The rudest bitch

[flygirl]

Had an incident on a flight today, with this drunk, skanky methhead. It totally took me off-guard because in my prior contact with her, she was nice. She ordered a bloody mary, with lime. I happened to forget to give her the lime, and was about to move the cart down the aisle, when she reminded me about it. I apologized and she laughed and said that it was okay. I gave her the lime and continued my service.

Towards the end of the flight, when I got the 10 minute bell from the flight deck, I made my usual announcement that electronic devices need to be turned off, and that I would be coming around one last time with the trash bag, to collect garbage. Now, most people realize that when I say ONE LAST TIME, that means that they need to throw their cups away. Sometimes people are a pain in the ass about it, and want to nurse their drink until the friggin' landing gear comes down. There's a reason we need to collect the cups; so that if there's an emergency during landing, they won't be flying all over the place. It could also open the company up to lawsuits if someone is injured.

So, as I go down the aisle with the trash bag, I see that Lime Lady still has about a half-full glass. She's also got her iPod on. I decide to give her some extra time, so I continue to the back of the plane to collect garbage. I work my way back up to Lime Lady, and she still hasn't finished her drink. Here's the conversation:

Me: Ma'am, are you finished with your drink?

LL: (barely looks up from her magazine) No, I'm not.

Me: Okay well, I need to collect it now.

LL: (doesn't look at me at all) No, I'm not done.

Me: (feeling the anger rising, but don't feel like arguing) All right, but I'm going to have to take it, when I come around again.

LL: (continues reading magazine, and doesn't even acknowledge what I said)

SO, about 5 minutes later, I get the final approach bell from the flight deck. I make my announcement for tray tables to be up, seatbelts on, etc. I walk down the aisle, and sure enough, Lime Lady still has her iPod on and still has a half-full drink on her tray table. SIGH. Now, I can sense that this is going to get ugly. Here's the convo:

Me: Ma'am, I need to collect your drink now.

LL: No, I'm not done.

Me: (wtf?) I need to collect it now. We're getting ready to land. Your iPod also needs to be turned off.

LL: (ignores me and continues reading magazine)

Me: (I tap her on the shoulder) Ma'am.

LL: (finally looks up at me, and says, in a very snotty tone Are you new at this, or something?

Me: (Oh, no she didn't) No, as a matter of fact, I've been doing this for three years.

LL: Three years? Hm. (rolls her eyes, takes a little sip of her drink, and continues reading magazine)

Me: (now I'm fucking pissed) MA'AM! I need to take your cup, your iPod needs to turned off, and this tray table need to be up! We're getting ready to land.

LL: (huffs and puffs and finally finishes her drink, then throws it hard into the garbage bag) This is absolutely ridiculous! Terrible service!

Me: (at this point, I'm pissed and don't give a shit about this bitch) You are the RUDEST customer I've ever had.

And I walked away, back to the galley, got her name and seat number off of the passenger list, just in case she complains. I really don't give a crap. There were several passengers around her, who saw her giving me an attitude, including a flight attendant who was riding as a passenger. The flight attendant just shook her head in disgust, as she was exiting the plane, and said "That lady was a TRIP." I was just waiting for Lime Lady to say something on the way out, but she just had her head down and didn't make eye contact with me. I think she may have realized that her behavior was out of line.

I've had plenty of nasty passengers, but she was the rudest. It bugs the shit out of me that she BLATANTLY ignored me, and flat-out refused to do what I asked of her.

You ain't special bitch; the rules apply to you too! You don't like it, then don't fly our airline.

[lordlundar]

She's lucky. I can think of more than one circumstance where such an attitude on a flight meets with a pair of handcuffs.

[videodrone]

Jeez, what a jerk. My dad flies a lot since he works in a different state and he actually had a similar story just the other week. Some woman was chatting on her cellphone and the flight attendant told her to put it away since they were going to take off in a few minutes. So the lady puts it away...only to take it out again and resume her chat as soon as the flight attendant walks away.
Flight attendant ends up seeing her and goes back over. Tells the lady to put her phone AWAY. Lady hangs up and puts it in her bag.
A few minutes later the woman takes out the phone AGAIN and starts talking to someone. The flight attendant comes flying out of no where, grabs the phone out of the woman's hand, and tells her that she can get it from the Captain after they land.

I'm amazed by rude people in general, but rude people on flights really just blow my mind. They must think the rules are there just to annoy them or something.

[AirHostess]

Flygirl I feel your pain.

What I do is tell rude passengers what will happen if they don't follow my reasonable and polite request.

Your seatback being reclined will affect your ability to BRACE if we have an emergency landing. If will also affect the person behind you escape from the plane by up to 15 seconds, in an evacution every second counts. (Say it loud enough for the person behind them to hear)

If I don't collect your cup in it may injure you and others around in an evacuation.

Your mobile phone may interfere with the flight deck systems. Pilots have told me they can hear over the radio if phones are on, you know that crackling sound you can hear if you have your phone by your computer and a text or call is about to come in? This can interfere with their ability to hear air traffic control.

Having your bag on your lap may impede your escape from the plane. Same with the tray table only it may lead to internal injury if we crash.

Having your headphones on will mean you can't hear my shouted commands if we need to brace or evacuate.

Just say it nicely with a big fake smile and they get the hint.

[smileyeagle1021]

Your mobile phone may interfere with the flight deck systems. Pilots have told me they can hear over the radio if phones are on, you know that crackling sound you can hear if you have your phone by your computer and a text or call is about to come in? This can interfere with their ability to hear air traffic control.

Oh, I've had people sitting next to me that I've chewed out for that before... when they say "oh that's just a conspiracy to get you to use the seat back phones"... ok, douchebag... place your cell phone next to an FM radio... call it... guess what happens to the FM radio, it loses signal and you get static... guess what, while a different frequency that's basically what air traffic control uses. I don't want to risk getting killed in this flying sardine can (I'm claustrohpobic and afraid of flying so DO NOT do ANYTHING stupid or I will lose it) so you can have the precious conversation with mommy dearest without paying for the seat back phone

[KhirasHY]

I always try to remember to apologize (before take-off) to all the stewards and stewardesses on any flight I go on. I apologize to them if I'm abrupt, or snap at them at any point during the flight. I do this because I am, for someone who loves travelling as much as I do, a horrible flyer.

I. Do. Not. Like. Airplanes.

As a result, I tend to be a bit snappy at everyone until a good 20 minutes or so after landing (when my nerves calm down), even though I try not to be. I'm especially bad during turbulence, but most people who have to put up with me seem ok if I warn them about it beforehand. I at least don't panic...while I get a bit crazy, I don't start babbling and making people around me nervous

[AirHostess]

I always try to remember to apologize (before take-off) to all the stewards and stewardesses on any flight I go on. I apologize to them if I'm abrupt, or snap at them at any point during the flight. I do this because I am, for someone who loves travelling as much as I do, a horrible flyer.

I. Do. Not. Like. Airplanes.

As a result, I tend to be a bit snappy at everyone until a good 20 minutes or so after landing (when my nerves calm down), even though I try not to be. I'm especially bad during turbulence, but most people who have to put up with me seem ok if I warn them about it beforehand. I at least don't panic...while I get a bit crazy, I don't start babbling and making people around me nervous

I can tell the difference between rude people and nervous flyers

Let the crew know when you board and they can keep an eye on you.

[tollbaby]

My last flight back from England, we had a guy on the plane who FLAT OUT REFUSED to turn his cell phone off for take-off. Finally, the flight attendant told him that if he didn't turn it off, she would confiscate it - at which point the guy sheepishly admitted that he had just bought the blackberry that day, and he had no idea HOW to turn it off LMAO Three flight attendants and ten minutes later, we were finally able to taxi out to the runway

[HawaiianShirts]

All the flights I've been on have been fairly nice. Once, though, on a small plane, I was assigned the window seat 14A. When I boarded, someone else was there. She greeted me, and I figured she had 14B and just wanted the window, so, since I didn't care, I took 14B on the aisle. A few more people got on, and suddenly I found myself being sworn at for stealing some other woman's seat. Turns out the woman next to me in 14A was actually assigned to 13A.

14A: Oh, I'm sorry. I've got the wrong row! (picks up her stuff)
Me: Oh, I thought you just wanted the window! (gets up and lets her by)
14A: I'm really sorry about that. (moves to 13A)
Me: No problem.
14B: *Huff!*
Me: (to 14B) If you'd like a window, you're welcome to it.
14B: *Sharp glare!*
Me: Okay, then. (sits down in 14A, where I'm supposed to be)
14B: *Annoyed sigh!*

And during the flight, I couldn't even cough or move in my seat without 14B slamming her magazine shut and glaring at me.

I'm especially bad during turbulence, but most people who have to put up with me seem ok if I warn them about it beforehand.

OT:

One of the best flights I took had turbulence. Big plane coming in from Newark back to SLC after a high school choir tour to New York one year. We hit a really bumpy storm over Colorado. Everyone had to buckle up, and it almost felt like an amusement park ride for a while there. There were a few shouts of surprise when the plane abruptly dropped or got rattled around by some gust of air, but it didn't seem that anyone was really all that scared. The flight attendants warned us beforehand, and they all seemed calm about it, too.

When we came in over Salt Lake City, the captain announced that there was a problem with part of one of the wings. It was the part (slats, I think) that slows the plane down before landing. We took a few laps around the Great Salt Lake while they messed with some controls and instrumentation.

One of the guys from the cockpit (captain, pilot, co-pilot -- I don't know what his title was) came back into the main cabin at one point. I was sitting on an aisle seat. The pilot guy leaned over me and across the two people next to me to look out the window at the wing. He then asked the person sitting in the window seat: "Do you see anything moving out there?" When she said she didn't, he said: "Damn," and went right back up to the cockpit.

The whole cabin erupted with laughter!

We finally landed safely, and everyone applauded the flight crew as we taxied to the terminal.

[Alpha Strike]

These stories make me glad I so rarely fly anymore.

Many years ago my mom had her pilots license for small planes - 2/4 seat prop jobs - and she'd take me flying all the time. And so when I started flying commercially I somehow thought the experience would be just as fun. Of course it wasn't but for a long time it was at least tolerable.

But the security procedures, rule changes, price-increases, and general discomfort of flying has made the whole experience so thoroughly un-enjoyable that I do almost anything to avoid it.

I have a lot of respect (and sympathy) for flight attendants: my job (inbound phone customer service) can often suck ass but I doubt it holds a candle to what you folks have to put up with.

[It also makes me wonder: why do you do the job? ]

[AirHostess]

T

[It also makes me wonder: why do you do the job? ]

LOL I call my flying job the job I love to hate.

LOVE because:
Salary is very good (well the flight allowences added onto basic pay top up to make it very good.
Lots of time off
Lots of travel and nice hotels and seeing new countries and citites ALL FOR FREE: My last trip was to Vienna and we stay at a 5 star hotel bang in the centre and we had fun wandering around the city and going for coffee and cake!
Having fun at work
Office work can be rather dull in comparison
Free designer uniform, don't have to buy clothes for work apart from tights
THE GLAMOUR Sometimes. It comes in small doses.

HATE because:
Tiredness
Unsociable hours
Dealing with passengers
Flying is unhealthy
Basic pay isn't great

Basically the job would be a lot better without passengers.

[taxguykarl]

She's lucky. I can think of more than one circumstance where such an attitude on a flight meets with a pair of handcuffs.

Any chance of getting Miss Congeniality (sarcastic) on a no-fly list?

I myself hate flying, especially, the security checks.

The OK/not OK list changes like weather (here in Chicagoland that oftens means daily). Just coming back from McCarran (Vegas), I was escorted to a self-mailer b/c the waiters' corkscrew, which was fine of the previous 8 flights, was no longer allowed. Not airlines idea, yes I understand.

Don't get me started on legroom, or lack thereof. Also checking in 2-3 hours ahead and the fare structures that assure that the only way any 2 people pay the same amount is if they book together--then there are the nickel and dime fees.

That is the reason we drive rather than fly when possible. Flying less than 600 miles is simply more trouble than it's worth.

[Nyx]

Geez, it's a plane not a spa. If she wanted to relax and have a drink, maybe she should have done it at home or, when she got there. What'd she think you'd say "Ok I'll just have the pilot circle the airport a few times until your ready."?

[smileyeagle1021]

That is the reason we drive rather than fly when possible. Flying less than 600 miles is simply more trouble than it's worth.

A-Freaking-Men... you have no idea how much of a hassle it is to fly from Salt Lake to Reno...you either have to pay nearly $400 for a Delta ticket, or $220 for Southwest... but Southwest will take you 5 hours of FLIGHT TIME, plus an hour layover in either Vegas or Boise, plus security in terminal 1 in salt lake which is the slower terminal for security, and then luggage which takes forever at either airport... by the time all is said and done I've maybe saved an hour by flying southwest...

[Chromatix]

I do want to try travelling across Europe by train sometime. I've worked out relatively tolerable ways to fly the distance, but it's still not ideal. According to the timetables, I can get to Northern England in nder 48 hours by train and ferry...