Ah alpha charlie, but what of the ones we do see? There are a number of business men in the program who will not be flying easy again. There are many more watching the program who easy will never see. I would have thought that if the ground staff knew they were being filmed they would be extra careful, not less so.
WDTBD, Indeed the Captain can get asked. In my experience they try their best to be helpful. If they can not allow the passenger on it is always because of slot time or other pressures. Therefore the final decision almost never rests with the Captain.
From where I was sitting watching the program the ground staff came across as just being bloody minded as it seemed that the aifcraft was still waiting on the ground, but then you rarely get the whole picture from these programs.
[This message has been edited by Flap 5 (edited 02 May 2001).]