Fire Jet Blue Flight Attendant

The flight attendant who got his 15 minutes of fame a few days ago has become a folk hero to fellow attendants. Flight attendants are fed up with passengers — whom they divide into four categories: (1) all about me; (2) business; (3) casual; and (4) deer in headlights. They find (1) and (4) to be the most troublesome. All flight attendants have wanted to do what their folk hero did. They also purport to speak for all employees who hate their jobs.

Here’s a brief summary of what happened: Flight attendant gets in dispute with passenger because passenger ignores attendant’s instructions about overhead luggage compartment. Luggage strikes attendant in head. Attendant commandeers intercom and unleashes pent-up rage. Attendant grabs beer off beverage cart, deploys exit chute, and slides to tarmac. Later arrested at home, charged with reckless endangerment and criminal mischief. Suspended by employer, Jet Blue.

Most employees hate their jobs at times, some more than others. Most employees have to deal with despicable customers and colleagues. Most employees may want to do what this flight attendant did, but if they did, not much work would be accomplished, and the typical workplace would become a version of wrestle-mania.

It’s not clear what kind of flight experience the passenger in question had had that day or in the past. If he’s a frequent flier, he’s had terrible experiences — usually not with flight attendants but with the airlines. I know of no other idustry that could continue to exist when customers are treated like airline customers are treated. Airline customers have only one category for airlines: unreliable.

Be that as it may. No employee has the right to act in an unprofessional manner when dealing with a customer. The Jet Blue flight attendant may have become a folk hero, but he needs to be fired. Note to employers: treat employees with respect, and they’re less likely to lose it.

1. 

   Conan776 says:

   August 11, 2010 at 10:22 pm

   (to borrow an old saying) They can’t fire him, he quit!
2. 

   Suzanne Shelton says:

   August 12, 2010 at 9:41 am

   What about the passenger who, by most reports, hit the flight attendant in the head with the luggage bin door. Isn’t that some form of assault? I have not seen that addressed in any of the media coverage.
3. 

   Nae says:

   August 12, 2010 at 12:03 pm

   I understand the passenger was standing and getting the luggage out while the plane was still moving. Anyone who has ever flown knows that is a safety issue. When the attendant requested the passenger sit, the passenger cursed at him. Even so, the attendant clearly over-reacted.

   Your post makes me think you really hate to fly and have had more than your share of bad experiences. Any situation, good or bad, is usually made more bearable when people show respect for themselves and others.

   I think it is time for passenger safety films to be modified to include patience and respect. While passengers are waiting to board, and while they are waiting for the plane to depart, they should be reminded of the importance of showing patience and respect for others. Training for ground and flight crews should include it too. I can think of more than one flight I have taken that would have been much smoother if respect had been the order of the day.
4. 

   John Phillips says:

   August 12, 2010 at 8:50 pm

   Conan,

   Thanks for reminding us of an old line that’s still a good one.

   John

   Suzanne,

   I haven’t read anything that says the attendant hit the passenger with anything. I was under the impression that something fell out of the luggage compartment and hit the attendant in the head. Although the passenger may have opened the compartment before he was supposed to, I don’t think that would amount to an assault. I would assume that if an assault had occurred, the passenger would have already been arrested.

   Thanks for your comment.

   John

   Nae,

   You’ve provided another perceptive and educational comment. Thanks.

   I have flown a lot for a long time. Thus, I’ve had my share of bad airline experiences. I don’t think I’ve ever had a bad experience with a flight attendant, however. The work of a flight attendant is difficult I would think, although I’m not sure that most attendants hate their jobs.

   Your idea about patience and respect training for passengers and flight crews is excellent. Patience and respect are important in all circumstances as you say.

   Thanks again.

   John