Celebrities: Good and Bad
 

For those that have flown celebrities, what's your opinion? I'll start with what I know from guys/gals that I've personally flown with:

Cool: Harrison Ford, Arnold S, Julia Roberts, Leonard Nimoy, Elizabeth Hurly, Kelsey Grammer

Not Cool: Sly Stallone, Matt McConaughey, Tommy Lee Jones, William Shatner, Don Johnson, Melany Griffith, Meg Ryan, P Diddy

I'm a 121 guy but I always enjoy stories from the corporate guys.

I don't like to mention names but most celebrities i have flown are fine. They get get on the plane, sit down and usually mind their business. They don't want to be bothered and enjoy their privacy. Some of the famous pilot types will sometimes come up front and ask questions about the aircraft. We typically get a written briefing about what each pax likes and dislikes along with requested catering items. My favorite pax types are the typical non famous businessmen. They are the less needy usually.

all of this

I picked up Joe Namath in NY a few years ago, flew down to BHM where he got roasted. I was invited to the roast... first one I'd ever been to. Then the next morning on to FLL, he gave me his card and said if I ever wanted to come stay in one of his condo's to give him a call. He was pretty cool to have on the plane.

Jay Lenno is generous. Seal is kind. Larry King is a doting father, especially when his children shed tears. Justin Timberlake likes to play golf. Kelly Clarkson is bubbly and Reese Witherspoon is even prettier in person than on film.

But, of all the celebrities I've flown, the only time I was nervous was when I had to pick up Sir Paul McCartney from Sedona, AZ. Given his place in music history, could the stakes be any higher? I think not!

So, of course, crazy thoughts permiated across my mind while we were taxiing. If "Bambi" bounds across the runway, at the worst posssible moment leading to our deaths, it will at the very least:
1-Be world news.
2-Be a huge windfall for the city of Sedona.
3-A monument will be erected near where he died.
4-Groupies from the world over will come annually to pay homage to McCartney and his memory.
5-Hotel expansions will follow.
6-Gift shops will expand.
7-Cheap mementos will inundate tourists bags & pockets.
8-More trash, congestion, blight & bar fights will surley follow and finally,
9-My own inenviable place in history.

That's funny. I "joke" that I almost killed Robert Redford in a 121 flight to Santa Fe. Long story short, an unforecast line of wx ended up over the field when we were trying to land. Windshear alert and a few more minutes of very nasty flying. A few crying people out back, and nearly dirty shorts up front.

He was last person off. He stuck his head in with a grin and said "great flight, reminded me of my biplane days" and walked off.

Don Johnson is legendary for being a poor-acting 'celebrity'. During the filming of Nash Bridges, they would send a team ahead to make sure no one approached him or asked for his autograph. If some person didn't get the 'memo' and approached him, he would launch into a tirade.

I've never met a music celebrity that wasn't humble and thankful to be approached by a fan. Sometimes though, you can tell when they are trying to be accommodating and thankful, but want privacy.

My experience with the high profile pax's is that its usually not the celebrity that is the problem. It is usually more of a headache dealing wih their agent, rep, aid, assistant or secretary that is of more concern. Especially more with respects to politicians. Domestic and foreign.

Just food for thought...If you worked for my operation and I discovered you were disclosing information about passengers, celebrity or not, you would be fired on spot.

Who cares! It's not like they are saying who they work for, or where it was. Don't take yourself so serious..