Layover horror stories?

[budgie73]

I heard a rumour from a Cathay friend that one male cabin crew was viciously beaten in Amsterdam.

The attendant was cruising at gay bars and picked up a date to take home to his hotel room (I realise this is dangerous behaviour). Once there the guy beat him up badly and stole his perosonals and even his uniform. he took all the attendant's luggage and left him bleeding on the floor.

I'm aware there are plenty of dangerous places in the world and want to be careful when on layovers.

What other similar events have happened that you guys know of and where should we stay away from on the international circuit?

[captcat]

budgie73
I have often been in AMS on layover, and I'd hardly call it a "dangerous town". Now, picking up unknown people in bars IS dangerous, be they gay, straight or whatever. I mean, would you let anyone who you meet on the street into your house/hotel room? How easy it is to pretend to be looking for a partner for the night and then make you do exactly what you'd never normally do, ie. let a perfect unknown into your room.
The question in your post is not the right one. I'd rather talk about "dangerous behaviour".

[sixmilehighclub]

Istanbul: Female crew member orders hot chocolate from room service. Shortly after, starts feeling unsteady, calls colleague to come to room. Male hotel staff member looking after shop in hotel (or friend of) later tries to let himself into room. Lucky other crew member present.

Copenhagen: Female crew member goes for drinks with crew, has three drinks, music sounding distorted, blacking out periodically, crew escort her back to hotel room, where she is constantly sick for hours, severe headaches and hallucinating. Hospitalised by the morning, doctors claim no drugs in the city so no test offered. Employer treat it as drinking too much. UK doctor on return one week later says it was Ketamin. Spiking of drink ruined crew members promotion chances and also ruined a developing friendship with a male flight crew member who ignored her after the incident.

[bjghi3]

Hate to be this way, but the common denomiator in these stories is the drinking. Many people, when they start drinking, their defenses are down and their judgement gets worse and they start to take risks that they would otherwise not take.

On a recent TXL layover, I was in an internet cafe and started talking to someone who was nicely dressed, extremely good looking and very, personable. However,, my gut feeling was giving me signals that. I have llearned to follow those gut feelings. I eneded the conversation and left the internet cafe. I happened to notice he was following me a few blocks and became a bit concerned. I came upon a taxi stand and got in a cab and went back to the hotel --alone.

Now having said that, since I had not been drinking my awareness and judgement was not impaired and I possibly avoided a nasty situation. Had I been drinking, I hate to think what kind of ungly encounter that could have possibly turned into.

[apaddyinuk]

An Air Jamaica male cabin crew member was recently murdered in the crew hotel which is shared with BA in Kingston Jamaica. The details are very sketchy but he was found murdered with very few signs of a struggle or break in in his hotel room. The guest floors are not accessible without a key for the lift so the murderer was obviously brought to the room by the crewmember!

[smooth landing]

A few years back a SAA cabin crew [female] member was on her way to hotel in Brazil when she was stabbed in the back and her handbag was then stolen.

Those sort of incidents seem to happen quit a lot in Brazil.

[Onan the Clumsy]

Not in the same league as the above stories, but I used to read the Continental Express bulletin board and someone posted a thread in the layover forum titles "I slept in stale piss"

He recounted a story of jumping into bed and nodding off to a strange odour, only to wake later to realise what the smell was. There were a lot of amusing comments, especially as he had used the :ooh: smiley in his posts. Someone explained it was the after effect of a golden shower then of course someone else had to explain :ugh:

Can't remember the location though, but I've seen similar in hotels, in fact... oh never mind, just check the towels before you use them :yuk:

[OzzieO]

I think the thread is actually an interesting one and does have a point. We all need to be reminded from time to time about the reality of what goes on out there and what better way then to share personal experiences.

I for one wouldn't let it scare me into not going out, but it does make me even more streetwise and wary of what people are capable of doing to others.

[apaddyinuk]

All I can say to this one to those inclined...
DONT ARRANGE MEETS WITH LOCAL PEOPLE OFF THE INTERNET WHEN YOUR DOWN ROUTE....I know crew who do this and I have even been called upon to help a colleague who has gotten her/himself introuble or in dodgy situations. Crew are very easy targets for a lot of nut jobs out there!!!

[amongthestars]

I remember when I was doing the training for the fixed-term contract one of our trainers was telling us of the dangers. She said especially when they were checking into hotels, while still in uniform, they had to be careful because there are alot of nuts around who have a 'thing' for flight attendants!

[homesick rae]

I always believe that "When in Rome...."

I always try and check out local hospitality, however one has to be careful, discreet yet look as though you know where you are and where you are going even if you don't!

Recently...just found out that the missus was pregnant, I went out in BGI and celebrated...taxi to the pub.....walked back...cautiously.

I walked very quickly I might add!

Be careful out there though.

Cheers

HR

[zed3]

budgie73's post seems to me like a method of getting a uniform , bag with tags and possibly passes ? Ring a bell ? Terrorism , criminal activity - bearing in mind the very recent Schiphol diamond theft . Just a thought .

[CarltonBrowne the FO]

there are alot of nuts around who have a 'thing' for flight attendants!
and not all of them are pilots.

[mutt]

Couple of years ago, FA went out with two stewards whilst on layover in India, they all went back to her room where she was raped!

Expat Captain insisted on calling the police, airline wanted to settle the matter in-house. The two stewards were arrested and jailed. Unfortunately they are now back flying.

Mutt.