[Dredger]

Over the fouth of July I was traveling with my family between Salt Lake and Dallas. We have two children, one is 3 and the other is 10 months.

The 10 month old started crying about 1/3 into the flight, which was about 75% full. We were seated in the middle of the plane, and the very rear seats of the airplane were empty, except for the flight attendant bags which were placed on the isle row seat.

To minimize the disturbance to other passengers, I moved with my infant to the very rear (middle) seat. It was darker and near the engine, and the drone seemed to calm her down as she stopped crying and started to fall asleep. (The flight attendants at the time were passing out the refreshments towards the front of the plane, and the seat belt sign was off)

After passing out drinks, a flight attendant came back and snippily told me I had to move back to my assigned seat. When I asked why, he said "it is a safety issue". I later noticed he was sitting in the very seats he asked me to move from. Of course when I got up my infant woke up, and proceeded to cry for the rest of the trip from the middle of the plane.

I've written American Airlines 3 times so far about this complaint. I've asked them to explain how moving a passenger from one passenger seat to the other could possibly be a 'safety' issue. If the plane was full, passengers would have been in the very seats the flight attendant made me leave for 'safety'. Frankly, I believe the flight attendant just wanted an empty row to himself, and didn't want an infant nearby. (his demeanor was obviously irritated and short)

The first response letter from AA was they were sorry about this situation, but it is company policy not to disclose punitive action against employees (I did not ask) and gave me 3,000 air miles. So I wrote back thanks for the response, but the question I asked is 'how was that a safety issue'.

Then they wrote back a second time, they apologized again, and referenced FAA regulations requiring one to wear seatbelt on takeoff and landing and when the seatbelt sign is on. Then concluded: "so this was a safety issue"

Again I wrote back, I was wearing my seatbelt, and the seatbelt sign was off for that matter. How does that relate to making someone move seats? I want AA to explain to me how moving from one seat to the other is a safety issue?

Anyway it boils down to two issues as far as I'm concerned. Either it is a legitimate safety issue, to which no apology would necessary anyway. Or, the flight attendant abused his authority and lied to me, just because he wanted those seats to himself.

If the second is true, would you consider a 3,000 mile pittance and a 'qualified' apology from AA to sufficient?

[dfwgirl]

AA flight attendants just like to have the back rows to relax in. I have seen them try and bully passengers to move. I have seen them block seats with their luggage (which should be properly stowed), so crew can sit in something other than jumpseat while cruising at altitude.

[jimworcs]

It was not a safety issue. You know that and so do they. They made a gesture, I think that is all you are going to get! FA Nazi's are stupid and above the law apparently.

[BKK_FLYER]

Hi,

I'd write to AA and let them know.. I don't think they should be abusing the authority given to them under Federal Law.. But again, none of were there to see the whole interaction and details and we only have one-side to the story.

As to the notion that they are "Nazi's" to me is a direct and mitigated slap in the face to those who did perish at the hands of the Nazi regime. I'd think that in this day and age people would be more sensitive to what was a wartime human rights atrocity or nearly historic proportion and wouldn't thrown around such terms so liberally or callously.

[jimworcs]

The term "sky nazi" has long since passed into the vernacular of regular passengers who have been the victim of FA abuse of power, particularly in the US.

The use of the term "nazi" to illustrate abuse of power is pretty common. I don't think anyone who would use this term would suggest that their suffering at the hands of petty uniformed people who abuse their power is comparable to the suffering of the victims of the Nazi Regime. I mean no dis-respect whatsoever to the victims of nazi Germany, and I don't think a fair reader would interpret it this way.

[Dredger]

Originally Posted by BKK_FLYER

Hi,

I'd write to AA and let them know.. I don't think they should be abusing the authority given to them under Federal Law.. But again, none of were there to see the whole interaction and details and we only have one-side to the story.

As to the notion that they are "Nazi's" to me is a direct and mitigated slap in the face to those who did perish at the hands of the Nazi regime. I'd think that in this day and age people would be more sensitive to what was a wartime human rights atrocity or nearly historic proportion and wouldn't thrown around such terms so liberally or callously.

I did write AA and let them know, 3 times as I stated in my post, if you had bothered to read it that is. Perhaps you just wanted to deliver a lecture to us all about your indignation at the use of 'nazi' by some other poster?

[BKK_FLYER]

Hi,

I did in fact read your... missive.. the comment about the use of "nazi" was directed at others.. but I thank you for your comments..

[Gromit801]

BKK, don't speak of history and horror. They find the term incredibly witty and think it's some kind of great rapier like weapon to use. Don't confuse them with facts and history. they don't like feeling foolish.

[Dredger]

In follow up the airlines wrote me back a third letter. They basically said since they weren't there to witness the situation, they could not speak to the 'safety' issue the flight attendant claims.

I wish I had whipped out my cell phone video camera and recorded him. Everyone knows there isn't some 'safety' issue, he was just making that up because he wanted the row of seats to himself.

In the end, all I got were three letters from AA parsing their words and admitting nothing. Plus 3,000 extra air miles I could care less about. Hopefully this flight attendant has other complaints written about him.

[jimworcs]

He was lying, and they know he was lying...but they have done all they will do. You can tell when airline employees are lying the same way you can tell when lawyers are lying... the lips are moving.