| Bloomfield,
CT 06002 |
|
October
11 2005 |
| |
Customer's
rights may have taken a dip especially on airlines. According to a
Washington Post article, a passenger boarded a US Airways Express
flight from Portland, Maine to Philadelphia.
The flight attendant asked her to place a small bag containing her
jewelry and her other valuables in the overhead bin or under her
seat. She refused! The flight attendant was adamant. The passenger
refused.
A US Airways gate agent and the plane's captain appeared.
She finally agreed to store the bag under her seat. It was too
late.
The flight attendant had informed the plane's captain that she
felt "threatened" and wanted this passenger off the
plane. She was offered a seat on the next available flight. The
passenger said there was no warning.
A consumer tip: Follow the requests of your flight attendant or be
prepared to leave the flight. Just like that! The Post article
said that the airlines side with their flight attendants in any
dispute.
Repercussions can be severe. Some airlines, such as American
Airlines and Delta Airlines, keep their own lists of ejected
passengers who may be barred from future flights, according to the
Washington Post.
Most of the passengers were ejected from a flight because of
verbal or physical abuse of a crewmember or another passenger.
Also, if you are traveling with a pet and the flight attendant
tells you not to put the dog on the seat, do it.
Depending on the severity of the offense, American Airlines
spokesman Tim Smith said that a passenger can be permanently
barred form flying on the carrier.
The stress for flight carriers has increased in the past four
years, after Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and benefits and
pension cuts.
Patricia Friend, international president of the Association of
Flight Attendants, said that every flight attendant is edgy
because of world situations.
Friend said that flight attendants were more inclined to weed out
the noncompliant passenger before a flight takes off because they
fear the traveler might cause problems during the flight.
Tip: If you feel you have to argue, keep it civil and wait until
you arrive at your destination.
Airlines Are Not Alone
It is not only the airlines but restaurants and police will not
tolerate angry people. A friend of ours was asked to leave a
hospital building because the police said he was soliciting for
his business. He refused. A paddy wagon arrived and hauled him
away.
We were dining in a restaurant in Naples, Florida last year.
Everyone's dinner was delayed for at least three-quarters of an
hour. The commercial stove broke down.
An angry table of three couples complained and refused to pay the
bill. The police arrived and they were told they had to pay the
bill. Anger is very close to another word when you put a D in
front of it. Keep your cool.
Sometimes it is best not to have the last word. |
| |
Cynthia
Bercowetz (consumreye@aol.com)
Author/Consumer Advocate
22 Oak Lane
Bloomfield, CT 06002
Phone : 860-243-2208 |
|