[Butch Cassidy Slept Here]

I have come across flight attendants (thankfully rare) that have been on a power trip when dealing with passengers.

It is THIS group of flight attendants ("FAs") that deserve the attention. Indeed, rather than the customer being hauled-off the plane by the cops this type of flight attendant should have the same thing happen to her/him! The first time a FA is busted, in the presence of customers, you would then see a lot of FAs clean-up their act. Unfortunately, those in this group get encouragement, from the police, and their employers, to continue this kind of behavior. If FAs want to act as a policeman, then they should face the same consequences a policeman faces when he/she misbehaves. As to "yelling" at flight attendants: What is being yelled? A request for some water?? (I've got my $2 in hand) Or, is someone yelling a threat of physical violence? As I've said elsewhere on this board, the only reason a FA should call the cops is if a customer is drunk; is assaultive (I mean a sock in the face--not a "poke"); threatens PHYSICAL violence; refuses to be seated when the seat belt sign is on; or refuses to stop smoking when told to. Threatening to write a complaint letter; complaining about the food as "fair dinkum" (if you're an Australian); having a 6-year old child who won't stop saying "bye-bye plane;" or asking when the plane is going to leave---are ALL reasons NOT to call the cops. Indeed, depending on what the FA tells the cops, doing so may constitute the crime of "Unsworn Falsification" (a Pennsylvania statute.) Finally, until US-based airlines stop paying flight attendants the equivalent of McDonald's wages power drunk FAs will continue to be in abundance. For this reason, Southwest is my first choice.