of her “power” (self-respect, which probably took a good hit at the time) knowing the passenger has been banned by AA, but the hurt she must have felt – and maybe still does – upon receiving such a viscous note was no doubt palpable at the time.
I seriously doubt this had anything to do with racism. If it did there likely would have been comments made to AA in some manner from passengers sitting near or around this passenger.
“Let’s just assume the flight attendant was rude, as the note implies. Doesn’t matter.” It does matter. The pax probably lost her cool to write that note, but flight attendants are supposed to be professional and courtesy all the time. Not all US flight attendants follow that rules. The economy is bad. And now Covid-19 is on top of that… People are just like bombs waiting to explode.
I agree to an extent but remember that two wrongs do not make a right. To write a note is one thing but to viciously attack the FA using such language does not make the passenger in the right but rather just as bad or possibly worse depending on how the FA was acting which we do not know. If the FA was rude and nasty then write a note to the cabin manager or when you land speak to the station manager. All this note did was show how disgusting the passenger is and removed all doubt that she is a reasonable minded person whereas there is still doubt as to how rude (if at all) the FA was.
Thank you for sharing.
Making a few assumptions around ‘seat assignment’ and ‘mask nazi’ comments, I suspect this has way more to do with a waste-of-a-human life passenger and much less to do with the Flight Attendant.
This is NEVER appropriate behaviour. In this new, temporary reality, the guidelines for flight are clearly spelled out. If you don’t want to wear your mask or sit in your assigned seat, you can choose not to fly – and the airline can choose to remove you from flight.
If you don’t like the attitude of your FA, there are proper and appropriate escalation channels, Handing someone this invective does not help formally address the problem and only proves what a worthless $#!* of a human this passenger is.
FA’s are not wait staff; if they were, the airlines would have replaced them with self-serve options decades ago. They are rigourously trained to keep you safe; that’s why they’re there. I appreciate that there is a service element we buy into when we fly (at least in business and first) but I could care less how ‘warm and fuzzy’ you make me feel; I want to know that if we’re ever in the thick of it, your training will save my life.
I hope AA identifies this passenger and shares amongst all the airlines and the FAA. May they be banned from flying anywhere on any airline for a minimum of 5 years AND may they be fined and receive a criminal record for abuse.
Yes, it’s pretty dreadful. Plus, as I understand it, that ‘C’ word is very rude in the US, rather than its more casual usage in the UK or Australia.
One hopes she’s able to understand that it’s 100% a reflection on the passenger, regardless of the veracity or otherwise in the suggestions of a lack in her own performance.
Just awful to treat another human being like this…
At JFK we had a late aborted TO in a L1011. Faulty stall warning caused that and the aircraft came down hard and a fire exploded on one side. The Flight Attendants evacuated that FULL aircraft out 50% of the exits in 1.5 minutes. Except for a couple slide injuries everyone got out and lived. That is what a Flight Attendant is for.
The crews don’t like being mask nazi’s. The FA job is extremely competitive to get, the training is difficult, there are standards for everything. And for all that the starting pay is not even min wage. And you have to pay off expensive uniform package and endure 6 weeks of training without compensation. Now AA is furloughing All the recent new hires. These are the life blood of our future. These FA’s are being flushed without furlough pay into a non existent job market. Some have endured 3 furloughs during recent downturns.
Had I been commanding, I would have placed this individual on the no fly list for the company. Please go to brand X next time.
Did you write the note Jenny?
Welcome to the world dominated by a cyberspace in which statements with evil intent have become acceptable
Two comments, asking some to wear a mask does not make them a nazi, no one is getting send to a concentration camp over this.
The only “4 eyed c*nt” here is the person who wrote the note.
This is so disturbing! But the times we live in are exposing the wounded meanness in some people. They have no means to handle these times we are going through. They have no clue as to how to be part of a community which sustains and supports the other.
And the other side is true – there are people who shine during crisis. It seems that their own struggles have created compassion in them. They are quite aware of the struggles of others and respond appropriately.
We are seeing the best and worse in people. The note writer must be filled with so much pain and hurt that all she can do is lash out at others. So, so sad.
Thank you for posting it- as sad as it is.
Walla Matthew first you need to stop writing about crazy stuff. Second the passenger should not have been flying because it is too risky. Third the flight attendant should not have been flying because she is risking her life. With all that being said, the flight attendant was probably raciest toward arabs so the passenger was justified in writing the note. If you listen to looser like Joe Biden then you are going to become a looser like him.
Mohammed, what?????!!!!!!!!!! I don’t know why I’m responding to you….. that post doesn’t deserve a reply. Look at what you wrote? What if this note had been given to you, a family member of yours or someone you love. There is much wrong with your post (including spelling and gramatical errors) but, WHAT in the world did/does race have to do with this? Sheesh. 🙁
I can’t believe this is our world.
As as retired United Flight attendant, I would love to meet this ignoramus and ask him just what he would do if he became gravely ill on a flight and there were no medical professionals on board.
I am sure he has no idea of what medical training flight attendants are required to attend every year and how many lives they have saved. I was also an ER nurse for 20 years and happy to have those skills when I needed them.
All this in addition to evacuation skills in the event of an emergency landing.
The language used by the passenger is completely unacceptable.I do,however,find it hard to believe that the passenger’s response was a reaction to a mere” please put on your mask properly “.Something else provoked that response.
Moral of the story: Everyone should be mindful,flight attendants included.
@Violetteskye and @Sandra you both are loosers and bumps. Allah knows what is my heart and you are both showing me bad intentions. I know for sure that that flight attendant was raciest toward Arabs. You both are probably voting for sleepy low energy Joe Biden. You both are going to burn in the hell fire on the day of judgment when Allah banishes you there. You both are ignorant fools and are going to live and learn the hard way the way my ex-wife learned.
@ Mohammed
Well, I guess we know who wrote the note
You are just looking for attention and trying to get a rise out us. I won’t be responding to you again. Why give you what you want? Also, notice how I refuse to stoop to your level. Bless your heart.
@Matthew
Let’s just assume the flight attendant was rude, as the note implies. Doesn’t matter. Doesn’t change the analysis one bit. To speak to a fellow human being like this is to show a shocking disregard for basic decency.
You are a complete fool. If someone is a looser and a racist bump, you call them out like President Trump. “Basic decency” gets you nowhere but in the hell fire. You don’t take BS from no one. You can’t be soft on idiots.
This woman was just banned by American Airlines for her note. You must be trolling me, because I see no signs of racism. And what if she was told sternly she had to put the mask over her nose? Why was this fool disregarding the rules in the first place?
@Matthew marks are a waste of time and money. This is a hox to get sleepy low eneergy Joe biden elected. You are a liberal foll.
@Matthew Allah hates you and will put you in the hell fire first. Yiou need to prey 5 times a day and beg Allah for forgiveness.
@Matthew you hate Arabs.
Did your ex-wife finally pick up a ruler one day and realize what 6 inches really looked like?
I see the reference to “stupid seat policies” as well as the deal about mask deal. I strongly suspect that it’s one of those people who buy BASIC economy, and try to poach one of the extra legroom seats. Just because it is open, it doesn’t mean you are entitled to it.
A number of these people don’t read the fare rules, they are only concerned about price. And then get rude because they can’t get something they’re not entitled to.
Even one of your colleague, a writer in this lovely blog deemed that mask have no effect in this pandemic. And even tough he is not a doctor or have any education in medical field, insist that based on what he reads on the internet, mask is no real use in preventing spread of covid-19.
From that point of view, isn’t it normal that someone with highly educational background, high social class, deemed the instruction to cover up nose with mask is over the top?
I’m not saying the passenger is right. Not at all. But the point of view might be right since your colleague was also sharing the same approach against mask.
Then again, its just a word on paper. It means nothing. Not even a formal complaints or offense. Life goes on