What would you have done?

[Dan]

During a recent flt the seatbelt signs were on due to turbulence and a pax appeared in the galley with a child asking to use the loo, I told him that the seatbelt sign was on and he should return to his seat and buckle up! He was adament that he was going to the toilet with his kid, despite the fact that the a/c was rocking and pitching all over the place! When I made it clear that there was no way he was going to the loo and he WAS going back to his seat he became abusive! 10 minutes later the seatbelt sign went off for approx 10-15 minutes before coming on again for landing... this jerk leaves it 'til then to try and go to the toilet again! When told no and that the sign had been off for a while before coming on again he blows his top and tells the kid to "Piss" (his words not mine) on the seat!!! Later he leaves the a/c giving the crew a threatening look as he goes!!! What would you do? Do you think I was right or wrong not to let him go? What's your company's policy on toilets and seatbelt signs?

[Kitten_of_the_Sky]

My companies policies is to inform not inforce. If he is going to be dumb enough to come back with the plane rocking and swaying then so be it.

I try to be patient with the bathroom thing. You have how many people? Their toilet schedules are never going to be all in sync with the seatbelt sign and I think some people have to go more when the turbulance starts.

And to whether you were right or wrong - thats up to you. You have to pick your battles with them. Mine is putting your fingers or trash in my ice bucket. :mad_2:

[flymeaway]

I'm with Kitten...

I think we've probably all had that happen...usually (I say usually because we've all had less-than-diplomatic moments, right?) I'll try to be nice, and then lay one a little guilt like: "Sir we've got serious turbulence, and it can be very dangerous...be terrible if *your child* were injured." At least you've informed them, and lets say worse case scenario; they are injured and try to sue the company. You explicitely warned them that injury was a possibility. (Who knows if that would mean anything in court, but at least you've covered your butt ethically.)

[richkiwi]

We have the same policy warn them but then its up to them if they are stupid enough not to take your advice . I now tell passengers that if anything happen and they get thrown about the cabin and land on someone that they probably will be sued by the passenger!!! Usually when it comes down to the risk of losing money all pax return to their seats ...
I dont know if they can be sued while up in the air but it works 99.9% of the time. Also i tell them that if they love their kids then they would not want to put them at risk of being killed as sever turbulance could throw anything around the cabin, but i only say that if the other does not work!!
Cheers
Rich

[N727NK]

The issue is this.. Even if you "cover your bases" by telling them the seatbelt sign is on etc etc, if they get hurt they WILL still sue you or the airline or whatever.

And yes, I always was very strict about the seatbelt sign..

Chris

[CO/HNL-IAH]

People sometimes need to use the facilities other than to relieve themselves. A pre-teen boy once appeared in my galley while the seat belt sign was on -- and promptly THREW UP ALL OVER THE MEAL CARTS! YEECCCH!!

If some clod thinks he's immune to turbulence and makes his way up to the lavatory, take note of whomever may be within earshot and LOUDLY remind him, "Sir, it's VERY DANGEROUS for you to be out of your seat right now, BUT, if you have to use the bathroom, STAY IN THERE UNTIL IT SMOOTHS OUT" and leave it up to them. (Perhaps a few minutes in the loo with everything sloshing around will give them pause.)

They say our job is to inform NOT enforce.

[CLE-FLYGIRL]

What about when people get up to use the lav at final approach/ FA be seated/ wheels coming down?

[flymeaway]

Get up quickly, immediately redirect them to their seat...and point out how close we are to the ground. Usually the urgency coming from you will have them seated quietly before they realize what's going on.

[Paddles_up]

This happened on one of our flights. The pax returned to her seat and sh*t in the isle! :shocked:
It was one of MY flights and the plane had to be grounded due to "bio hazardous waste"! :mad_2:
The return flight was booked full and we had to cancel that leg to clean the aircraft! :crazy:

[Angelflyer]

man their are really some dumbfu*ks in this world.i would get some gloves on and pick up that crap off the floor walk over and slam down her tray table and tell her lunch is served and give her a wink and then storm off. A sweet innocent angel :wink_2:

[Dan]

Mmmm, well thanks guys! Some mixed opinions! I think I'll have a go at some of those... but I'll not be picking any s**t up from the floor though! :smile_2: Cheers!!

[richkiwi]

The issue is this.. Even if you "cover your bases" by telling them the seatbelt sign is on etc etc, if they get hurt they WILL still sue you or the airline or whatever.

Hi we are slightly different as we are a New Zealand based airline so the rules we fly under are New Zealand rules. In New Zealand we have a different system where sueing is pretty much un heard of except for deflamation cases ...
Cheers
Rich

And yes, I always was very strict about the seatbelt sign..

Chris

[Jenny@Nw]

Once some genius tracked dog sh!t in the airplane (that flight smelled like roses!)---talk about SH!T....
and we did what we could to get rid of that smell...
(( since we were talking about fecal matter)))

Once on a flight from FUK, during decsent, a chinese man decided he'll just jump up and use the toilet (DC 10) ...
The flight attendants told him no... sit down... (and he acted like he didn't know english or japanese...) decided he'll just wait until they don't focus on him and then he'll just jump up and make a mad dash for the toilet.

---well, he did it on approach! No F/A stopped him because next thing you know.... ERRRR... ERRRR ... ERRR...

PLANE LANDED!

What happened to the guy that pretended not to know english or Japanese? He tumbled all the way up the asile hitting people and seats....cussing in english.

Don't think he'll do that again, PLUS you have plenty witnesses that can attest to his stupidity of not listening to crew orders.

[CO/HNL-IAH]

On another flight, as we were well into final approach, a Chinese woman ran toward the back of our 737 to use the bathroom. I intercepted her and told her to sit down because we were about to land. She waved me off, entered the lav, and attempted to slam the door in my face! I stuck my foot in the door, preventing her from closing it, and told her in Chinese to SIT DOWN! As she planted her fanny in the closest available seat and I returned to my jumpseat, the wheels touched down. Sheesh! :tongue_2: