Next, people will just start "disappearing" after flights.

Dredging the bottom of the barrel for crew ... I imagine not many want to work on Christmas.

They made a movie about people disappearing on the flight.

Going crazy with a small amount of power.

Maybe I'm missing something, but most of the planes I've ever flown on do not have reclining back row seats...

When they started ramping up the security theater I figured it was only a matter of time before people with the power to use it would abuse it.

So the woman with the jammed seat is sitting in the last row of the plane, and yet this flight attendant is freaking out because the seat won't come up to a "full and upright position"? Exactly who would that non-upright seat affect trying to exit the plane in an emergency-- the elves who fly between the last row seats and the rear bulkhead wall?

My understanding of that rule is that it keeps the row behind you from being obstructed unduly in the event of an evacuation of the plane during an emergency. Nothing to do with the safety of the person in the seat itself. That's why the row immediately in front of an exit row have seats that won't recline.

What a tool... my opinion of Jet Blue just plummeted. This woman deserves to be located, named, and brought to Jet Blue management's attention.

@diggity: The woman was in the row ahead of the last row maybe?

i love how i put my rights in the hands of a bitchy FA when i fly.

"it puts the lotion on its skin!" "you have no idea what kind of hell i can bring you!"

@scoosdad: I think it's also to keep the seat from flinging forward and whacking you in the back of the head and sending you forward into the tray table to crack your skull in case there's a bad landing and THAT manages to jar loose the seat's mechanism.

But if that's the case (and based on his letter it sounds like there were empty seats), then they should have simply left that seat empty and shifted people around if it were stuck.

Welcome to rules of the new Amerika.
Free expression is now both risky and dangerous. So sit down and shut up or you're next.

One of the elements of a fascist society is to arbitrarily detain and release its citizens. This is meant to effectively chill resistance through word of mouth by causing viewable public examples.

Under the Patriot act, airline flight crews have been given the power to make subjective interpretations about any passengers' behavior that can cause them to be arbitrarily detained no matter that did anything wrong or not.

@bohemian said : When they started ramping up the security theater I figured it was only a matter of time before people with the power to use it would abuse it.

Bravo... you took the words right out of my mouth.

every company today is taking people they wouldn't have dreamed of employing just 5 years ago.

@LANDRU: Not funny.

I work in the hospitality industry; if I had that kind of power, I'd have the police here daily....payback, suckas.

@Landru:

"Next, people will just start "disappearing" after flights."

They won't totally disappear however. Their rendition captors will know where they are.

flight crews now feel empowered since they have the power to call cops in any situation and will be given the benefit of the doubt if questioned on why they called the cops. Its frightening how you cant even raise your tone a little bit with the crew (even if youre right) for fear of being called a suspicious person and being questioned after you land.

I would ask the reader who submitted this story to supply Jet Blue with the exact flight details. This way maybe there is a chance there is some record of the attendant calling the police and then they can see who it was.

When I saw they gave her a "warning card" I was thinking it was like a yellow card in soccer.

@Landru:

('Next, people will just start "dissapearing" after flights.')

I think you mean something more like "Next, people will start staying dissapeared after flight." Because they are already dissapearing...

Was "Stewardess" not PC?

(The title of this entry mysteriously changed..)

This is a bit of a detour...but honestly...if there's a serious airliner crash, is having your seat upright and locked really going to save you from certain death? (Yes, I know it's an FAA rule and everything).

It sounds like the crew member in question seriously over-reacted.

(Is it me, or is society just going to hell in a handbasket?)

When are we going to regulate the airlines and make it a punishable, fineable offense (and actually prosecute those fines) when some asshole on a powertrip sics the police on someone?

Isn't it a crime to make a false police report? This woman did nothing wrong! I'd be filing a complaint against that bitch and ask that the police supervisors talk to the officers who interrogated someone who did nothing wrong.

@CurbRunner: Seriously, get a grip. Just because some lame flight attendant with an inferiority complex acts like a bitch, it's not fascism. It's a grumpy flight attendant, that's all.

Just about saying ANYTHING a flight attendant doesnt like could concievably get you charged with "interruption of a flight crews' duty" & get you arrested/detained. IMO they have too much power & it can be abused in the way it was in the article.

From the tsa agent that dropped your laptop during the security checkpoint & damaged it , then threatens to hve you arrested when you want to address the problem/file a complaint.... to the vindictive flight attendant that got miffed because you asked her to not be so loud while everyone is trying to sleep.

@oshawapilot: The stewardess must have threatened to have the editor arrested.

@DAK: Maybe not, but it IS an example of how fucktards will invent bullshit excuses to make your life hell. Someone seriously needs to actually sue as the only thing that will teach these greedy "fuck the customer, we want profit" companies is a huge fine that takes that profit from them.

Bitch

@DAK: DAK, It's too bad that you don't recognize the application of a fascist tactic when you see it. It wasn't the flight attendant's bitchiness that is the fascism...it's the calculated type of response to her complaint that is an historical element in fascist regimes.

Your response represents the type of complacency that allows fascism to flourish.

All your comments are true. As a former (recovering)Airline Pilot, I was ashamed of many of the common practices in the industry. I know for a fact that many flight attendants will get their revenge on any passenger they perceive as not bowing down to their absolute power.

I have personally witnessed them blow a situation out of proportion and exagerate a report to a Captain or security officer, just to get their way. The passenger is always wrong, and nobody around them will dare to back them up for fear of reprisal. Especially after 9/11.

The sad fact is that Airlines have hit rock bottom. They are recruiting young, inexperienced, uneducated (GED at most), unprofessional people, so they can pay them very cheaply. Many don't last long. But companies want a quick turnover, because it's cheaper to train and maintain new ones than give pay increases to more veteran ones. This is true for all positions, from the rampers and counter people, to, sorry to say, pilots and flight attendants.

Most passengers would be shocked to know that many of the pilots at the controls only have about 400 hours of TOTAL flight experience (including the 40 hours to learn to fly a little Cessna). Would you feel qualified to fly an airliner after 2 months of training? would you put your baby on this flight? People do every day. And the FAA allows this because they are just a puppet of the Airlines.

I can write volumes about other things, but I hope this will motivate people to demand better. Better service and better treatment from the Airlines, and some consumer rights.

So, pressure your legislators for that comprehensive passenger bill of rights, which, somehow keeps getting squelched and minimized by the powers to be.

I'm trying to think whats worse.

That a flight attendant who was ticked off at a flyer for complaining about them, "gave them a warning" which means security had to talk to them (not alot of fun for the holidays for BS)....or

That so many posters here have jumped on the slippery slope and rode it straight to the bottom in claiming fascism.

Its kind of sad but good, that most folks don't actually know what living under fascism is really like, but FWIW, being detained at the airport and questioned by guys who have to deal with nonsense on the holidays is like comparing a traffic ticket to the holocaust.

I love Jet Blue. They have held planes for me before.

But I actually think I've been on one of this crew member's flights. It was an overnighter, and she had a loud, raspy voice that kept me awake. She also delivered a large bottle of water to another crew member by sending it hurtling down the aisle like a football in an overhead pass. Since this was a red-eye flight, I was trying to sleep because I had a presentation the next morning.

Luckily (I guess) I didn't say anything, but I was really close to asking her to shut-up. Can't be sure it was the same person, but it certainly sounds like it.

'Little' people with a little bit of authority is NEVER a good combination. I am so fed up with the BS from the TSA rent-a-cops and the bitchy airline staff that I have chosen to no longer fly domestic routes. I have not air traveled in the US in over two years. I still travel abroad but only on top-tier foreign carriers.

The level of customer service is atrocious on domestic carriers. I am so tried of seeing these haggard sea-cows that are being hired to be flight attendants. Enough of this people! It is time to bring back the hiring of young, thin, attractive women (only) to be stewardesses and ditch this gender equity crap of 'flight attendants'.

Seriously, in these types of situations (whether it's on a plane or not) just remain calm. Be as polite as you possibly can (even sarcastically so). Get their employee ID number, and then raise hell for them afterwards. Call/email/fax the company's headquarters or executive customer service. Write complaint letters. Do whatever it takes, but it shouldn't be to hard to get that person fired.

@jendomme: So you support gender and age discrimination in employment. Boy am I glad that you aren't responsible for hiring these people, you sexist shallow jerk.

Don't you think that gender and age discrimination comes into play in other fields, such as runway modeling, advertising, etc. There are often valid reasons for selective hiring.

In this, you just have an individual who doesn't know how to responsibly exercise authority.

@chili_dog: Funny, why can't get a job doing something I have experience with.

The problem isn't a bitchy flight attendant. There will always be some of those. The problem is that we have given these glorified waiters the power to jam you up with the law if they don't like you.

It's time to start questioning how much of our freedom, to say nothing of our dignity, we are willing to trade for the illusion of security.

The best way to fight a war on terror? Stop cowering like castrated sheep.

@ JENDOMME
you're an ass.

@ FISHIFTSTICK
Reminds me of a Replacements song.
[www.lyricsdepot.com]

Hearing stories like this I fear sometimes that we will slowly be beaten to a state of complete and utter submissiveness. The screws are only starting to tighten, and we can already see people being afraid to speak up for themselves for fear of being accused of something. I really hope this woman was able to state her case to the police, and that she complains to JetBlue. I'm also glad to see that a random passenger took the time to write to JetBlue.

Hell hath no fury like a woman...flight attendant.

^^^JOKE!!!!

While it is totally out of line for the stewardess to do this. The woman that complained must have had some balls too. She complained because the stewardess was talking loudly but I bet her kid sitting next to her was loud and annoying to all the other customers flying for most of the flight like kids are every time I fly yet I cant ask them to be quiet so I can sleep or read in peace

@scampy: Every time I fly with my children there's some asshole like you who pre-emptively bitches about the presence of children.

And yet my children have never cried, whined or otherwise carried on during a flight. All the whining has been done by losers like you.

trollkiller: that penalty kick would be tough, though ;-)

Maybe the kid was awake and annoying the other flyers because the kid couldn't sleep for all the loud bitchy talking from behind. I've not flown JetBlue, but I've had the problem of not being able to sleep for all the talking from behind.

@ihateauditions:

Im not doubting you have wonderful kids. I thank you however the majority of people do not seem to have any respect for the people around them and let their kids act like idiots and scream and yell. Only about 10% of children I encounter are well behaved and I actually take the time to let the parents know how much I appreciate the good behavior of their children. Most parents however dont seem to teach their children the 2 rules that were preached to me every time we went somewhere as a kid. Children should be seen and not heard, and dont speak unless spoken to.