Travel

[BirdieGal]

Please tell...on which what airline did this occur ?

[lulu2]

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@on the bay wrote:

I'm surprised that with all that not following directions from flight attendants, they were not removed off the plane before it took off.

Anyone arguing with the flight attendants directions needlessly is cause for alarm I think no matter what color, ethnicity, age, gender etc.And if they spoke English, they would have understood the directions.

I wonder if they were reluctant to remove them because of all the backlash recently for overly aggressive security on planes.

It sounds scary.

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The man, who did not take his seat after the FA's third request, was removed.  When they were standing near the seat ahead of us, they ignored the FA.  The third time the FA attendant motioned for them to be seated.  None of them ever argued with the FA. One man did not want the FA to put his back in the overhead bin. (when seated in a bulkhead row, I've been less than happy when a FA wanted to put my purse in the overhead)

I do believe the airlines have become reluctant to engage passengers due to the many videos that have gone viral.  The pilot did come back when the 2 men told the FA they wanted us to return to the gate and remove these men.  I could not hear everything the pilot said to them but he said there was no reason to remove them and if the 2 men wanted to get off the plane then we would return to the gate.

Once the one man was removed and the others were seated, there probably was no legal reason to remove them.  They'd gone through security.  It was while we were in the air that they continued using their phones and trading phones.

No one (other than the 2 men who said aloud they wanted these men removed) seemed concerned about the behavior of the men in question. I can honestly say I was never really scared.

[lulu2]

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@BirdieGal wrote:

Please tell...on which what airline did this occur ?

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I'd rather not say, but it is one of the major US airlines.

[lulu2]

This morning I received an email from the airline.  We received a credit for our tickets.  I did not contact them but I'm certain others on the flight did. 

We are scheduled to be on the same flight this Sunday AM. 

[World Traveler]

@lulu2 How awesome! That was great of them to do that, and wonderful for you and your husband. YAAAAY!

[CHIP62]

@lulu2,

Wow! What a story, I am glad that everyone was safe however I am afraid that is is going to happen quite often🌻

[jeanlake]

Interesting topic. Flying is certainly different now. I grew up in a TWA family - dad retired from the airline. We traveled a lot. Now, I probably drive more than fly. Daughter and her fiance recently tried to fly from KC to NYC. In the airport at 6am. Flight overbooked so they were asked to take the next flight, along with several others. Next flight cancelled due to mechanical problems. Finally got on a flight with a plane change in Cleveland. Flight leaving Cleveland returned to airport after 20 minutes in the air, due to mechanical problems. Took a flight to Philadelphia, then train to NYC. Missed the first playoff game, Yankees v Astros. The day turned out to be an expensive loss (Yankees game missed) and time drain. Her fiance is a big Yankees fan. They made the best of their extended weekend trip, but there are currently too many stories like this. Poster's anxious experience with safety concerns greatly adds to flying frustrations.             

[Financialgrl]

Nothing like that's ever happened to me; however, I live in DC area and after 9/11, they were afraid of more attacks at events with expected large crowds such as Super Bowl, etc.  A friend had gotten us tickets to a Mardi Gras ball (so New Orleans in Feb).  That must have been another target they suspected bc before the plane pulled back from the gate, they brought two dogs onboard to walk up and down the center aisle.  Those two guys got off the plane and after all the passengers were seated on walked three massive guys (the size of football linebackers) and one sat up front, one in the middle and the other at the back.  

Whether it was true or not - we all suspected them to be flight marshals due to the heightened state.  All 3 got up at least twice and walked up the aisle - it certainly made me very aware of all around me.  Didn't know if I should feel safe or scared!

[Vivian]

This is always such a difficult call. My kids and grandkids moved from our state to Florida in August 2001. We missed them terribly so, despite 9/11, we flew down to Florida in November 2001 to celebrate our grandchildren’s shared birthdays, November 5.They are three years apart, totally by chance.

As my husband and I were seated in a window and center seat, a Middle-Eastern-looking young man sat next to us in the aisle seat. As I read a Time magazine article about spotting terrorists, my anxiety level rose but the rational part of me said that Middle Eastern young man does not automatically mean terrorist, so I did nothing. On the one hand I was anxious and on the other hand I felt guilty for my bias. Our flying neighbor was just fine and we all arrived safely in Florida, but I admit I was uneasy the entire flight. In 2001, anxiety and fear were rampant. I can’t say it’s changed all that much in 16 years.

[Plaid Pants2]

Just because someone "looks Middle-Eastern" (whatever that means), on my flight, I don't automatically assume that they are terrorists.

If I had been on that flight, I wouldn't have been nervous.