It seems likely that, in the not-too-distant future, we will all be eagerly recording everything around us to prevent these kinds of injustices from happening. Imagine if you'd had a mic running, then played it back to the captain. Problem solved - and the FA would have gotten into trouble for creating a liability risk for the airline.
Thrown Off a United Airlines Flight for Taking Pictures
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Re: Thrown Off a United Airlines Flight for Taking Pictures
#22Never ever directly accuse someone of lying. Mostly because it's usually a communication problem where they said it unclear and your heard it wrong. Also because you should always give someone a way out without losing too much face. I would have said something like: Sorry if I gave the impression of not cooperating, but I can assure you I did not and will not take any more pictures this flight. It would mean a lot to…
Sorry if I gave the impression of not cooperating, but I can assure you I did not and will not take any more pictures this flight. It would mean a lot to me if I could stay on the plane
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feels a bit too servile for me, especially if I felt I didn't do anything wrong in the first place.
Re: Thrown Off a United Airlines Flight for Taking Pictures
#23Never ever directly accuse someone of lying. Mostly because it's usually a communication problem where they said it unclear and your heard it wrong. Also because you should always give someone a way out without losing too much face. I would have said something like: Sorry if I gave the impression of not cooperating, but I can assure you I did not and will not take any more pictures this flight. It would mean a lot to…
Everyone really should read "How to win friends and influence people."
Re: Thrown Off a United Airlines Flight for Taking Pictures
#24Re: Thrown Off a United Airlines Flight for Taking Pictures
#25Not that it's an excuse for what they did but why the hell would you suddenly spout "I am not a terrorist" when no-one has even implied as such. Yeah that's helpful to calming strangers in any situation, just suddenly say that without any reason.
The instant he said that to the FA, he was off. It's like using the "B" word with the TSA. If you say it, expect to be taken to a room for a nice 20 minute conversation with various security officials. And there is no "room" on an airplane, you're off if you behave like this guy.
Re: Thrown Off a United Airlines Flight for Taking Pictures
#26Something similar happened a couple years ago involving photos being taken of employees.[1][2] What struck me as different this time was that neither the FA nor the GS Rep attempted to take the camera away or have the pictures deleted. If this was a security issue, it makes sense that they wouldn't just let him walk off the plane with the photo(s).
It's possible that his saying "terrorist" was part of it, or maybe UA has a very strict no-photos policy, or maybe there's something else we don't know (and I think this is probably the case,) but this still seems pretty absurd.
1: http://consumerist.com/2011/07/28/united-says-photographing-...
2: http://consumerist.com/2011/04/25/allegations-of-photography...
Re: Thrown Off a United Airlines Flight for Taking Pictures
#27Captain: I don't have any, but United will have no trouble finding me. My name is...[removed].
Why do victims protect their aggressors in this way? The captain made a wrongheaded decision, and he should at the very least have his name attached to it.
Re: Thrown Off a United Airlines Flight for Taking Pictures
#28Why did they throw him off then put him on another flight? I mean either he was a danger (= should be thrown off original flight, but should not be allowed to endanger other flights either), or he wasn't a danger (= could fly on the original flight).
Possibly, the original Flight Attendant said something to the Captain. Pretty much everything that happens on or around an airliner is at the Captains discretion. The decisions can be questioned and challenged by the airline supervisors, the FAA etc. and the Captain can be relieved of duty by the airline, but its Captains prerogative to remove someone off their aircraft.
The other factor involved is CRM, Crew Resource Management. The days were the crew passively follow the Captains decisions are over, and for good reason. Captains are trained to listen to their First Officer and FA, and actively respond to questions.
This means its quite possible that the Captain didn't want his flight delayed, or cause unnecessarily tension on the flight with his FA, and so took the easy (but highly questionable) option to simply remove him from the flight.
Note: This should not be interpreted as taking the airlines side, just explaining my thoughts on the factors involved.
Re: Thrown Off a United Airlines Flight for Taking Pictures
#29This is completely unacceptable. You don't take people of a plane for taking pictures - they are no thread to everyone and certainly paid for their ticket. I am flying with United Airlines in March, I hope for a better experience - but after reading this, it might be my last flight with them, ever.
Re: Thrown Off a United Airlines Flight for Taking Pictures
#30Something similar happened a couple years ago involving photos being taken of employees.[1][2] What struck me as different this time was that neither the FA nor the GS Rep attempted to take the camera away or have the pictures deleted. If this was a security issue, it makes sense that they wouldn't just let him walk off the plane with the photo(s). It's possible that his saying "terrorist" was part of it, or maybe UA…
Even police officers have no right to confiscate equipment or delete pictures[0], and you're proposing that private parties attempt it? Please, be more aware of your civil rights.
[0] http://www.aclupa.org/issues/freespeech/kyrwhentakingphotosa...