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Galley Gossip: Plane Crazy
Okay where's crazy?
That's what I'm thinking to myself while boarding a flight dressed in navy blue polyester. I'm standing at the rear of the aircraft keeping an eye on bags and overhead bins as I smile and say, "hello, how are you, welcome," to passengers who look upset as soon as they see just how far back they're seated. (Hey, someone has to sit there) While I'm explaining to a passenger that yes, his seat does recline, even though he's in the last row, I find myself wondering if this is crazy. Because crazy is here. Somewhere. I just don't know where.
Yet.
In Jeff White's post, Drunk American Airlines passenger grabs flight attendant butt...in front of wife, he asked the question, "Can somebody out there please tell me what is with these people going crazy on flights?"
Yeah, and after you tell Jeff, could you please tell me? Because if anyone needs to know it's me! The flight attendant. The one who has to deal with crazy.
Oh hold on a second, a passenger is flagging me down...
"Excuse me, ma'am," A young woman hands me a boarding pass. "Someone is in my seat."
I look at her seat, 35E, and she's right, there is a passenger occupying her seat, which is a little weird, considering it's the second worst seat on the aircraft, right in front of the worst seat on the aircraft - the middle seat in the last row. And what's even more strange, it turns out, is the person sitting in the seat actually shows me a boarding pass for another seat, which is a very good seat - an aisle seat at the front of the aircraft.
"I'm not moving," says the preppy woman who is not moving from the second worst seat on the airplane.
Hmm...could this be crazy? I wonder, as the woman explains the reason she's not moving is because she wants to sit in the back, so she can see the movie, even though there's a movie screen near her seat up front.
While she's explaining this to me, a man sporting a handlebar mustache approaches, looks at the woman who is still talking, and says, "I think you're in my seat, Ma'am." Of course he does not have a boarding pass to prove that this is, in fact, his seat, that he "thinks" she's in.
I sigh. And while I'm asking the woman to go back to her seat so I can figure out exactly who is supposed to be in this freakin seat, Mr. sweet stache walks to the back of the airplane and plops down on the floor, placing an overstuffed backpack between his long legs.
"Don't worry," he calls from the floor. "I'll just camp out here during the flight." And he smiles.
I turn around, not smiling, because he has said this as if he means it, which leads me to wonder, could this be crazy? Because it's kind of crazy he thinks he's going to sit there. On the floor. In front of the lavatory. Beside my jumpseat. Yeah. I think not.
While I turn my back from the woman sitting in the wrong seat, I try to explain to the man now on the floor that he can not sit there during flight, that he has to actually sit in a seat because of the little metal thing that goes click, that thing we call a seat belt, and while I'm trying to get through to this guy, he gets to his feet and starts walking up the aisle, like he knows exactly where he's going, which is not to a seat.
Oh no.
From the back of the airplane I watch as he briskly walks up the aisle, through business class, all the way up to first class, where I'm told he stopped in the middle of the cabin and said, and he said this very loudly, "Okay fine I'll eat your crappy first class food now!"
Umm...what? Now? Opposed to when? Yeah, this is definitely crazy. We've got crazy on the plane. And if he doesn't settle down, we'll be walking crazy off this airplane.
Later on in the flight, I'm standing in the business class galley when a passenger from coach whips the curtain back and asks if she can buy a business class entree. She holds up a wad of crumpled bills. I ask her if they ran out of food in coach and she tells me no, as she stares at my cheese panini lying on the counter, the one I brought from home. While I'm telling her that we don't SELL business class food, due to the fact that people traveling in business have already paid for the food, and actually eat the food, she interrupts with, "Can I just buy a roll or something!"
I don't even have time to figure out what to say to that, because as she's straightening out a crumpled bill, the man with the stache walks out of the lavatory. His pants are undone. And he's headed this way.
I gulp. Turn around. Grab a rock hard roll. And pray he'll keep walking. Please keep walking!
"Water," he says, pushing past the woman who wants a roll, and enters the galley where he decides that this is the place to zip up the pants.
O-kay. Water it is. As I reach for a plastic cup, I see out of the corner of my eye a brown leather belt whip into the air. Oh god. My heart is pounding. I pray he's not too crazy, just a little crazy, because I really don't want him strangling me over the second worst seat he could not sit in or the the crappy first class food he did not eat.
"Here ya go," I say, eyeing the belt in his hand.
The belt is placed next to my panini and he downs his drink. "Thanks."
"You're welcome," I say, looking at the belt that is still lying next to the panini as he leans up against the counter. He's making me nervous. Very nervous. As we both stare at the belt.
"Coffee?" he says.
"Sure!" Happy for the distraction, I turn around and peek into the empty coffee pot. Great. I smile. "I'll brew a new pot and bring it to you."
"Forget it!" He grabs the belt, loops it around his waist, and disappears.
For now.
I sigh. Because that was crazy. Or am I crazy? I can't tell anymore.
"Yeah, umm, can I get that roll?" asks a voice from behind me.
Filed under: Galley Gossip













Reader Comments (Page 1 of 8)
Sylvia Jun 28th 2008 4:49PM
I still think it's the craziness of check-in and the demeaning procedures in security. By the time the passengers get to you, they are feeling frustrated and aggressive ... and crazy!
Emmy Jul 1st 2008 2:24PM
But the check in procedure shouldn't be taken out of the flight attendant. All they're responsible for is getting passengers on and off the plane and assisting during the flight with reasonable needs. It's not like you'll be treated like a movie star one on one. They have to take care of everyone on that flight. If you want star treatment go hire a private jet. I'm sure most fliers will find something wrong with the service there too. >.
Sylvia Jul 1st 2008 3:22PM
I didn't say they should - and neither should you accuse me of wanting star treatment because I said that passengers are in a bad mood when they get on the plane.
But it happens anyway, huh? :)
Mariette Jul 1st 2008 4:37PM
Fire all the stewardess....we dont need them and thier attitude.
Staff the planes with 2 marshalls with fire-arms.
Make all the seating flat lying sleepers stacked like little cubicals Japanese style.
All take off and landing announcements should be pre-recorded anyway.
and for hot and cold food and water.....Vending machines.
open up the center for stretching and walking around.
watch peoples attitudes change.
you'll say I'm crazy now,but just watch, one company will do it and all of them will follow.
Judy Jul 1st 2008 7:38PM
I think Mr. Stache was seated next to me two flights ago. He told me he wanted to meet the Flight Attendant in the back of the plane and would be right back after he impressed her enough to get a date. Said something about he was going to use his belt as a jump rope while balancing a roll on the tip of his nose. @>~~^~~^~~
Granny Jun 28th 2008 4:57PM
Great post... keep 'em coming.
By the way, I'd love to know your take on the autistic kid story from a couple of days ago.
Bill Jun 28th 2008 5:01PM
One of the few benefits of sky-high fuel prices, with consequent increased fares, is that fewer nut cases will be able to afford to fly.
james Jun 28th 2008 5:01PM
Heather, seriously, you must be exaggerating this a little? If not, please inform me of the airline, the departure and destination, so I can avoid it.
mary Jul 1st 2008 2:43PM
As a former flight attendant of 17 years this post brought back memories. I can attest that the only way James can avoid the crazies is to avoid flying altogether because as funny as this sounds it is all too common.
4everjetlagged Jul 1st 2008 4:11PM
Doubtful that she is. Common sense and courtesy died out a long time ago. Being a smart@ss and hubris are what's left...in addition to lack of common sense and respect. Flight attendants deserve a medal (or better yet a raise) for all the garbage they have to go through.
Kelley Jul 7th 2008 6:15PM
It is all too true- I'm dreading the flight I'm working tonight to Orange County- they will keep flying the friendly skies because they can afford to! Ugh!
I just worked a flight where a passenger yelled at me because he thought the fuel pricing was a scammed cooked up by the airline industry so they could raise prices and no one would say boo! I asked him (because occasionally I like to fuel crazy) where he thought the money was going, and he said to the big raise I gave myself. I thought, hmmm, I made 17,000 last year working full time- I had to ask when I was going to get it, because I really needed to go to the denist. He shut up after that.
Beth Jul 1st 2008 7:44PM
Puhleez... this is EVERY flight, EVERY day... some crazy people... either they are tuned in to a totally different channel than the rest of us, or they are firm in their belief that they are better than the rest of us and therefore deserve BETTER (even if their perception of "better" is a bit odd, for example, the worst seat contest above). No wonder Obama has enough supporters to make the contest... but I wonder... at what point will the rest of us say "I've had enough" and wake up? At what point will we say, it's ok if we offend a few people with rules, laws, rights, religion, guns, etc and hold folks responsible for their actions. I'm sure at least one of the characters in this story is in litigation against the airline for their inconvenience! We are a nation of spoiled little kids, who have no respect and take no responsibility. If we are to remain a free nation, with all of the liberties we enjoy currently, we must say "I've had enough" and make changes... to how we live our lives, how we work, how we raise our children, how we run our businesses, how we set our expectations, and how we run our country. Yes it's time for change, but that change must be in each of us and how we treat our fellow citizens, how we tune out voting responsibilities, how we raise our children, and how we take responsibility for our actions. A friend recently sent me a photo of both presidential candidates in their early 20's... one was in military gear, one was in a turban and muslim dress. Who do you want running our country? Someone who is proud of it, fights for it, and knows what it means, or someone so eager to not be offensive that he won't put his hand over his heart and say the pledge of allegiance or sing the national anthem, and wont wear a small US flag on his lapel. We need change... in ourselves. Wake up and smell the crazy!!! I've had ENOUGH!
ann Jul 4th 2008 1:55PM
she is not making this up. it doesn't matter which airline, what the time or the destination. this is a regular occurance
elle Jun 28th 2008 8:45PM
I think I had crazy on my Miami to New York flight Thursday night.
Julie Jun 29th 2008 12:13AM
I completely identify. Last year I had a summer job working at the front desk of a hotel, and every day I would stand there as each guest came through the sliding doors and think, "Who is going to be the crazy one? Who will want to be moved to another room immediately, request a new set of sheets and for every feather pillow removed, and complain about the location of the tv..just before cursing me out because their hair got stuck in the hair dryer that then started blowing out sparks and flames that I, obviously, put there in effort to kill them?" And like others mentioned, the issues with delays (that you, of course, caused), airport security, and high costs of..everything..have undoubtedly made the crazy count higher per flight. I feel for you!
LawyerChick Jun 30th 2008 3:36PM
Wow. Pretty crazy! The latest weirdness I saw was someone who was bringing 12 large soup bowls on as a carry-on - in one of those flimsy plastic grocery bags. And then she just put the bag in the overhead bin! She didn't tie the handle closed to even keep the bowls in the bag, she just put it in the bin and then let everyone stuff their bags in the bin. Just bizarre.
Shannon Jul 1st 2008 4:28PM
Thank you! That was hilarious! Just what I needed today to give me a laugh! I work in the hospitality industry and that is so typical of people today. Ha!
TSA-RETIRED Jul 1st 2008 2:24PM
As I am reading this article, I am thinking to myself, "yep, that's the idiots who come through our lane to be screened. Perhaps people will understand now what TSA has to deal with." What do I see as the very first post: "I still think it's the craziness of check-in and the demeaning procedures in security. By the time the passengers get to you, they are feeling frustrated and aggressive ... and crazy!"
It doesn't surprise me that TSA is being accused of being the problem...TSA is always the problem. Ask anyone!!!!!!!!!!! Now that I am retired, I want to make myself availble to answer all of the stupid questions that gets asked everyday, just like the flight attendants! I thought this blog seemed like a great place to start. BTW: I retired yesterday. Thank you, thank you. :-)
jbug Jul 1st 2008 2:57PM
ya know what, if people dont like to be secure then they can take a bus or train! yeah its not fun if you get picked for the big search, but know what, id rather do that then let some guy with a shoe bomb on my flight! and what about those flight attendents? definately not a job id want! and why schould they serve food and beverages???? just get on the plane, sit in your assigned seat and get to were your going, safely! i really dont see what is so hard about that!
BRUCE Jul 1st 2008 3:27PM
TSA... A TOTALLY UNECESSARY GOVERNMENT WELFARE PROGRAM. AS A SELF RETIRED AIRLINE CAPTAIN, THE GOVERNMENT DIS ARMED THE PILOTS AND LET THESE GOOFS 'TAKE CARE OF US'.... IT IS A WASTE OF TIME, MONEY, AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE TESTING SCORES FOR TSA....THEY FLUNK ROUNTINLY...AND NOT JUST BY A LITTLE. WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR AIRLINE CAPTAIN TO SCORE 25% ON ALL HIS TESTS?
YOU COULDN'T PAY ME ENOUGH TO GET BACK ON AN AIRPLANE....AND AS FOR THE AIRLINE PILOTS OF TODAY...HOW SMART CAN THEY BE???? THEY ARE WORKING FOR FREE. DO YOU HAVE A PENSION??? THEN YOU'RE WORKING FOR FREE.