Well Air Rage certainly is fast becoming a major problem with the airlines. But can it be helped or are we generally flying a vast crowd of ill-behaving morons around the skies who are far beyond help ? Could be, but for the "borderliners" it might help if:
1) Staff, air and ground, are better trained to deal with these individuals. A psychology course might help.
2) Our passengers are fed true and accurate information at all times. Even if it might be embarrasing for the airline, the truth always wins in the end and will help to defuse a "hot" situation.
3) Banning alcohol, both in flight and in airports, is so far beyond my train of thought that it almost hurts. Punishing the masses because a few can't control themselves is not the solution in my opinion. But CC in particular should perhaps pay more attention to what they serve and to whom. Secondly, it could be ruled that all duty free must be surrendered at the gate and loaded below. At least this will stop people from drinking their own. But will it work operationally ? I doubt it ...
4) SPACE ! Yes, the bean-counters says it is not possible, but surely giving people back in steerage (often there myself) a bit more space will work wonders. I am not a particularly big or tall fellow, but on a charter "cattle transporter" even I am using a shoehorn to get in the seat.
5) Smoking. Right, I'm going to get flogged for this one but what the h*ll. On long-haul airlines should consider installing some kind of small cabins, sealed off from the rest of the cabin and with seperate air extractors, with enough space to hold 5-10 pax and a
softdrink trolley.
Anybody here who thinks millions could be made if we started a "smokers only" airline and start flying, say, London-Hong Kong or Paris-Tokyo ? 2 classes only, smokers and heavy smokers
[ 02 September 2001: Message edited by: PsychoDad ]