How far do you let it go?

Italianaviator

Italianaviator

Well-Known Member
Just looking for some advice from fellow pilots on how you would have handled this situation.

Just finished up a four day today with two overnights that were less than 10 hours and duty times that were pushing the legal limits. So all I'm really concerned about is getting a seat on my commute on an offline carrier and getting some sleep on the way home. The gate agent gave me a seat (25A) and says 3A is open in first class if you want it, ask the FA and if she is ok, take it. So i board, do my usual talk to CA and ask FA if its ok if I have 3A. She agrees and i proceed to the seat. Now heres where the issue starts. Theres a guy sitting in 3C. So I say, "excuse me sir, im sitting next to you" He reluctantly gets up and says in a loud voice, crew are supposed to sit in the back! So now im doubfounded, bc ive dealt with rude passengers before but mostly due to delays, mechanicals, etc. but never in a blatantly rude way directed at me for just taking a seat. After the long four day I had, I wasnt in the mood and told him that I can sit wherever I please, stepped over him and ignored him for the rest of the flight. Maybe I would have made a bigger deal if I was on my own equipment but due to jumpseating being a (privilege) I chose to leave it at that. I understand everyones not going to respect the crew but jeez, this was an all time low for me to witness.

So my question is what would you have done? Go sit in the back in 25A simply not to be next to this dbag, tell him off right in the aisle, tell him that was very disrespectful or what?

Ive only been in 121 for 2 years and I guess im still not used to the general public yet, at least in 135 the majority of the passengers were very respectful to the crew.
 
Italianaviator said:
Just looking for some advice from fellow pilots on how you would have handled this situation.

Just finished up a four day today with two overnights that were less than 10 hours and duty times that were pushing the legal limits. So all I'm really concerned about is getting a seat on my commute on an offline carrier and getting some sleep on the way home. The gate agent gave me a seat (25A) and says 3A is open in first class if you want it, ask the FA and if she is ok, take it. So i board, do my usual talk to CA and ask FA if its ok if I have 3A. She agrees and i proceed to the seat. Now heres where the issue starts. Theres a guy sitting in 3C. So I say, "excuse me sir, im sitting next to you" He reluctantly gets up and says in a loud voice, crew are supposed to sit in the back! So now im doubfounded, bc ive dealt with rude passengers before but mostly due to delays, mechanicals, etc. but never in a blatantly rude way directed at me for just taking a seat. After the long four day I had, I wasnt in the mood and told him that I can sit wherever I please, stepped over him and ignored him for the rest of the flight. Maybe I would have made a bigger deal if I was on my own equipment but due to jumpseating being a (privilege) I chose to leave it at that. I understand everyones not going to respect the crew but jeez, this was an all time low for me to witness.

So my question is what would you have done? Go sit in the back in 25A simply not to be next to this dbag, tell him off right in the aisle, tell him that was very disrespectful or what?

Ive only been in 121 for 2 years and I guess im still not used to the general public yet, at least in 135 the majority of the passengers were very respectful to the crew.
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I'll let him say whatever and take my nice 3A seat. If he tries anything else, I would relay that to the FA. At the end of the day, he's a paying passenger and I'm not.

Honestly though, people need to learn some respect. Who's to say that wasn't a paid ticket? F that guy!
 
Sadly these days crew members seem to get a lot less respect in 121 than they used to and the jumpseating thing has become much more difficult as well for many reasons. Hell, the companies don't even support their crews as much any longer in various circumstances. There is no point in arguing with a pompous, ignorant, rude, jack ass though. Be the professional always, even in an unprofessional circumstance/event. Sorry you had this experience. I think I would have made several lav trips just for the hell of it though. lol
 
A Life Aloft said:
Sadly these days crew members seem to get a lot less respect in 121 than they used to and the jumpseating thing has become much more difficult as well for many reasons. Hell, the companies don't even support their crews as much any longer in various circumstances. There is no point in arguing with a pompous, ignorant, rude, jack ass though. Be the professional always, even in an unprofessional circumstance/event. Sorry you had this experience. I think I would have made several lav trips just for the hell of it though. lol
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The sad thing is I've received more grief from gate agents as opposed to passengers. Makes you wonder how far the industry is going down.....
 
DPApilot said:
The sad thing is I've received more grief from gate agents as opposed to passengers. Makes you wonder how far the industry is going down.....
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Oh man....don't get me started. (I have stories! lol) Gate agents started to behave like my ex-wife a few years before I left. Some of them overstepped their bounds to the point of causing real issues and causing them often. It all became another piece of the puzzle of the erosion of authority, understanding your place in the team, cooperation and respect. I had always respected and treated all company employees well, that was how it used to be and how I expected everyone to behave. It was always mutual. Not so much any longer. I really can't think of many positives that have come about, in truth over time. It's just not the same profession any more. I feel for you guys, I really do.
 
He can kiss your ass. Instead of worrying what's on your plate of food, figuratively speaking, maybe that d-bag ought to worry about what's on his own.....mind his own damn business.

I realize that employees are in a tough position professionally to counter a d-bag like this guy, without ending up on the losing end; which is why I absolutely love when Im a pax and witness something like this, as Im fully free to say and do everything that crewmember would love to be able to say and do, and I have. Someone needs to stand up for those who are restricted from doing so, and who deserve far better than they're getting at the moment, from some self-centered idiot who thinks they can run their mouth, and aren't expecting to get it shoved back to them four-fold.
 
MikeD said:
He can kiss your ass. Instead of worrying what's on your plate of food, figuratively speaking, maybe that d-bag ought to worry about what's on his own.....mind his own damn business.

I realize that employees are in a tough position professionally to counter a d-bag like this guy, without ending up on the losing end; which is why I absolutely love when Im a pax and witness something like this, as Im fully free to say and do everything that crewmember would love to be able to say and do, and I have. Someone needs to stand up for those who are restricted from doing so, and who deserve far better than they're getting at the moment, from some self-centered idiot who thinks they can run their mouth, and aren't expecting to get it shoved back to them four-fold.
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In truth, in the old days I would have expected and encouraged any crew traveling with me to let me know personally if they had any needs or issues. I then would have handled it for them and put the guy in his place, politely but firmly and in no uncertain terms. We used to be able to do that. We all had each other's back, all the time. It's changed, hell...degraded. We didn't tolerate half the crap that goes on now.
 
A Life Aloft said:
In truth, in the old days I would have expected and encouraged any crew traveling with me to let me know personally if they had any needs or issues. I then would have handled it for them and put the guy in his place, politely but firmly and in no uncertain terms. We used to be able to do that. We all had each other's back, all the time. It's changed, hell...degraded. We didn't tolerate half the crap that goes on now.
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If you were offered a seat in first, I'd take it in not acknowledge this guy's presence based on his comment. He doesn't exist. He can say whatever and you don't respond. He feels he has power based on his status. Perhaps he does or perhaps he doesn't. You should not question him or even respond to him.

Save it until you're off the jet. Seriously, there is something weirdly magical when you exit the jetway. We are all equal, then. Feel free to ask the guy what his deal is and I'd feel somewhat emboldened to question his comment about where the crew belongs. Seating assignments were not his call at any point. He might have an entertaining little hissy fit, but he'll soon get that once he's off the jetway he's just a nobody like the rest of us. Have a friggen nice day and get off my jet....
 
A Life Aloft said:
Oh man....don't get me started. (I have stories! lol) Gate agents started to behave like my ex-wife a few years before I left. Some of them overstepped their bounds to the point of causing real issues and causing them often. It all became another piece of the puzzle of the erosion of authority, understanding your place in the team, cooperation and respect. I had always respected and treated all company employees well, that was how it used to be and how I expected everyone to behave. It was always mutual. Not so much any longer. I really can't think of many positives that have come about, in truth over time. It's just not the same profession any more. I feel for you guys, I really do.
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Isn't it great when you watch a flight push with 27 open seats because you didn't call the non rev number (even though your flight cxd and that number isn't staffed for another 43 minutes)?
 
I think ignoring him was the right tactic. I've run into a few like that in first class. Somehow they think they're in some sort of class system from the twilight zone where you are like the hired help. When they can't be ignored, I try my variant of the killing them with kindness thing. I "kill" them with professionalism. The angrier, and less professional they get, the calmer, and more professional I get.
 
When he buys his own airline, he gets an opinion about where I deadhead. In the meantime, a person like that isn't worthy of me acknowledging their existence.

That's power over the situation when you don't acknowledge someone.

Works in The Lavatory! :)
 
Lulz. I've seen too many first class passenger crap themselves over trivial stuff in my short 121 career. Thing is, I used to fly corporate. Sometimes I just want to look them straight in the eye and say "If you're so special, you should have flown in a private jet." Because the truth is, when you fly first class on 121 these days, you're just paying for the privilege of boarding first, sitting in a wide seat, bottomless drinks and maybe a fancy lounge in the terminal.

But if you want the world to revolve around you, then you'd better make enough cheddar to fly in an airplane by yourself.
 
Ill second gate agents being the worst. Mainly the UA folks in ORD. By far the worst in all of the galaxies Ive explored. Im convinced most of them enjoy being complete aholes.
 
I would have asked him if he bought both seats. Okay maybe not, but I would have wanted to.


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