Woman is put on Spirit's 'do not fly' list, flight attendants say 'we're not dogs.'
When this flight passenger feels like they may have crossed a line, they ask Reddit:
'AITA for arguing with Spirit flight attendants (FA)?'
This past May I was traveling to the DR. (F) I took Spirit, and my trip required a layover, so 4 flights total (2 there and 2 back home).
On my last flight, the FA starts arguing with me that my fanny pack is a safety issue for myself and other passengers, and that I needed to remove it and place it under the seat before take off.
I took issue with this for several reasons- A. On my previous 3 flights there had been no issue. The FA's response to this was, “it’s not my fault the other FA's weren’t doing their job.” B. It carried my money, passport, phone, basically all my important stuff. I wanted it attached to me, not on the floor. C.
Her saying, “it’s a safety issue.” I’m a former ER nurse and have worked with various traumas. The only safety scenario I could imagine in my head was that if it was positioned underneath the seatbelt (it wasn’t) then it could cause internal injury by have the seatbelt compress it into my abdomen during a crash.
Since this wasn’t the case, I really couldn’t see a safety issue and she refused to explain how it was. Ok whatever, after arguing with her a couple minutes I take it off and put it on the floor. But my problems weren’t over yet.
I had been drinking a soda and the bottle was empty. This airplane was so cheap they didn’t even have the nylon cords to hold stuff on the back of the seat. I put it on the floor with my bag but it rolled away twice.
Getting embarrassed (the same passenger handed me it back both times) I got up to go throw it away. Yes the seatbelt sign was still on, but I had seen the FA help another passenger change seats after takeoff, so I thought it would be ok. When I got to the back of the plane, the FAs are shooing me away because the light was still on.
I said 2 or 3 times, I just want throw this away, but they just kept telling me to get back to my seat, that it was dangerous to be up with the seatbelt sign on.
Getting frustrated (I would've thrown it away myself if I knew which compartment opened the trash) I dropped the bottle on the floor and went back to my seat. I know, kinda jerk move, but all I wanted to do was throw this thing away.
The FA chased me down, told me they weren't gonna be treated like dogs, and made me get back up to pick it up to throw it away- LIKE I WANTED TO DO IN THE FIRST PLACE. IF IT IS SO DANGEROUS TO BE UP, WHY DID SHE MAKE ME GET BACK UP?
She then comes back and hands me a card about how, 'Dangerous behaviour doesn't fly,' and threatens that they're gonna put me on the Do Not Fly list. Completely empty threats, as I'm back in the DR as I type this, I took Spirit again to get here, and no one gave me a hard time about my fanny pack!
So AITA? I get that being an FA is a hard job, and I don't want to make their lives any more difficult than it already is, but it just seems like they were making up rules out of nowhere.
Let's find out.
equipmentsalt98 writes:
Yeah YTA. I guarantee ever other passenger on your flight thought you sucked too.
Never in my life have I seen someone arguing with the flight attendant and thought “that guys right, the poor attendants who have to work 20 hour days deserves to put up with more bullshit”. You weren’t happy with how you were being treated so you threw a fit. Like a child.
furiouspi8 writes:
YTA. You readily admit the plane is cheap, and flew with them again. The FA was just doing her job. Arguing won't make anything change for either of you. Clip your fanny pack to your leg.
Tuck your bottle next to your leg in your seat. Congratulations, you were an ER nurse. You don't get to tell others they're wrong for following what they have been told is policy. Catch more flies with honey than vinegar, and frankly you are lucky you're allowed to still fly with them.
jaydeeach writes:
YTA, 100%. You sound like every customer service employees’ worst nightmare. “BUT THEY LET ME DO IT BEFORE!” That doesn’t matter. The rule is no, the flight attendant is just doing her job. Follow the rules.
Dropping your trash at somebody’s feet and expecting them to just take care of it for you?? Dick move.
My god. I hope you do get added to the do not fly list. You acted like a child throwing a temper tantrum. You could’ve held on to your trash until the flight attendants came around with a trash bag.
Flight attendants aren’t trained to be assholes and make your life difficult. Their entire job is to keep you and the other passengers safe, and you made their lives extremely difficult just because you wanted to get your way.