public behavior
 

I haven't posted in a long time, but here I am. I witnessed very inappropriate behavior on a main line flight yesterday.

I was seated at the gate, awaiting boarding for the 3:29pm departure from Dal to Atl on 6/17/17.

The entire operating crew was seated across the aisle from me, in a very crowded gate. The A line FA started on a loud rant criticizing DAL corporate decisions to withdraw sponsorship from a recent event.....she continued the vocal rant, to include accusing DAL management of being in bed with the current POTUS and the NRA.

A newhire FA tried unsuccessfully to quieten or deflect her, but was unable. The Cap and Fo sat there eating a sandwich, and scrolling their IPad, and took no action whatsoever.

We are all entitled to our opinion and choice in life, but I don't believe that extends to public criticism of your employer and elected governmental leaders in public, while on duty in uniform.

Captains, be a Captain.....warrant the 4th stripe.

Rant over,
FedElta
Aka: Bill Gillespie

Isn't public criticism of Delta pretty much what this forum seems to be about?

Years ago I flew AA all the time, as I had few other options. The sort of behavior you described was common on AA flights, from both the cabin and cockpit crew. I heard it in the plane, at the gate, on the shuttle bus, and on the tram. It was genuinely toxic, and so pervasive that I occasionally wondered if the crew would have their collective "head in the game" if an emergency arose.

I agree that the captain should have taken a leadership role and helped the FA understand that there is a time and place to express her frustrations, but doing it in front of the passengers was not appropriate.

sailing,
I understand your point, but being a semi- anonymous keyboard warrior is a bit different than on duty, in uniform, at the gate, surrounded by paying passengers..?

Which offended you more, the criticism of DAL or POTUS. Don't worry, we know the answer.

Wow...just wow. Do you have any idea how socially liberal Delta as a corporation is? This is the first time they've publicly supported anything close to a right of center issue in my time here. But in the end this isn't a left/right issue. It's a public theater showing the likeness of the sitting president being brutally murdered under the guise of free speech. You have the right to support it and others have the right not to support it.

The only reason they did was because Trump as the current president has the sway to go after the ME3. This wasn't out of the goodness of their heart. That the FA in question couldn't see the bigger picture is sad to say the least.

You know what they say about assumptions....right . Did you not get "denigration of the brand" anywhere in there ?

This kind of behavior used to be called "making a scene". It has less to do with personal beliefs than with a feeling of personal unimportance. Were such an individual more self-aware and articulate, they might cry out: "Look at me! Pay attention! I matter!". :(

I hear ya, but these days, that's a guaranteed call from the CPO on your day off asking for a statement from you for "That time you yelled at the FA in front of the passengers and crew" -because you can bet a wack job like that will write your a$$ up in a NY minute and will do so in a very creatively bad for you kinda way. Throw in other factors, I'm not gonna say which, and it gets even worse. No thanks.

Always place your phone in record before having such a conversation.

For sure. And never, ever alone.

This! Tell them you're recording as well...should be enough to keep them from lying on a report. "MOST" people (not all), will realize they're in the wrong and move along. Even better get another witness or two. In this situation, a red coat would be great (jot down names). A few months ago, I had to tell an A line to stop cussing while pax were deplaning. The Captain and another FA were standing right there. I haven't heard anything but would have zero problems explaining the situation.

Just make sure you are in a state that has one person consent....lest you be
sued and forced to pay thousands of $$$ in imported organic cat food. 😁

Not surprisingly, California is two-person consent as are Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and Washington. This public service has been brought to you by your local FBI office. 😁

A multi-national corporation that has nearly 100,000 employees, many of which are social and racial minorities supports socially liberal policies? Color me shocked....

Did I show my shocked face? Indeed it's the other way around this time. That's the shock involved here.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Delta hiring has turned into a run away train, F/A yesterday had to tip out at 275 lbs. Uniform was under extreme duress.:eek:

That's fine if you are 6-6 not so good if you are 5-5!!!

Was she a "tomato"?

Confronting the FA would have been a very special moment later that day on social media. Lose, lose.

given the survey breakdown of opinions...law of averages is ANY rant in that subject area is likely to **** off about half of the people within earshot.

I don't think even apple could **** off half their paying customers and survive.

may not have engaged in gatehouse social media video studio...but sure would have pointed it out once onboard.

Not exactly. But this forum is about calling out management shills. It might be why you find yourself routinely criticized here.

Bwahahahahaha!

When someone is being that special, very few people will chime in trying to get them to stop. Most will put their feet up on their bag, bust out a reflective sun tanning device and hold out a large mug to catch those delicious tears in.

Or having a fit. But regardless, it will be interesting to see what happens when the first customer sends the CEO an email with the video attached of something like this.

Which is a situation where the 4th stripe has no authority what so ever. While we might like to think pilots are respected and Captains in particular, the ROE are that we lose any time we dare request a professional act professional when the beacon is not flashing.

How do you interpret FOM 10.2.1?

Walk up and politely change the subject. If that doesn't work, politely ask them to stop. If that doesn't work, give up and tell someone about it later. If your relationship at this point is such that it will affect your ability to communicate during flight, call the chief and boot them or yourself from the trip.

This is a scenario straight from the new hire interview. Use some tact and don't be an a hole. Captains this is your job at all times in uniform. FO's without CA around. On or off the plane. Including the hotel lobby.

Bottom line is don't be jerk and be safe. Treat everyone with respect, even when they don't respect themselves.

If you need to do some extra work on your day off, God forbid, just do it. It's part of the profession.

Or... just head over to Chick Fil-A and chat up the cashier. More interesting and less hazardous to your career. Plus they have waffle fries, which are totally amazing with Catchup. Katsup. Whatever, it's the bomb. And they have lemonade which is also cool. The flight isn't leaving without ya so get what you need for that next leg. Don't worry about the FAs, they will be chowing down the whole way to Whateverville while you cross your legs waiting for that potty break and bag of smashed pretzels. The only political discussion should be whether you believe the bourgeois peasants in the back deserve APU air prior to D5.

Sadly, all that TMMAT/WWYD/STAR/AAA crap we learn in interview prep is simply what gets us through the 45 minute show of airline pilot interview theatre to make the HR touchy-feely people feel better.

What happens real world/online is night and day different. As evidenced by multiple posts in this thread. Or multiple years in this career.

If I ever worked in management you might have a point. There have been hundreds of posts far beyond what you state. The posters most in violation don't seem to post here anymore if at all. Since pretty much every single thing they posted starting before contract 2012 turned out wrong perhaps they got tired of being wrong. It may also be their posts led to unwanted attention and they are no longer around.
It's nice the last year to start seeing a new breed of posters far more positive then the "we're doomed I just know it, were all going to die" crowd that dominated here so long. Witness the recent posts on the fired pilots.

In a perfect world, you're correct. In our world, good chance you'd be called in on your day off. Explain your justification for correcting the behavior of a fellow employee. Legal will have crafted the questions because the company is waiting for a suit. You'll be under suspicion of some type of discrimination. Gotta get a refill, my glass is half empty.

Personally I see no profit in interfering with a rant like that. Just potential loss. I would quietly distance myself and head to Starbucks. On the airplane would be a different story.

Personally, I would (and have) let F/A ProStans know what was going on and let them handle the problem.

Sad but true. What a disgusting environment we live in. Call anyone out for their unprofessional behavior, they'll play the <insert whatever card>, legal gets involved and your butt fried. Sensitive snowflakes everywhere.

That's great...IF you had a FA union with a Pro Standards committee. DAL has neither a FA union nor any sort of FA Pro Standards committee which would be the ideal venue to address these kinds of issues.

That is one very compelling reason to want to see FA/ACS/Tech Ops unions on the property.

It's a sad day when people are scared to do the right thing. This is all I can think of right now.

http://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/comp...450_SS450_.jpg

Or just take out the MAGA hat and just put it on and then go back to Breitbart on the phone. And smile big on the inside.

Discretion is the better part of valor.

Bill,
I don't doubt your post. And I understand your feeling. But if I may rebute. I've never seen anyone in a Delta uniform, from below the wing to Captain, act in a manner that I would feel like I had to correct at that immediate moment.
Those Jerry Springer incidents do happen. But it's rare. I've never seen one. This company does a couple things well, and we all know the image that Delta wants to project and back up. Most Captains at Delta know when to counsel, at the gate may not result in the desired outcome.

Hank

Those Jerry Springer moments are what everyone here seems to think will happen if they do their job. Don't lecture them at the gate, just change the subject.