April 9, 2023admin

American Airlines Passenger Dragged Off Flight After Having A Tantrum Over A Pre-Flight Drink

American Airlines First Class Passenger Kicked Off Flight After Demanding Predeparture Beverage - View from the Wing

A disgruntled passenger was forcibly removed from his flight after being asked repeatedly by the crew to exit, resulting in a teary meltdown – all over a gin and tonic.

The anonymous passenger supposedly requested a pre-flight cocktail but was denied, apparently prompting a meltdown – the man sobbed as he was handcuffed on the jet bridge.

In a 5-minute long clip of the debacle posted in a viral Reddit thread, the man seated in first class is arguing with airport personnel. They attempted to coax the passenger to leave, informing him that the pilot requested his removal “multiple times.”

A first class American Airlines passenger was kicked off of a flight after requesting a pre-departure beverage. He refused to leave after being told to do so a flight attendant and a pilot, so police were called.

WATCH: Passenger dragged off American Airlines flight for requesting a drink; video surfaces

He wants to know what he’s done. It doesn’t matter, he’s been told to leave and in the moment there’s nothing he can do about it. The request does not have to be reasonable. He’s going to have to comply.

About four minutes into video of the incident, the passenger’s phone was taken because he was recording the incident. Ironically video of the whole incident was shared online and it was clearly taken by an employee. Eventually he’s pulled from his seat, led out of the aircraft, and handcuffed on the jet bridge.

Since we don’t have video of what was said before the passenger was told to leave the aircraft, let’s assume he was rude when his request for a drink was denied:

The passenger is largely being roasted in the comments on social media because he’s in first class and the altercation is over a drink. And it’s pointless to argue – escalating the situation only ends badly.

American Airlines flight forced to divert after passenger tries to open cockpit door - ABC News

But surely the airline ought to be calling the crew in here. Even if they weren’t going to offer pre-departure beverages, they shouldn’t have escalated this either.

One of the key service elements of American Airlines domestic first class is the pre-departure beverage. Passengers are supposed to be offered something to drink during boarding.

The airline has emphasized how valuable this is for customer perception and handed out fortune cookies trying to convince them to do it.

Many flight attendants just don’t bother to do it, and the airline doesn’t actually do anything about it. The most important thing for the airline is an on-time departure, and sometimes there just isn’t time.

The officers were forced to yank the man out of his seat and carry him off of the flight.

If a flight boards late, and passengers are pouring down the aisle into the plane, flight attendants aren’t supposed to slow things down. And if ever questioned, all they ever have to do is suggest that they didn’t want to risk delaying pushback.

Since there are no consequences when they don’t do this part of the job, many crew members just don’t do it. Others are openly hostile to the idea.

It’s absolutely reasonable for a first class passenger to request a pre-departure beverage. In fact it should be proactively offered. However if you’re a frequent traveler on American Airlines you know not to expect this. And arguing with your crew is never going to end up the way you want it to.