Maybe I’ve just been lucky but almost every passenger problem I’ve had at UA (in the past few years anyway) has gone like this:

FA (pops into cockpit): Hey, just wanted to let you know we having an issue with a pax

CA: Ok, do you need any help?

FA: No, the agent/supervisor is back there dealing with it

CA: Ok, if you, or they need anything, just let me know

FA/agent (5-10 mins later): It’s all taken care of, are we ok to close?

Curious CA on Day 1 of 4: Good, what was the story?

or

CA on go-home leg: Great, we’re outta here…


Obviously the CA has the authority to overrule everyone and have someone removed, but I can’t remember the last time I (or someone I was flying with) had to pull that card. If you are are the gate, just let the ground personnel do their jobs…

I suppose maybe at some smaller outstations where the supervisor is new, or some oddball situation, but I can’t honestly remember the last time I had to get involved.