There is another side to the subject of drinking on flights. My wife and I recently had a dreadful flight on Emirates.
We were returning to Hong Kong and boarded the Dubai/HK leg on 5th November. Sitting in front was, as it turned out later) a Greek gentleman and his wife. A meal was served and my wife chose a bottle of wine to go with her meal. I had a beer. My wife was having trouble with her TV monitor in the seat back and was prodding fruitlessly at the screen. The “gentleman” in front leapt up and turned on my wife screaming that if she was going to do that for the rest of the flight he would be having a go at her! The whole aircraft heard this outburst. We were stunned into silence and just looked at each other.
After the trays were removed my wife was given a second bottle of wine, (lets not forget they are small bottles!!) and I had a second beer. The drinks were on the seat tray in front as we read our books. Without warning the “gentleman” in front shot his seat back into the reclining position, promptly dumping my wife’s wine all over her lap. She cried out with an inevitable “!!!!!!”. The man leaps to his feet again and commences screaming at her again. “How was I to know you had a drink, you stupid woman! Anyway, you should watch your drinking!!” Not wishing to inflame the situation, I asked him to please sit down and face the front. He then turned on me stating he would have a go at me as well, telling me I should also watch my drinking and watch out for my wife’s drinking!!
My wife went to the crew at the rear to clean up the spilled wine. They asked what was going on. They then advised that if there was any further trouble to let them know as they would not accept any air rage on the flight. Ten minutes later one of the cabin crew arrived with 2 glasses of champagne from business class and announced in a loud voice, “Enjoy your champagne madam!”. This clearly infuriated the “gentleman” who again slammed his seat back. My wife was ready for him this time, snatching her glass away before being caught by his seat. The man then told the cabin crew member that he wished to complain about us, she responded by telling him we had already complained about him and would he please raise his seat slightly and to leave us alone.
About 30 minutes later the “gentleman” carried out his ‘coup-de-grace’ slamming his seat back so violently that he injured my wife’s knee. She was in tears of pain. The crew again told the man to sit up slightly and to give us room.
My wife is still suffering from pain to her knee. What were my options? Request that the police be called and report him for assault? Some friends suggested having a go at him, however, I feel that this would simply have inflamed the situation. My point is that it isn’t always drinking that causes problem passengers!!
By the way, if the lovely girl who looked after us reads this, just want to say thanks!