Disruptive Passengers - MERGED
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Sympathise with Cabin Crew...
We flew Heathrow to Vegas on Thursday with BA. Although the plane was old, the flight became even older, thanks to a few people who drank far too much.
The Cabin Crew dealt with them exceptionally well (although when one of them lit a cigarette in the toilet I suspect we were close to diverting), and put up with what could only be described as a rabble.
We spoke to some as we left the airport and they said it was the worst they had seen. They worked hard for their pay, and I hope that some will see this and take on board the appreciation meant.
The Cabin Crew dealt with them exceptionally well (although when one of them lit a cigarette in the toilet I suspect we were close to diverting), and put up with what could only be described as a rabble.
We spoke to some as we left the airport and they said it was the worst they had seen. They worked hard for their pay, and I hope that some will see this and take on board the appreciation meant.
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I hope they at least reported the smoker to the authorities on arrival in the USA. Putting an airliner in danger isn't something the LVPD would look on too favourably I imagine. 
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Noted following in Transport Canada occurrence reports for May 19:
If you are looking for peace and quiet, LHR-LAS appears to be a flight to avoid
Due to an unruly passenger, a British Airways Boeing 747 400 (BAW274), from Las Vegas (KLAS), NV, to London (EGLL), UK, requested to change its destination to Montréal (CYUL), QC. BAW274 landed without incident at 0857Z and with no impact on the operation.
Paxing All Over The World
Reminds me of a trip at least 25 years ago to Montego Bay (out of LGW, I think) on a BA 744 (I think it must have been)
We had managed to get the exit row in Y (I was young and fit in those days!) and children ran up and down the aisle and played around noisily in front of us, dashing in and out of the loos and banging the doors. The CC sympathised and said, "If we say anything to the parents - we'll get sceamed at."
One of them said something I have not forgotten, "We are on a 7 hour sector and we presume the parents know that but AS they step on board - they ask for free nappies for the baby."
So I think we can say that pax have been making their demands for a long time ...
We had managed to get the exit row in Y (I was young and fit in those days!) and children ran up and down the aisle and played around noisily in front of us, dashing in and out of the loos and banging the doors. The CC sympathised and said, "If we say anything to the parents - we'll get sceamed at."
One of them said something I have not forgotten, "We are on a 7 hour sector and we presume the parents know that but AS they step on board - they ask for free nappies for the baby."
So I think we can say that pax have been making their demands for a long time ...
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Today, making that nappy request might be considered extortion or a terroristic threat. After all, if the parents don't get them, then the passengers end up with hours and hours of baby poo smell. Oh the horror! 
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Passengers that treat crew terribly are essentially allowed to because the airline probably won't back their staff up and support any decision made by the people they employ.
Like any organisation which deals with the public, airlines get the customers they deserve.
Like any organisation which deals with the public, airlines get the customers they deserve.
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Sympathise with Cabin Crew...
Inseat
My experience of BA is they support their staff when it comes to this sort of crap. Yes they had some spates industrially but I'd be surprised if they didn't support their hard working cabin crew
My experience of BA is they support their staff when it comes to this sort of crap. Yes they had some spates industrially but I'd be surprised if they didn't support their hard working cabin crew
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Perhaps what we're missing here is that, unlike the paranoid overreactions we see with American crews these days, this crew managed to deal with the problem and ensure all got to LAS safely and on time. Perhaps we should at least give them and BA credit for that.
Standing by for incoming from my American cousins
Standing by for incoming from my American cousins
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We spoke to someone while waiting for the rental shuttle who knew someone on the flight crew of the flight mentioned that did divert. Apparently got on board drunk and proceeded to be quite sick, eventually the crew had enough. (The drunk - not the crew!)
I suspect our flight was very close to being diverted. Certainly the stewards became very firm and direct in the end.
As for Vegas. It's my first time over here. We've got our 9 year old daughter which is very restricting. While I'm not overly bothered about getting drunk, a beer in a bar would be nice.
Still it's all about our wedding in a few hours.... Then we're off to Florida to relax
I suspect our flight was very close to being diverted. Certainly the stewards became very firm and direct in the end.
As for Vegas. It's my first time over here. We've got our 9 year old daughter which is very restricting. While I'm not overly bothered about getting drunk, a beer in a bar would be nice.
Still it's all about our wedding in a few hours.... Then we're off to Florida to relax
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Hats off to the Cabin Crew for what seems to be a horrid flight. I sincerely hope any airline backs it's crew up in situations like this.
As a passenger I would hate to witness anything like this and to inconvenience everyone by forcing a plane to divert should carry the most extreme penalties.
As a passenger I would hate to witness anything like this and to inconvenience everyone by forcing a plane to divert should carry the most extreme penalties.
Passengers that treat crew terribly are essentially allowed to because the airline probably won't back their staff up and support any decision made by the people they employ.
Pile of rubbish. My airline deals with about 400 similar incidents a year and we back the crew every time (so long as evidence supports that the crew acted in accordance with their procedures and training). Every other UK carrier is exactly the same. It doesn't stop the rate going up each year, society is changing and people are becoming more belligerent and less accepting of being instructed.
Can you share what your experiences are of carriers failing to support crew when passengers have broken the law, and the crew have acted in accordance with their training? And you can't use that Korean peanut one, that was quite the anomaly!
Agreed. Airlines work hard to train crew to be able to deal with different situations that may occur. There will be lots of role play based on situations that have happened. Training will take many forms with the emphasis on security and 'playing down' an incident. In reality if all fails then the Capt will be a position to divert as required.
To say airlines don't back their staff is utter crap!
To say airlines don't back their staff is utter crap!
is causing planes to divert to chuck off passengers displaying drunken rowdiness and general chav behaviour a peculiarly British thing? I know the US has a fair share of diverted flights but they seem more related to the 'nutter ' factor prevalent there.
I spent many years in Bermuda and still regularly check out the local paper there and they seem to have a quite frequent trade in diverting UK-Caribbean/Mexico fights to drop off drunk Brits.
before people say that's not a bad place to get chucked off it is horrendously expensive and moralistic so a big fine immense bill for even a few days in hotel and very expense BA single back to the UK sobers them up I am sure , but are other nations as bad?
I spent many years in Bermuda and still regularly check out the local paper there and they seem to have a quite frequent trade in diverting UK-Caribbean/Mexico fights to drop off drunk Brits.
before people say that's not a bad place to get chucked off it is horrendously expensive and moralistic so a big fine immense bill for even a few days in hotel and very expense BA single back to the UK sobers them up I am sure , but are other nations as bad?
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but are other nations as bad?
Mother kicked off United flight because her two-year old was crying
To give them credit, my airline (and I think practically every airline) would back up myself and my crew if we requested the captain call ahead for the authorities or to consider diverting.
The Brits are big drinkers, it often forms part of their holiday and when 'most' people work so hard for their week or two away I'm certainly not going to judge them on it, most are great people. Indeed, most 'loud' groups are actually nice passengers you just have to keep them in check, get them to tow the line. Occasionally some passengers will complain and often try to pin the blame on the crew. The hardest thing is that tolerances amongst other passengers differs widely, the same goes for crew.
Generally, despite people's perceptions , the problem flights are these long haul sectors where people probably feel the effects more as the flight goes on. Anecdotally, some will tell you that it is also pretty prevalent in the premium cabins aswell.
However, you then get the odd passenger who is 'truly' disruptive and in my experience, this isn't always the Brits.
The Brits are big drinkers, it often forms part of their holiday and when 'most' people work so hard for their week or two away I'm certainly not going to judge them on it, most are great people. Indeed, most 'loud' groups are actually nice passengers you just have to keep them in check, get them to tow the line. Occasionally some passengers will complain and often try to pin the blame on the crew. The hardest thing is that tolerances amongst other passengers differs widely, the same goes for crew.
Generally, despite people's perceptions , the problem flights are these long haul sectors where people probably feel the effects more as the flight goes on. Anecdotally, some will tell you that it is also pretty prevalent in the premium cabins aswell.
However, you then get the odd passenger who is 'truly' disruptive and in my experience, this isn't always the Brits.
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Well, we wern't there. Two different stories as well. Who to believe?
On a bit of a drift I,ve always thought the infant/lap bady rule should be based on the child's weight, and not it's age. Yes, I know that would be difficult but it's the safety of the child that comes first.
On a bit of a drift I,ve always thought the infant/lap bady rule should be based on the child's weight, and not it's age. Yes, I know that would be difficult but it's the safety of the child that comes first.