The airlines have never had it so good. The virtually-in-bankruptcy days are now only a bad dream. They are raking in record profits, thanks to low fuel costs, more people wanting to fly due to prosperous economies and money grabs like charging for bags that used to go free before.
One would have thought that in such circumstances, the passengers, their bread and butter, would have caught a few breaks. On the contrary. Perhaps it is added deregulation and consolidation that has led to only 4 major US airlines carrying the bulk of domestic traffic that in turn has led to them giving the finger to their paying passengers. Maybe this cavalier attitude has been prevalent since some time, but people have had it up to their necks and are now retaliating with the only but powerful thing open to them - smartphone recording and social media. Take for instance the Atlanta man flying to Milwaukee. His aircraft was delayed for more than an hour and half on the runway and being an emergency, he had to visit the aft washroom while on the ground. The stewardess told him to sit down but he proceeded, motioning to her he had to go. On coming out, he was rudely told he violated a safety rule and had put the other passengers at risk. He had to leave the aircraft. The man was extremely polite and non-confrontational with the rude stewardess and then another member of the cabin crew she called and then with the security person who came to take him out. He refused to budge, explaining he had no option but to take his bio-break due to the delay on the ground, but they insisted on escorting him out and flying him on the next plane (whenever that was) to Milwaukee. Since he refused, the plane was taken back to the gate and all passengers made to disembark at the terminal and all reboarded except for him. To me, this was utter American stupidity in action. The usual solution for this kind of situation would have been to delay for a couple of minutes the take-off (if at all the plane was cleared) and let the man meet his need. Instead they spent hours going back to the gate deboarding everyone and reboarding all except the individual in question. Typical American overkill ego solution. I have more than once been in that type of situation, busily distracted and then suddenly realizing I had to go while the aircraft was either in a take-off position or landing pattern. I knew the announcement said that passengers were to be seated and not take off seat belts, but I justified my action to myself with my immediate washroom need being viewed as an emergency and therefore exceptional. The stewards and hostesses saw me go (I passed them in the galley) but beyond gently chiding me, they let me go. I didn't dream of a consequence like what happened to the Milwaukee man. It was usually an international flight, so that may account for it. Foreign airlines too, take FAA regs seriously when over American airspace, but not too seriously as US carriers seem to take. Perhaps fewer such incidents may take place in the future. United has today announced 10 changes to their protocols. One of them has been admitting that their rules were bent towards discipline and strict compliance without caring for the human needs of the passengers they were carrying. Roland Francis Toronto.
