Update: I’m still not 100% sure, but based on reverse image searching this guy’s Twitter profile pic and seeing the name associated with the previous handle, and then searching the FAA database, it appears this guy might not actually be an American pilot. In which case him representing himself as such is still a problem, and I hope this guy gets the help he needs…
Several days ago I wrote about the pitiful service I received in American Airlines first class when flying between Dallas and Hong Kong, and then I wrote a follow-up post regarding how a flight attendant responded to my criticisms of the service.
Throughout all of this I’ve made it clear that I don’t think the flight attendants who provided the bad service should get in trouble. Quite to the contrary, it comes down to management not giving employees a vision for the company.
American has lots of good employees, though ultimately the ones that are good are that way because they choose to be, and not because of any purpose they’ve been given by the company’s leadership.
Anyway, I’ve received comments and emails from all kinds of American employees, and they’ve been interesting… but there’s one communication in particular that has stood out.
Is An American Airlines Pilot Threatening Me?
Twitter user @ClapBackKyle claims to be an American Airlines pilot (and in his Twitter bio he refers to himself first and foremost as a “professional pilot”), and he has threatened to kick me off his flight if I’m ever flying with him. Apparently he’ll kick me off before I even make it down the jet bridge.
Let me note upfront that I can’t personally vouch for whether he’s an American pilot or not. He uses his first name and has a picture that’s presumably of him, but that’s all the info we have. I’m not here to dox him, or anything, so I’m just going off of what he is saying, hence the “alleged” in the post title.
Furthermore, if this guy is in fact an American pilot, I totally don’t believe he represents the masses. Frankly I really hope this guy isn’t a pilot for any airline.
Nonetheless, this interaction does raise a lot of questions for me.
The Twitter conversation started with him threatening to kick me off his flight, should I ever be flying with him.
The next time I see you on one of my AA flights I hope you won’t be offended when I throw you off before departure. Try me. #getalife #karma #whatyousewiswhatyoureap
https://twitter.com/ClapBackKyle/status/1206575540100042752
He then accused me of only saying nice things about airlines that give me perks (obviously that’s not true — I pay for all my own travel and don’t accept any freebies from airlines).
Can @OneMileataTime just cut the nastiness?? He says only positive things about airlines that provide him perks. Opinions for sale! Opinions for sale!
— Clap Back Kyle (@IntoTheBlue2222) December 16, 2019
Then he reminded me to get off his aircraft.
I guess @OneMileataTime is about as needy as a spoiled toddler grasping for attention. "Look at me! Look at me!" Get off my aircraft.
— Clap Back Kyle (@IntoTheBlue2222) December 16, 2019
I asked him what he was going to kick me off “his” plane for, and he once again said “try me.”
Ohhhhhh, I can accomplish that in a blink of an eye. Just try me.
— Clap Back Kyle (@IntoTheBlue2222) December 16, 2019
I’m also apparently not a good blogger…
And by the way, you're a shitty blogger.
— Clap Back Kyle (@IntoTheBlue2222) December 16, 2019
And apparently I have daddy issues as well…
Ha! You must not understand FARs and what flight crews can do with hostile paxs. We keep the air safe for all, not just immature bloggers that have daddy issues.
— Clap Back Kyle (@IntoTheBlue2222) December 16, 2019
Then he told me that he heard Independence Air wants me as a passenger. Right back at you Kyle… I heard Baltia wants you as their chief 737 MAX pilot.
@OneMileataTime Hey Ben, I hear Independence Air wants you as a passenger!
— Clap Back Kyle (@IntoTheBlue2222) December 16, 2019
Then he wishes everyone a good morning except me, because I am a profiteer for publishing hate and my mentally ill opinions, apparently…
Good Morning to the Twitterverse except @OneMileataTime because he is nothing but a profiteer for publishing hate and his mentally ill opinions.
— Clap Back Kyle (@IntoTheBlue2222) December 16, 2019
As you can see from our conversation, I Tweeted at him four times, and he Tweeted at me 20 times, so I’m not intending to share just one side, but rather I didn’t say much interesting aside from the Tweets you see above.
I Have So Many Questions…
Let me once again emphasize that assuming this guy is an American pilot, he in no way represents a majority of their pilots. Most American pilots are professionals, and this guy is an exception.
This guy’s Twitter timeline is nothing but him trying to push peoples’ buttons (that’s when he’s not bragging about his 42″ arms or 68″ shoulders… I’ll leave out the obvious follow-up comment).
There are a lot of people on the internet who love to be rude/argue, though I think we tend to hope that these aren’t the same people who we trust with our lives every time we get on a plane.
In this era of social media, it also raises a difficult question about what kind of policies companies (including airlines) should have to control what their employees say on social media. The guy only uses his first name, but he does post a picture of himself and represent himself as an American Airlines pilot.
If he is an American pilot, is he in the clear because he’s not using his full name, or is he still crossing the line because he’s representing himself as an employee of the company? I’d certainly hope the latter is the case.
If anyone has the pleasure of flying with Kyle, please send him my regards!
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