They say honesty is the best policy. Well, here’s an example of where that’s not the case, and where just saying ”yes” is the best policy.
Continue reading: Police Remove Honest Woman From Frontier Airlines Jet Exit Row
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Often during the safety briefing the crew will say something like “if you’re unable or unwilling to assist during an emergency, let a crew member know and we will reseat you.” The easiest solution here would have been for them to offer to reseat the passenger by seeing if someone else in a similarly desirable seat (e.g. a bulkhead) would be willing to switch.
Unrelated: if we really cared about exit row folks assisting in a case of emergency, we wouldn’t give them free booze (which they get on many airlines - though not Frontier, where I think you have to swipe your credit card before the oxygen mask will drop).
Are you kidding... this woman's behavior was selfish entitlement. Don't blame the crew. She did this to herself and, unfortunately, to everyone else on the plane.
What kind of nonsense is that? Why remove someone from the flight just because they can't / don't want to assist in case of an emergency? This is, once again, simply a case of US FAs enjoying their power trip. In literally every other jurisdiction, situations like this are simply dealt with reseating the passenger somewhere else. Happened to me before when I kinda got stuck with an exit row seat and didn't want to be there due to restrictions it comes with. I simply said that I don't feel comfortable/able to assist in an emergency, and that was it, crew found someone who wanted to swap (as mentioned, quite a few people find these seats desirable) and we were on our way.
I don’t see anything endearing about her behavior. Although it may seem trivial, she essentially caused everyone else a big headache and delay of travel plans.
Every time I've been assigned an exit row in recent memory, I get the first "willing to help in an emergency" ask when scanning my boarding pass at the gate. So ostensibly, to get this far, she lied to the gate agent and this all could have been avoided with a pre-boarding seat switch. Then, the FA should have just responded with another seat switch offer when she refused--it's unclear if the FA ever offered that as a solution? Granted, it sounds like the passenger was already antagonistic and not letting the FA get a word in edgewise, and as was pointed out, airlines can give you the boot on vibes alone. I think a vast majority of the blame here is on the passenger.
Made me chuckle alittle bit. She was calling her attorney while having a snack!
But honestly, wouldn't protocol be to sit her elsewhere if she's not willing to help? Some things only happen in the US.
I despise people like this. The fact she has an attorney on speed dial tells me even more about her.
A flying garbage truck in the sky is the way I would describe Frontier and Spirit.
You honestly think that she was calling an attorney?! She was most probably pretending to call an attorney as a scare tactic.
When asked if I'm willing and able to assist in the case of an emergency I have often said, "I can't wait". It usually gets a chuckle from the FA. I've never been chastised for being overly affirmative.
I don't really see why she has to leave the plane. If she refuses to say "yes", can't she just be moved to another seat? I'm sure many passengers would be happy to switch, so the issue is resolved without offloading anyone.
If it's tabloid you're really thinking of, check out View from the Wing. It's a garbage blog that exists for clickbait.
Yes, Lucky. I'm sure everyone who had to deplane and put up with this delay is also "applauding her honesty."
The airline did not remove an honest woman. They removed a woman not capable of understanding that an exit row comes with obligations. And she is not in the same position as other passengers who say yes when they mean no. Cabin crew needs a yes and it’s not up to them to challenge whether you mean it. A no in the other hand is clear and leads to immediate ejection from the seat.
Did you see how she reacted. If she would be asked to be reseated she would still not move. It’s a behaviour. People like that think they have all the rights.
Sure, good customer service would be explaining the process. But this is safety. If she’s going to have an attitude about something so small as saying “yes”, I don’t want to have to depend on her during an emergency.
I am sure she did not want to switch. Exit row on Frontier is sold as preferred seating.
I am sure she did not want to switch. Exit row on Frontier is sold as preferred seating.
You pay for an exit row seat on Frontier. You really think she is going to voluntarily move?
Enough of expecting de escalation from employees. Unless she was flying for the first time in her life, the only acceptable response is “Yes”. Talking about deescalation from employees. Even she could have deescalated, by saying Yes after she initially nodded.
At some point the customers have to take responsibility for their behavior. She was hostile throughout the encounter and with every employee. She is completely at fault and there’s nothing endearing about her.
PAX at fault 100%, but why did they have to vacate completely the plane?? This is totally ridiculous, just remove the unruly PAX and move on.
The Flight Attendant unnecessarily escalated the incident. She could have laughed and then said, as most FAs do, "m'am, the law requires I receive a verbal 'yes' from each of you." The passenger thought she was being funny, but sometimes jokes are inappropriate and can cause an unfortunate response, as in this case. Both passenger and FA could have handled this better.
How can you trust her to save anyone else but herself after her comment? If the flight attendant asked again in the way you suggested, and she lies, now what?
Safety is no joke. She should be booted off for her initial comment alone!
This former Flight Attendant couldn't agree more. While the F/a could have explained " I just need a "YES" Ma'am.... the pax was copping attitude from the get. Crews don't play.
We are only seeing part of what happened. If the passenger gave a “no” or some type of sassy answer, the next step would be relocating the passenger, not throwing them off. This may have escalated after the passenger refused to switch seats, promising she would help. And Ben, passengers are expected to help in an evacuation beyond opening a door. In a land evacuation, three able body assistants are needed at each exit. Two passengers are to help at the bottom of the slide, helping others off and sending them to a third passenger, who is gathering everyone away from the aircraft.
I find her obnoxious and a threat to passenger safety with her attitude and poor treatment of the crew and her inability to cooperate in taking crew orders and keeping things simple without drama.She has emotional problems that no airline can fix.
Do feel sorry for her though its very sad to see someone like this and I'm sure underneath her complexity may be a good person.
She wasn't going /exiting the plane unless Dr Dao style kicking and screaming
I wouldn't want her in my row or close to my row
AIR ASIA don't serve you ANY alcohol from the onboard menu when sitting in the exit row. It can be done if you take "we are here for your safety" serious
man. this story was a headline all day. thank you so much for straightening it out. This woman is the bomb! I would call my lawyer 2.
The Joke is on Her! Laughing with a mouth Full all the way to the Jail! This also goes on Record as being arrested! FA should have simply asked her "P or P" (Probation or Parole)?
This is a crew problem totally.
What is wrong with saying "if you cannot agree or are not able to help then we will switch you to a seat with someone who will agree and wants the extra room"?
The preflight announcements all make that suggestion so what was the problem?
Can you imagine any problem finding a volunteer?
Exactly, as others have said, if she's this much of a problem preflight, how is she going to behave in an emergency? The Crew made the right decision. She hopefully learned a lesson. (but I doubt it)
if she's going to be a problem on the ground she's going to be a worse problem in the air, they were right to deplane her.
Well said. Also to those who say “it’s a crew problem, just reassign her seat” —
1) you’re assuming there were seats available.
2) you’re assuming she agreed or would have agreed to such a change.
"I almost find this woman’s honesty endearing"
Really Ben?
She was a borderline psychopath, with no filter, not appreciating the environment she was in, where her ' rights' are suspended, and the airline makes the rules.
She ultimately inconvenienced a planeload of passengers with her antics and deserves to be condemned,
Nothing 'endearing' about that IMO!
1) you’re assuming there were seats available.
Ummm, by definition, if she has a seat in an exit row, she can be swapped with someone else not in an exit row.
If you choose to disagree with a flight crew, you will lose 100% of the time, guaranteed.
They removed other passengers from the aircraft to minimize injuries should that nutcase go ballistic. Common sense to reduce other influence, injuries. Duh.
Agree, passenger is a fault. If she wants to have her honest, funny reply, I think it depends on the mood and feeling you get from the flight attendant as to how well it would be received. In addition, she could have said "yes" before that comment and everyone would have continued. Equally evacuating the whole flight is unnecessary too.
Firstly, horrible take here Lucky. A rare L on your part.
Second of all, when she effectively said "no" they should have just reseated her somewhere else. If she didn't like that well too bad. Actions have consequences.
As a society we really need to stop glorifying stupidity.
I cannot believe that there are people on this post (yes, including you, Ben) defending this woman or faulting the Flight Crew. She is not mature enough to be around anywhere!
Ok, but should she even be allowed to fly? If she was honest in saying 'in an emergency I'm gonna be blocking the aisle and taking all my stuff, because I don't care about everyone else'. In an emergency there is a sense of urgency, and everyone is supposed to do their part in making the whole process as smooth as possible so people can survive. If this person is openly selfish and warning people they won't be co operating in any processes, should they even be allowed to fly?
Not really, if the flight attendant is 'encouraging' her to say yes and if there was a real emergency, she could easily say she already told the flight attendant she wasn't going to co-operate and that the FA said it was fine, making the airline liable. Never give these people a free way out, they're just irresponsible and unreasonable.
You do not have to be honest, but you do have to agree to assist in the event of evacuation through the exit adjacent to your exit-row seat. Pretty simple, really. As John Wayne said: "Life is hard - it's even harder if you are stupid".
Why are you defending this passenger? All she had to do was say YES. Very simple. But, no.
She wasn't playing the Black Card, but I scanned the comments and it just seems like the same old same old.
She's Black, she Belligerent, so kick her off the plane.
She acknowledged, thats all she needed to do. I do not like anyone playing any type of card, but I believe Frontier needs some sensitivity training for various races, who certainly fly their airline.
And please do not pile on with hubris. It does no service to this site or to Ben, he is just reporting the incident.
I agree. I thought that was standard procedure for airlines. Not even as punishment - just not meeting the criteria for exit row.
I'm really surprised. Nobody mentioned her racial slurs. Calling white people. Betty White multiple times.
I guess they have to have the word "yes"?? She did say something to the effect, "what's the problem, we know we have to help people get off the plane." Isn't that close enough to a yes?
I noticed that too. The conversation included belligerent references to one of the flight attendant as "Betty White". This passenger clearly would not assist the crew in an emergency.