[Butch Cassidy Slept Here]

I’m sure there is a significant majority of flight attendants (“FAs”), who work for US-based airlines, who are decent people and do give “100%” every day. However there, also, appears to be a significant minority who have little to no ability to appropriately relate to customers. It is this latter group that has turned some flights into airborne police states. Right now Continental is dealing with litigation (Meadow v. Continental Airlines S.D. NY, Federal action) all because of a flight attendant—a “Mr. Chris Boone”—who decided to take his feelings of inadequacy out on a business class customer during a trans-Atlantic flight. For a more detailed take on “power drunk” flight attendants see: Coffee, tea or handcuffs? at http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniont...e20sterns.html

The problem is less with this group of misfit FAs. US-based airlines (“the airlines”) have been hiding this issue—much like the drunken family member that is hidden in a back room when guests arrive. Domestic air travel, in particular, would become a more civilized affair if the airlines brought this issue into the open. Flight crews should be encouraged to report bad behavior, without fear of reprisals, on the part of colleagues. There should be a clear statement (in writing, or otherwise) to all customers as to what is expected when it comes to in-flight behavior—even if doing so is stating the obvious: Families must keep their children seated; likewise adults must remain seated; being drunk while on the aircraft is a violation of FAA regulations; no physically assaultive behavior; no smoking. Accordingly, if the customer keeps his part of the “bargain,” by following these rules, then there should be no reason for calls to the police. Referring to the in-flight meal as “fair dinkum,” as happened on a trans-Pacific flight, is NOT a terrorist act!