Would you please not drink that in front of me ....

[AirWasp]

I had a senior member of my staff travel to SE Asia recently in Biz Class onboard a Middle Eastern Airline ..

After take off, the crew circulated offer the usual post rotation drinks to which my colleague asked for G & T :)

After being served he had barely take a sip when the Arab Gentlmen next to him leant over and asked him "Would you please not drink that in front of me.." :ooh:

Not wanting to cause an 'international incident', my colleague then proceeded to hand back his drink and refrained from ordering anymore.

Whilst I appreciate that there were several solutions to this dilemma ....move seat ... drink in the Galley.. or ignore the man, however this particular co-worker is far too polite for his own good and just went without for the remainder of the flight (not something I would have done, I hasten to add)

To add insult to deprivation, the alleged 'alcohol-objector' was travelling with Wife & child who brazenly began breast feeding halfway through the flight ... go figure !

Are there any broadly accepted rules on drinking in front of objecting pax ? or does it differ from airline to airline ? :confused:

[Basil]

I think my first reaction would have been to say "Don't look!" followed by "You have a very curious and extreme interpretation of the Koran."

Any further escalation "Talk to the hand or sort it out with the CC!"

I flew for a Persian Gulf airline for four years. We served al cohol and I never heard of any such problems.
I do recollect feeling a little self conscious when, as a passenger, I tucked into lunch during Ramadan with a chap reading his Koran next to me. He noticed my embarrassment and said "Don't worry; this is good for me." or words to that effect.

I think al cohol man was a bit of a prat - they are always with us in all cultures.

[TopBunk]

If the airline concerned chooses to offer in flight service that includes alcohol, then you are fully entitled to partake of that offering. It is no business of the passenger to request you to refrain, I would have told him politely to **** off or to travel with some 'more enlightened' carrier.

Honestly the stories you hear about some of these hypocrits and their behaviour wrt alcohol when on board is staggering.

I don't do political correctness:E

[belfrybat]

I'd have told him that while I greatly respect his beliefs, I don't adhere to them, so would he please respect mine and mind his own business.

[28L]

Have a Company travel policy which only involves flying with airlines which have screens between Biz class seats......ummmmm.......BA springs to mind :ok:

[pinkus]

Bit of a tricky one.

I worked for a Gulf Carrier for a few years that has a somewhat strict approach to staff travel ( Having to move seat if another pax IFE not working, not to take amenity kits, very strict dress code etc. They also did not hesitate to revoke your staff travel privileges over the most minor of incidents) So bearing that in mind I probably would have taken the pussy approach like your friend.

However from the sound of your post your friend was not travelling with his own company so in that case I would have politely told the guy to sod off.

Perhaps during Ramadan people should be a bit more understanding but not under normal circumstances.

I am guessing the guy who complained was from a GCC country ( UAE/Saudi/Kuwait/Doha etc and it really gets up my nose when these people get all high and mighty about these things.

I understand a lot of Gulf Arabs feel that they are losing their culture. BUT....
They NEED expats to run their country. They think its beneath them to work in a shop or a bank or to drive a taxi ( Oman and Bahrain being the exception to this) and their population is so small that even if they did want to work they would still bring in outsiders.

They have opened up their countries to foreigners and are more than happy to take money from us by charging exorbitant prices for rent, groceries and YES alcohol amongst other things. Not to mention the amount of money that all of the Gulf Carriers bring to the region. But when it suits them they want to be all ultra religious.

This part of the world is full of contradictions! You mentioned your friend was going to going to SE Asia. First thing that popped into my head was Emirati going to Bangkok to sleep with as many hookers as he can. Hey maybe he was actually super religious, maybe he was just travelling for business but trust me he would be the exception.

END RANT !

[jeanyqua]

I would have quite happily thrown it all over him,woops,clumsy me,then ordered another.

[Dnomyar19]

I hope they would have served me bacon for breakfast too!:O

[apaddyinuk]

I used to fly for QR...The amount of arabs who would ask for a discreet drink was huge!

[Sky Goose]

I would have asked the CC for a cold pork sandwich to go with my G&T, and then taken out my copy of Richard Dawkins's 'God Delusion'.

[Head_in_clouds]

"To add insult to deprivation, the alleged 'alcohol-objector' was travelling with Wife & child who brazenly began breast feeding halfway through the flight ... go figure !"

Can I just ask why breast feeding a baby is an insult? This is the most natural thing and if a baby needs feeding, then feed it!

With regards to the alcohol, I would of carried on drinking. I don't see how drinking in front of someone who doesn't drink should have any impact on you what so ever!

[Rengineer]

You see, Airwasp, that's one of the classic cases where your staff member and his seat neighbour, being brought up in different cultures, object to different behaviour. Most people I know would have nothing against either breast-feeding or drinking.
On any normal day, my own reaction would have been to ask why the gentleman objected to my enjoying a g&t. If in particularly high spirits, I might have tried to take a lighter note and ask if he felt the particular brand of tonic was objectionable.
In any case, I think there's no ideal response. It was a strangely impolite remark from someone you have a right to expect politeness from. Best case, your staff member might have started a deeply philosophical and spirited conversation about cultural and religous standards with his neighbour. It has happened to me in similar circumstances.

[Rusland 17]

I worked for a Gulf Carrier for a few years that has a somewhat strict approach to staff travel (Having to move seat if another pax IFE not working...)Drifting off-topic slightly, but I'd have thought that asking a staff member travelling for next to nothing to swap seats with a paying passenger whose IFE wasn't working was the very least that should be expected from any airline. It's hardly a "strict approach".

[glad rag]

Can I just ask why breast feeding a baby is an insult? This is the most natural thing and if a baby needs feeding, then feed it!

:ugh:

It IS of course, but you have completely missed the whole double standard-ed "Koran" point of the OP!!!

Here, have another couple of :ugh: and a :rolleyes:

[FOCX]

Glad Rag, stop doing :ugh:, it's just going to increase the damage!:rolleyes:

Yes, well pointed out, I'd missed that as well, but why are you so excited by it as I'm sure Airwasp has two feet he can stand up on!:}

[ChicoG]

The chances are he didn't want you drinking because he was gagging for one himself and his missus doesn't know he likes a slurp. I would have invited him to move himself, as it's his problem not yours.

As for Ramadhan, I don't observe it, because I'm not pigging out all night, so if there's food on the plane I will eat it if I so choose. A devout Muslim will consider himself closer to Allah if he can fast in the face of temptation.

And more to the point, you are exempt from fasting if you are travelling, or you are sick.

[411A]

....my colleague then proceeded to hand back his drink and refrained from ordering anymore.


I would have asked for a double.

[Mill Worker]

Perhaps Westerners would be a bit more sympathetic to their Arab fellow passengers if they refrained from spending the entire flight coughing up huge amounts of mucus into a sick bag or could possibly go to the bathroom to take a dump rather than in the aisle. Don't laugh it happens regularly.

[ExSp33db1rd]

.....I would have asked for a double.........


every 15 mins.

[Mill Worker]

Hi Asaul, I guess (hope) your reply is a wind up.

If I had said they took a dump as big as a baby's forearm that would be an exaggeration but if I said they took one in the aisle, or on the aerobridge, or held their child out in the isle to do one that would not be. The last one is my particular favorite and it was in First Class.

[Storminnorm]

How many Hadj flights have you done Saul?

[Octopussy2]

"If only he returned the favour by having his wife breast-feed in privacy in the toilets."

Hmmm, don't see why the baby should be the only pax required to eat its meal in the loos....seems rather unfair when you look at it that way, doesn't it?

When will you chaps realise - it's not titillation (pardon the pun), it's not an opportunity for you to be offended, it's a meal, pure and simple. It's the best thing for the baby, and I've never seen anyone try and do it in any way other than as discreetly as possible.

Back on the main topic, - gosh, I don't know how I would have handled it - initially I'd have been so shocked I wouldn't have known what to say, but the thought of making it through the flight without several snifters (I'm not v keen on flying) doesn't bear thinking about... Can anyone think of a polite but assertive response?

[herman the crab]

Personally I would have just continued drinking what I wanted and when I wanted but...

Maybe a quick visit to the galley and ask that when he wanted a drink it was prepared in the galley so the objector was unaware of what was in it. eg I ll have a tonic = please bring me a G & T discretely?

HTC

[Vld1977]

Cultural differences are just that: differences. A person who chooses not to drink because of their religion, well, I don't think anything should be imposed by religion on one self, but that's another story..., if they choose not to do it, good for them, I respect that, but when someone demands that no one does it, then it´s plain disrespectful and stupid. I would have told him that, as long as drinks are allowed and I am not forcing or tempting him to drink, I will carry on. If they were polite, I would have answered in the most polite way, and even try to find some common agreement (like trying to find a passenger to swap seats with). I they were rude, I would have told him that it was their problem. It's all a matter of attitude and respect. This story of the non-drinking passenger reminds me of the attitudes of my christian neighbours, so it's not only a "Middle East" stereotyping anecdote.

That said, as an atheist, my main problems with religious bad attitude do not come from my muslim friends, who don´t mind me having a beer in front of them, or even paying for one for me (sometimes with a "I wish I could" attitude), but with my christian acquaintances, who insist I should pray when someone dies and criticise me if I don't, that I should work for them on christmas (I prefer winterval :}) or that I educate my kids in abstinence rather than in safely enjoying sex.

It's all a matter of it being a personal belief (which I respect) or trying to impose it on another passenger (which I won't tolerate).

[ExSp33db1rd]

..........Maybe a quick visit to the galley and ask that when he wanted a drink it was prepared in the galley so the objector was unaware of what was in it. eg I ll have a tonic = please bring me a G & T discretely?



Why pander to the idiot ? Stick up for what you want. Stuff 'em.

When did appeasement ever win anything ? Ask Neville Chamberlain.

( yes, I am a Grumpy Old Man - took years of training )

[herman the crab]

ExSp33db1rd - I agree but there maybe reasons you don't want to make a fuss - crew/crew relative upgrade etc.

HTC

[watchyourairspeed]

Why not swap roles with the baby and start drinking some milk instead .:rolleyes:

[ExSp33db1rd]

ExSp33db1rd - I agree but there maybe reasons you don't want to make a fuss - crew/crew relative upgrade etc.

HTC


If I were on a Staff Travel ticket, or other grace and favour benefit like an unexected upgrade, then I would concur, but I didn't read that into the original post. If I'd paid good money I would extract the maximum benefit from it and not be dictated to by any other passenger.

[stellar]

;)Don't you think you should adop the adage "when in " " and respect the customs of the country's airline!!!

[ExSp33db1rd]

If that airline provide alcohol - then it is their Custom ! Their problem.

Who am I to know what other quirks their Rulers might enforce on their subjects. ?

In my early airline days I might spend up to 5 days in India, and / or Pakistan and be forcibly obliged to observe 'meatless days' in the hotel dining rooms.

Once tried to stop an English butcher from serving meat to an Indian customer on one of those nominated days, didn't succeed of course.
Discrimination only works one way.

Hypocrisy Rules - O.K. ?

[Basil]

One of the first thoughts which would have occurred to me would have been to angle for an upgrade :ok: