2 weeks ago they (UA) threatened to handcuff a first class passenger if he didn’t give up his seat.
The author of this piece handled it exactly correctly...be the wounded duck.
As a pilot myself for 17 years now I can assure you that this is NOT the attitude of 98% of ATC pilots flying the line. Are there ego-inflated jackasses out there? There sure are, but they are the vanishingly small minority.
The immediate impression I get is that the FA was a very self-important person who wrap herself in the insular cocoon of being in a UNION and possessing all of the theatrics (They’re taking pictures of me! I don’t like it! STRIKE!! STRIKE! SOLIDARITY! FIGHT FOR $15!!) but none of the guts to listen to a reasonable explanation or to admit that she screwed up, which is one of the things that TRUE professionals do willingly.
The PIC was just “weak”, that’s the only way to put it. He’s got himself an ATC ticket but is entirely unwilling to find out the truth, only to get rid of the problem, and the fact that here is no problem notwithstanding.
I would have done one thing differently...I would have gone right ahead and published both of their names. Their employees did something stupid, refused to admit it, and I’d make damn sure that they bought all the negative publicity their actions deserved.
CO had a wonderful domestic service and top notch FA’s. I avoided UA even tough I’m in their home town—I flew CO everywhere even though it meant always having a connection.
I was on a trip to the pacific northwest one night and there was a full moon that was bright and breathtaking. I travel with a very large professional TV camera—20 pounds on your shoulder. I asked the FA for permission to take it out and get tape of the remarkable view and she was very happy to give that permission. Can you IMAGINE how the FA in the story would have reacted?? She’d have probably had me restrained, had the plane land at the closest practicable airport and had me stun gunned with an electric chair.
Hearing these stories after they merged with CO is shocking and troubling, but entirely expected.