topic Re: What Happened to The Friendly Skies? in Community Chat

What Happened to The Friendly Skies?

gertrudecloset — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 01:19:29 GMT

American Airlines CEO Doug Parker said Thursday that unruly behavior on planes "has to stop."
It comes after American said a flight attendant was "physically assaulted" by a passenger on Wednesday.
The passenger punched the attendant in the face, the association APFA told The Washington Post.

CEO Doug Parker said unruly behavior on planes "has to stop" after a male passenger was accused of punching a female flight attendant in the face.

"We had one of the worst displays of unrul behavior we've ever witnessed," Parker said in a video posted on Instagram on Thursday.

An American Airlines flight was diverted on Wednesday after a male passenger "physically assaulted" a female flight attendant, the carrier told Insider in a statement on Thursday. It said it had banned the passenger from future American flights.

The flight attendant was making her way through the first-class cabin when she bumped the passenger, Julie Hedrick, president of the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA), which represents staff who fly for American, told The Washington Post.

Hendrick told The Post that the flight attendant apologized, but that the passenger got up from his seat to confront her. He then punched her in the face, Hendrick said.

The flight attendant was taken to hospital for treatment of broken bones in her face, Hendrick told The Post, adding that the attendant was later released.

The APFA didn't immediately respond to Insider's request for comment on The Post's article.

An American Airlines spokesperson told Insider that the flight attendant was transported to a local hospital, but said the airline couldn't comment any further on her condition, citing privacy reasons.

Re: What Happened to The Friendly Skies?

sunshine45 — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 01:39:37 GMT

these stories are just so sad......what is wrong with people? i love to fly, i love to travel, but i dont love people who dont treat others with respect and courtesy.

do you think this has been happening a lot BEFORE and we just never heard a lot of it or do you think that more of this is happening now for the past almost two years due to covid issues and concerns about flying?

Re: What Happened to The Friendly Skies?

gertrudecloset — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 01:43:06 GMT

(Reuters) -American Airlines said on Saturday it has canceled more than 1,400 flights over the weekend due to staff shortages and unfavorable weather.

The U.S. airline said it canceled 551 flights on Saturday, 480 flights on Sunday, in addition to 376 flights canceled on Friday. FlightAware, a flight tracking site, said American had also delayed more than 1,000 flights since Friday.

"With additional weather throughout the system, our staffing begins to run tight as crew members end up out of their regular flight sequences," the airline said in a statement.

The company said it expected to get through this period of irregular operations soon.

Heading towards the busy holiday travel season, carriers are working to hire more employees.

American Airlines said it is increasing its staffing across all operations, with nearly 1,800 flight attendants returning from leave and more than 600 newly hired flight attendants coming on board by the end of December.

Southwest also said it was hiring aggressively, with the aim of having about 5,000 new employees by the end of this year.

Earlier this month, Southwest canceled nearly 2,400 flights over a three-day period, blaming unfavorable weather and air traffic issues in Florida.

Re: What Happened to The Friendly Skies?

jellyBEAN — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 01:51:04 GMT

Seems like the friendly skies up and sailed out to the wild blue yonder. Being a stewardess used to be such a dream job - travel, airline pilots, fun uniforms - seemed so glamorous THEN.

Lets face it, people have changed. Times have changed. No longer do people dress up and wear their very best for a flight, nor are they on their good behavior. It's all about ME ME ME and to heck w/everyone else. Rules no longer apply. Punishments for bad behavior no longer exist. Everything is filmed on camera, no one is living in the present moment - its really sad. I'm glad I'm not a young person and lived my life when I did.

(I also think the present health fiasco has a lot to do with people being even more frustrated than usual - but that is no excuse.)

Re: What Happened to The Friendly Skies?

Kachina624 — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 01:51:22 GMT

All that CEO does is whine about his problems. It's his job to FIX them. Apparently his solution is to cancel flights. The cancellations going on now are supposedly partly due to windy weather. Airplanes don't fly in windy weather? That's a first.... What's he going to do when snow starts to fly? If I'd been sitting in airports for 2-3 days, I'd be steamed.

Re: What Happened to The Friendly Skies?

gertrudecloset — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 02:04:16 GMT

@Kachina624 I thought I read where you have the flu. How are you feeling? Can't be too bad if you're up and about. That means you might not get it so bad after all.

Re: What Happened to The Friendly Skies?

Marp — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 02:05:14 GMT

IMO there is not enough prosecution of these perpetrators. In addition, when a flight has to be diverted due to an unruly passenger that passenger should have to reimburse the airline for its additional expenses, often in excess of a hundred thousand dollars, and face civil class actions by other passengers due to the disruptions--missed connections, etc.

Re: What Happened to The Friendly Skies?

QVCkitty1 — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 02:07:28 GMT

These law breakers should be prosecuted to the full extent, there is zero excuse for bad behavior.

Re: What Happened to The Friendly Skies?

golding76 — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 03:33:41 GMT

sunshine45,

A very close friend of mine is with the FAA and her assignment for decades has been dealing with these issues of altercations and physical fights in the air. The airlines she is assigned to are among the famous ones.

THE DEGREE OF OUTRAGEOUS, DANGEROUS BEHAVIOR AND THE NUMBER OF CASES HAVE EXPLODED EXPONENTIALLY THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. SHE HAS NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS BEFORE.

Her caseload is huge, and she is going out of her mind processing these cases and trying to get the perpetrators to even respond to letters from FAA, much less bring them to justice. These people are heedless and, it appears, consider themselves outside the bounds of civil behavior. They consider themselves special, I guess, and entitled to act out their hostilities and frustrations. At bottom, these behaviors are those of a three-year-old having a temper tantrum (unless they are drunk or drugged, conditions which exacerbate the fit of bad behavior).

I haven't asked her, but I am certain she got the latest case of the flight attendant who was assaulted for accidentally bumping into a passenger. What drug was he on?

Re: What Happened to The Friendly Skies?

golding76 — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 02:32:56 GMT

One last thing -- where are the air marshals when you need them? The best guess is that, because of COVID-19, they cannot be forced to do their duty on an airplane since the possibility of contagion is higher there.

Their presence and assistance would certainly mitigate this outbreak of absurd and dangerous behavior.

Perhaps when federal workers are instructed to return to their offices, the air marshals will go back on flights. One can only hope.

Re: What Happened to The Friendly Skies?

deepwaterdotter — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 02:34:04 GMT

Incivility.

Re: What Happened to The Friendly Skies?

Duckncover — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 02:34:17 GMT

Was the guy who hit the flight attendant arrested? Banning him from the airline isn't enough. Ban him from all airlines. He is dangerous. He should have been charged with assault at the very least.IMO, any unruly behavior that takes place during a flight should be a felony...the chances of danger to everyone onboard is real. I hope she recovers well and gets millions in damages.

Re: What Happened to The Friendly Skies?

ThinkingOutLoud — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 02:38:19 GMT

@gertrudecloset wrote:
(Reuters) -American Airlines said on Saturday it has canceled more than 1,400 flights over the weekend due to staff shortages and unfavorable weather.

The U.S. airline said it canceled 551 flights on Saturday, 480 flights on Sunday, in addition to 376 flights canceled on Friday. FlightAware, a flight tracking site, said American had also delayed more than 1,000 flights since Friday.

"With additional weather throughout the system, our staffing begins to run tight as crew members end up out of their regular flight sequences," the airline said in a statement.

The company said it expected to get through this period of irregular operations soon.

Heading towards the busy holiday travel season, carriers are working to hire more employees.

American Airlines said it is increasing its staffing across all operations, with nearly 1,800 flight attendants returning from leave and more than 600 newly hired flight attendants coming on board by the end of December.

Southwest also said it was hiring aggressively, with the aim of having about 5,000 new employees by the end of this year.

Earlier this month, Southwest canceled nearly 2,400 flights over a three-day period, blaming unfavorable weather and air traffic issues in Florida.

The weather has not been the reason and for anyone who believes that excuse I've got a bridge to sell you.

Re: What Happened to The Friendly Skies?

Foxxee — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 02:40:40 GMT

Smaller seats, packed into a cattle car, TSA, along with everything else are bound to get on people's nerves.

There's no excuse for punching a flight attendant, but I'm surprised more aren't snapping.

Re: What Happened to The Friendly Skies?

Duckncover — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 02:41:33 GMT

I had not even thought about an air marshal no longer being on flights. Sounds like they need them now more than ever. Am glad we don't have to fly right now. Sounds like people on flights are nuts

Re: What Happened to The Friendly Skies?

mom2four0418 — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 02:44:50 GMT

@Duckncover wrote:
Was the guy who hit the flight attendant arrested? Banning him from the airline isn't enough. Ban him from all airlines. He is dangerous. He should have been charged with assault at the very least.IMO, any unruly behavior that takes place during a flight should be a felony...the chances of danger to everyone onboard is real. I hope she recovers well and gets millions in damages.

Yes

Re: What Happened to The Friendly Skies?

On It — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 02:52:42 GMT

People who assault others on a flight and cause bodily harm should be put on the "no fly" list. After word gets out this is happening, potential bad actors just may think twice before doing something stupid.

Re: What Happened to The Friendly Skies?

FancyPhillyshopper — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 02:59:03 GMT

I have not flown for two years and will wait another year at least.

Yes, unruly behavior has exploded, and I certainly feel for all the airline staff dealing with rude and potentially violent passengers. Too much time in quarantine seems to have made some people much too ready to fly off the handle.

Many flights have banned alcohol sales because it seems to exacerbate the problems.

In addition, there are those fools who wish to challenge mask mandates.

Thank goodness there are always those passengers who will assist and help tape the violent person to his/her seat until the flight can land. Air marshals cannot possibly police/patrol all the many, many flights that operate. Besides, their role is to prioritize criminals or terrorists--not worry about regular passengers.

People who react with violence on airplanes are idiots and deserve all criminal charges and future bans.

Yes, travel can be stressful, but airplanes are much more comfortable than crowded buses or subways or trains, or bumper-to-bumper car traffic jams.

Re: What Happened to The Friendly Skies?

chrystaltree — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 02:59:24 GMT

If they arrested people and jailed for endangering other passengers and the crew, it would stop. But they don't do that. The airlines are terrified of angering the drunks and drugged out hooligans who are the perpetrators. Of course behaviour like that isn't common.

Re: What Happened to The Friendly Skies?

Mistreatedbycs — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 03:16:01 GMT

So let's hear the other side of the story.