A United Express flight attendant has been accused by a passenger, with photographic evidence, of accepting a bribe in order to “ignore” two first class passengers, who chose not to wear their masks onboard.
One Mask Washes The Other: Flight Attendant Appears To Accept Bribe For Mask
The incident allegedly occurred onboard United Airlines Flight 6063 from Charleston (CHS) to Houston (IAH), a United Express flight operated by Mesa Airlines, a regional subsidiary that operates on behalf of United.
Megan Rose, a passenger posted photographic evidence on Twitter, claiming the flight attendant accepted cash bribes in exchange for not enforcing the federal mask mandate.
While the picture merely provides circumstantial evidence, it does show a flight attendant accepting what appears to be a $20 bill. That’s significant because United is a cashless airline; only contactless payment is accepted for payment for snacks and drinks onboard. Secondly, the passengers were flying in first class, where alcoholic drinks are free. Thus, there is no circumstance, unless she was making change, that cash would exchange hands during a flight.
Two passengers are pictured maskless in row four, the last row of the first class cabin, though both are clutching drinks. That said, the federal mask mandate requires masks to be raised between sips, in order to avoid precisely this scenario. In fact, this instruction is part of the script announced on every United flight, including those flights operated by United Express.
In response to her tweet, United asked for more details and has promised to investigate the incident.
CONCLUSION
Flight attendants at regional jets are very poorly paid. I can understand that $20 “tips” can make a meaningful difference. But if the flight attendant actually accepted a bribe in order to ignore the maskless passengers, she should be terminated…and will be terminated. The two passengers should also be banned from future United flights until the pandemic is over.
Based upon the pictures and unusual exchange of money, what do you think happened onboard?
(H/T: Paddle Your Own Kanoo)
@Matthew You wrote massless instead of maskless just FYI.
Thanks. Fixed.
Matt, the picture doesn’t show the flight attendant accepting the money, it shows the passenger offering money. The flight attendant will say they tried to purchase something with cash and she denied it.
As long as you pretend to eat or drink, rarely will a flight attendant tell you to wear a mask.
Could be – I don’t make any conclusions. But I still find the concept of handing over cash (especially a $20 bill) in a United plane in first class a very odd concept. I also have sat in the same seat (7B) from which the picture was taken. You can hear everything in row four.
I’m a flight attendant. Passengers OFTEN, especially now, offer us money and candy. It’s ALWAYS proceeded by thank you so much for what you do or we appreciate you. It is up to the flight attendant to accept. I do not accept cash. However, I graciously accept the chocolate and share it with my crew. It’s very much appreciated.
It’s not fair to judge nor fair to post this picture without facts as it may cost a flight attendant their job.
I am a flight attendant and we are allowed to accept cash tips from all passengers. I have been handed $50 bills especially in first class. There is nothing wrong with her accepting cash from a passenger if it is a tip due to her good customer service, however, if there was proof that she accepted it due to them not wearing there masks that is a different story. Please understand we are more than allowed to accept tips and it is generous as we do not even get paid until the door is closed as we are still assisting you all.
You literally just said “I don’t make any conclusion.” This website is turning into the national enquirer. Come on, man. Let’s get some actual content instead of this nonsense. You just judged a FA who has likely been flying around during the pandemic for 2 years having absolutely NO idea what the context is, yet the headline is “with photographic evidence!”
‘Handing over’ would indicate that the flight attendant actually took the money and there is no proof of that. Stop trying g to trash flight attendants!
That is not true! I was on a United flight on 8/30/21 flighting business/first, and the flight attendant kept reminding people, drink, mask, drink. Those who did not obey received a notice at the end of the flight. Not sure what it said, but they got reprimanded by the flight attendant and the pilot on the overhead speakers.
I like her uniform skirt length.
Agreed. Hate to see her leave, but love to watch her go.
Maybe she had an appointment with her gynecologist after the flight.
She’s a keeper, so is 4C
Is that really a uniform skirt?
You got the flight number wrong, Paddle Your Own Canoe is a better journalist than you lazy, inaccurate bum. Also, these photos were taken from seat 5b, not 7b. Get your facts right!
It’s Kanoo, not Canoe. Details matter. And you are incorrect: United has no row five. Economy class starts in row seven. Get your facts right!
Don’t be cheap buy a drink and tip that why your in not in first class cause you don’t have none. You have the same rights to drink upgrade or not, still have to pay either way for a drink ask for a soda or water there free stop being a Karan or Kenny don’t be that sad person look at me look at me I’m recording everyone cause don’t have a life or smart enough to do the same get over it we’re a thin nylon mask you can drink thru ha ha
Seems like a pretty long bow to accuse the flight attendant of something that could get her fired. When they are drinking drinks (which doesn’t require a mask). Not enough evidence for me here to post a photo of her. Seems VERY strange someone would accept $20 to not enforce the mandate….
All of this is total pablum. Monkey food for children. Get a life people. If someone has been vaccinated, they do not die from the COVID virus. If all the people flying have been vaxxed, then no one will die from the virus. Stop making our lives harder because of your ignorance.
Try again: Here is just one example. https://www.ktvu.com/news/vaccinated-marin-county-resident-dies-of-covid-complications
I seriously call into question the sanity of someone sitting in coach waiting to take a picture of something happening in first class. For that matter, the sanity of anyone sitting in a plane with their phone on camera mode waiting to take a pic of an incident before it happens so they can get a picture of it when it’s about to happen. No one really knows what Karen in coach was witnessing and for all we know, she may have been jonesing for a drink herself. The world is quick to jump on the bandwagon and crucify anyone PERCEIVED to be doing something wrong without knowing all the facts.
Good points I sense some jealousy could be in play
Thats not a FA uniform. Hope the truth is exposed soon. She is one hot mess FA.
Yo ppl I’ve seen this during my crew career and every picture tells a story don’t it? Whose gonna step up and tell the truth? The ppl involved should have addressed this right then, so game over. Meanwhile non involved ppl should remain as that. Nobody cares because it’s non of their business. Pure speculation here, we all know this by the comments. The only pictures ppl should take or be concerned about are those of the 9/11 type of situation. Now come get some!
Why would anyone make such an assumption ??…. right just some snoopy troublemaker who would love to see someone get in trouble or fired. Maybe the gal sitting down and handing off the money is another FA non-revving and owes her friend some money ?? Any number of scenarios but this nobody in coach has nothing better to do but make assumptions or false accusations. If you’re so bothered by it why didn’t you call out the FA and ask her – Was that a bribe I saw you take? Right, you didn’t because you know how foolish you would look or sound.
As a former flight attendant at a “regional” carrier (we were a national carrier – also a United Express operator – but it’s common for all “Express-type” carriers to be lumped under one umbrella), and former council president of the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA-CWA, AFL-CIO), contracted unionized flight attendants are actually paid rather well. Making the blanket assumption that they’re “paid poorly” is inaccurate and demeaning. Secondly, ALL carriers (at least company policy in writing) forbid accepting tips. Flight Attendants aren’t servers. The photo “proves” nothing. Perhaps the flight attendant was instructing the first class passenger to put the mask on, and perhaps said passenger was attempting to “bribe” her, but there is no proof of what transpired during or after the encounter. Flight Attendants put up with a lot, especially now! I think more investigation should have been done before taking the word of yet another “looky-loo” with a cell phone cam on and writing an article “exposing” someone, or an alleged incident. And depending on when the photo was taken, the cell phone may not have been legally allowed to be used in the first place; a violation of Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR’s). Was it taken on the ground at the gate? During taxi? Or in-flight? Too little information here. Rather silly account of something that may have been nothing to begin with, amd could have put someone’s job at stake. Just my observation and opinion.
Even though it is not recommended, if a passenger insists on giving a Flight Attendant a tip just for excellent service, FAs are told to accept it rather than make an issue of it. Perhaps her service was exceptional.
As far as the masks go, it is almost impossible to enjoy food or beverage if you are honestly expected to raise your mask after each bite or sip!
I hope you get sued for defamation of character. We flight attendants are informers not enforcers. YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT WE ENDURE DURING FLIGHTS. and WE ARE ALLOWED TO ACCEPT TIPS in regional. It’s so easy for you to make assumptions. She may have been given tips because of great service. She is holding a trash bag and the cabin lights are on which means we are on gradual or final descent. Get your facts right. Because we are going to make this FA sue for DEFAMATION OF CHARACTER.
This fake “uniform” pic violates United’s standards:
https://unitedafa.org/docs/uniforms/appearance_standards.pdf
Example:
“Skirt Length may not exceed 1 inch above or 1 inch below the crease of the back of the knee. Worn with blouse, scarf and blazer or short sleeve jacket.”
Also, United blazers have two stripes near the wrist. This fake pic lacks the stripes.
If this truly is a United FA, she is violating dress policy.
She an express FA their uniforms are different. Do your research before you talk ish on the internet.
Please show me your research, your proof, if you have any.
Or are you just a rude, thoughtless troll?
You’re the troll. Google United express uniforms that easy. Then google United airlines uniforms. Stop talking smack about the fas uniforms. I’m a frequent flyer that’s how I know.
All I see is some busybody in coach with nothing better to do than to act like a cowardly digital vigilante, harassing the airline crew and passengers with their so-called evidence.
Nowhere in the federal mask mandate does it say masks have to be worn between bites and sips! That’s a flat out lie, look it up.
It surgically says masks may be removed for a brief period while eating and drinking. The same terminology is used for inside airports, where people sit mask less at restaurants all the time.
I’ve tipped flight attendants in first class, and I don’t wear a mask between bites and sips.
People need to mind their own business.
Matt you are an idiot, just leave us alone and go do something productive in life. Remember those who cause division will be responsible for their actions. The FA is working and doing her job. As an avid traveler you have shown you know nothing about our job and you have no respect for our profession. I dare you put this young lady’s job at risk for something you were not even present. You are an idiot, I hope your greed for attention make you happy.
This photo looks photoshopped! She was probably handing her trash!
She isn’t even in first class! And we can’t see if she’s wearing a mask. I received tips throughout my career as a FA.
Yellow journalism and sensationalism at its best!
This photo could have dozens if explanations. To immediately jump to the conclusion that the Flight Attendant was accepting a bribe, then accusing her of doing it is a cheap shot, and a good example of people who are far too busy meddling and policing others instead of keeping to their own business.
For a journalist/influencer wannabe, posting it with the sensational heading “FLIGHT ATTENDANT ACCUSED OF ACCEPTING $20 BRIBE…” is pure sensationalism, and a new low for Matthew Klint. I don’t denigrate others without just cause, but in this case, Mr. Klint is hovering among the bottom-feeders.
The passenger who posted the pictures claimed to hear the conversation, so it’s a conversation worth having.
Spot on, Robb. Thanks for calling out the obvious.
The US empire loves this stuff, it gives the tax and debt slaves some comedic relief in between imperialism and war mongering. What a laughing the US empire was./is.