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Raging Fliers
Err Travel · May 30, 2000

As I prepared to write this 50th column for the Ticked-Off Traveler, I opened my file of stored email to see what gems I might have filed away. The columns that continue to receive the most mail are those that deal with air rage. At the risk of sounding like the Judds announcing their annual, last ever, final concert tour, here's my last column on the topic of air rage.

Again, I let Err Travel readers have their (edited) say:

There are a lot of people who are borderline. Why put them in a situation that makes even sane and reasonable people uncomfortable and short tempered.

Joanne W

[Maybe e-personality evaluations ought to be submitted before e-tickets can be issued.]

Just because a flight attendant doesn't like your opinion or doesn't want to hear any more complaints (assuming the complaints are not foul or threatening) that does not give them a right to call you belligerent and therefore threatening. There is still a thing called the First Amendment.

Mark N

[Complain your little heart out, Mark, but don't be surprised when an Aeroflot crew tosses you out on your keester while you're yelling something about a Constitution.]

I'm a flight attendant for a major airline. I've had to have several passengers thrown off of flights for unruly behavior. [Later] they get official apologies from our customer service department and booked on another one of our flights! It's insane!

AZColoFlyGuy

[Some companies still don't get that customers aren't always right and that there are some that they ought to "adios" for good.]

I am not sure what to do. I don't want to go crazy one day and end up fined $25k and grounded for a year. Frequent air travel is very stressful. It is becoming harder and harder not to just stand up on the plane and start shouting how I really feel. I know that the stress is taking a toll on me. Should I get another job? Am I just not the traveling type?

Cary W

[Cary, close your eyes and repeat after me: V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N]

I had words with a stewardess during a flight to Miami. On arrival I was arrested and interrogated by the FBI. Allegations were that I had sexually molested 5 flight attendants. All lies. The FBI suggested that I was the victim of a conspiracy organised by the cabin crew. They released me without any charges.

Ted P

[Ted, I know that stews prefer the term "flight attendant," but I think they took it a little too far in your case.]

Nothing that I have read on your website addresses the real reason for the increased occurrences of skyrage: people are reacting to severe peanut allergies. If coach passengers were given the option of buying real food, instead of a bag elephant snacks, incidents of skyrage would drop dramatically.

Lew A

[Could be. I feel another grant proposal to the FAA coming on.]

Wonder how the passenger rage factor would improve with enhanced passenger comforts while on board?

Charles B

[Well, evidently peanuts don't work.]

Given the circumstances, the airlines do a damn good job. [Disruptive passengers] blame it on cramped airplanes and bad food and crowded airports. Too bad. These are the same people that want low fares. Sorry you can not eat your cake and have it to.

Brad M

[What about peanut cake?]

For some reason, people have decided that cramming themselves into an aluminum tube and hurtling themselves through space was supposed to be a pleasant experience. All in all, the airlines generally do a pretty good job sorting it all out.

Dean K

[An opinion - though unpopular - I can agree with.]

Let's stop making excuses for these people. As an airline employee I am fed up with passengers that can't control themselves. Put them in jail and forget about them.

Patrick C

[You've got my vote, Patrick.]

I'm not buying the argument that "people can't help it." If you get annoyed/bored/claustrophobic/hungry and go batshit, that's your own damn fault.

Jim C

[No argument here.]

Spotted by on a T-shirt in San Francisco: "Flight Attendants: Here to SAVE your ass, NOT kiss it."

Steve D

[Amen.]

Dr. Terry Riley is a psychologist and travel security authority. His column appears on Wednesdays. He is author of the popular book Travel Can Be Murder. Visit his site at http://www.appliedpsychology.com or e-mail him at terry@ticked.com.