Originally Posted by
parabellum
SalNicholas - The question of the stroller going into the hold should have been politely explained to the mother both at check-in and again at the gate when boarding pass was checked, when the mother raised her concerns about being without the stroller and on her own the AA staff should have arranged 'Meet and Assist' for her; Why do you assume a lack of empathy or exertion of authority 'all the time'? I explained a totally bog standard, time worn procedure that is followed internationally, hundreds of times, every day. AA failed, it would seem, but we don't know what exchanges took place between the mother and AA staff from the time of check in until the mother was engaged in a tug-of-war with ground staff.
Clearly it wasn't made clear, or the situation wouldn't have presented itself...so what the hell, let's throw another FA tantrum, hit her with the stroller, and then kick her off of the plane...because that seems to work as public relations now doesn't it?
Ever since 9/11 U.S. flight attendants have seen themselves as some kind of law enforcement authority. One lacking any law enforcement training. They lean upon the perceived absolute authority of "passengers must obey any command from the flight crew" to behave like primping psychopathic twits. If you want to know why Americans hate flying...look to your cabin crews. By and large, they're unemployable as cops because most of them wouldn't pass the psych eval.