American Airlines passengers shared that a flight attendant named Shannon followed them off their aircraft and outside to the curb at Washington’s National airport “with intention to stalk, intimidate, harass and cause great emotional distress to a black couple” after she’d threatened to put the man “on the ‘no-fly list’ after he wanted to finish his water when she came to collect it for landing. It sounds like they were first class passengers.
During inflight service she asked me what I was having, I said ginger ale please, she ignored me one time, two times, then 3, when I asked her one last time she turned around and yelled I need to go get more.
…Then as she is coming by to collect trash, she proceeds to yell at my partner to give her his water cup, he’s literally drinking the water. He says, “can I finish my water” she said no give me the cup NOW! And …I’m going to put you on the “no fly list” you need to speak with the captain when we land.
She reportedly told the passengers she had “officers waiting outside for you.” That appears not to have been true, but she started following and recording them.
American Airlines has not responded to a request for comment on this incident.
I understand how someone can assume poor or indifferent service could be because of race. It’s more likely just that this is poor service because it’s American Airlines and more crew than you’d hope make that the norm.
Remember that (1) the longer you stay on the job, the more money you make; (2) you get to pick the flights you work based on seniority; (3) there are very few negative consequences at work for poor service, and very little benefit to providing good service.
American missed a huge opportunity with its recent flight attendant contract negotiatons, handing out big raises to cabin crew, not to get any sort of ghost rider program or serious service standards enforcement with teeth. There are many fantastic flight attendants at American Airlines, but what’s genuinely impressive is how they go about providing above and beyond service because they’re intrinsically motivated to do so – not because of anything that management does to encourage it. (Poor service at American Airlines is a management failure, not a flight attendant failure.)
And as for filming the passenger, the flight attendant probably wasn’t thinking any more deeply about it than ‘they’re filming me so I’m going to film them’ although it isn’t clear who was filming whom first. The passengers may well have threatened the no fly list but that is not how any of this works.
- A flight attendant can fill out a CERS report to trigger an investigation by corporate security.
- But they have no direct influence over the outcome.
American Airlines flight attendants were fired last year after removing African American passengers who weren’t traveling together over a supposed ‘odor’ issue. That led to the airline restricting the ability of flight attendants to remove passengers for odor, attire or attitude.
Cabin Commander / Mask Police. Probably wanted to get back to her Candy Crush tournament before landing. Bring back the ghost riders and discipline these rogue F/A’s
Playing the race card yet again. From the wording you know they have already contacted Ben Crump to get a hand out. So sad
Yeah, because only black people get treated like garbage on AA. Right.
@Coffee Please, @AC, @Mantis — Are you all just the same guy? Psh.
This is outrage bait. Nearly all crew (and passengers) do what they’re supposed to do, all day, every day. But, please, do go on disparaging them… tell us how you really feel…
Where’s the other resident bigots who usually either pile-on, or go full ‘hard-r’ on here, like @Walter Barry, and formerly @Andy S? Show yourselves! Blame ‘DEI’ and the Autopen, or whatever it is you typically do.
I don’t believe this. Sorry, not sorry
Airports have all kinds of security cameras everywhere.
All the passenger has to do is file suit and request the images; if the FA followed the passenger off the plane, AA is on the hook and the FA will be gone.
AA didn’t need to win any new rights; they have the right to terminate employees and they use it. This case, if it happened as reported OFF the aircraft alone – is more than enough to terminate the FA.
(1) Flight attendants are required to collect cups during landing.
(2) They said they were being ignored even though they had been asked what they wanted to drink. This is inconsistent.
(3) I don’t see any indication that this was because they were black.
(4) Without more information, it’s difficult to comment on whether Shannon did anything wrong.
Once again the idiot PAXS are wrong… as always!
There’s something missing in this story.
I don’t know if this was race-related, a lousy FA or just not an accurate description of the events. What I do know is that someone could use the N-word and some people on here would claim it’s not racist. Same people who believe strongly that white America is being subject to racism.
Can’t have it both ways kids.
Well, you cannot really call that indifferent service — she seemed to be quite committed in the task at hand.
Not surprising from AAL — they’re very agressive and abrasive in my judgment.
The Overton window is slowly turning away from this crap.
It’s entirely possible the flight attendant just went full-blown lunatic and snapped. Wouldn’t be the first time that’s happened on an American Airlines flight. At AA, emotional stability among FAs seems to be more of a suggestion than a requirement. There was a glorious case years ago that made the local news when an AA FA completely lost it because a passenger dared to request orange juice at what she considered the wrong time. Yes, citrus rage is real.
Now, let’s play a little game of internal Q&A…
Was it racially motivated? Could be. Anything’s possible when someone is riding the edge of a nervous breakdown at 35,000 feet. But is it likely? Not particularly.
Was there more to the story than what’s been reported? Almost definitely. The only safe bet is that no one comes out of this looking good. Not the passenger, not the flight attendant, and certainly not American Airlines.
This one’s a head scratcher. How much of the FA’s insane behavior is just her trying to be The Worst Person Of The Year and how much is just old fashioned racism? Either way, she needs to be fired immediately.
@1990 – AC goes by Retired Gambler but I’m not sure about his other aliases. These types that need to support themselves through fake names are pretty pathetic and – as illustrated clearly here because they love to use the term race card for people getting hosed due to their skin color – are usually racists as well.
I have a problem with believing this mainly because I question how the FA followed them out of the airport upon deplaning when FAA regulations require full crew onboard until all passengers are off the plane. If she did follow them then she broke that rule which would be a huge violation and fine.
The hate going on in this country is just dripping down from the orange top to everyday citizens in everyday situations. God help us!
Bullshit
I find it unlikely that she “followed” and “stalked” them. Very rare or never would a flight attendant be willing to sacrifice layover time to chase a passenger when their crew is waiting, it’s against all incentives. If it’s a small airport chances are they all simply ended up in the same curbside pick up zone. The cups being picked up before take off is generally a federal regulation, and it sounds like they just ran out of ginger ale, and we’re on their way to get more, not ignoring them.
Why do you feel it necessary to describe the passengers by the color of their skin?
@Parker
With regards to the “N” word. Why is it when I go to a high school football game the players that are people of color call each other “N” this and “N” that? Yet if whitey uses that word then whitey is a racist. Should I be offended if I’m called a cracker or red neck?
@Johan – As @1990 said, Rage Bait. I fell for it too. Mea culpa.
Gary, why is it that you recycle this “it’s not because of race” language every time a black passenger alleges racial profiling, but you enthusiastically endorse accusations of anti-semitism any time a Jewish passenger alleges the same?
Is the requirement to collect cup a specific rule for AA?
I travel more on Delta and there’s no hard requirement to hand off the cup, I’m assuming it’s a paper or plastic cup. They say any remaining items, leave them in the seatback pocket.
@IsaacM — It probably is just a power-trip, rather than an official policy; besides, most people go a little over the speed limit as it is, so with this, I doubt it’s a huge issue. That said, occasionally I’ve watched in horror as no one picked up a pre-departure beverage, and it goes flying (onto someone) at takeoff. Like, I enjoy a G&T, just not all over me; I’d hold that cup if it were me.
Yeah sorry not buying this. There’s a lot not being said of what actually happened. To even mention their race without any idication of race being a factor is nothing but pure click bait trying to fan the flames and sow discord. We weren’t there nor was the whole thing recorded to prove the story so yeah I call BS on most of this.
I was a stewardess decades ago and am appalled when I fly as a custoomer today and observe how arbitrary and dictatorial today’s airline employees act. My coworkers and I would have been out of a job if we behaved toward paying customers as so many of today’s airline employees do.
Trash American Airlines employee. I would terminate her and let her enjoy the unemployment line. It’s bad enough to fly that terrible airline but to be racially harassed is unacceptable. What would you expect though from a American carrier and American Airlines specifically.
A flight attendant displaying what looks like a psychotic break and passengers minding their own business being harassed and persecuted by that flight attendant may have happened, but what is the evidence substantiated by onlookers?
As far as:
Removal for an odor issue which sounds more than fine; removal for lack of clothing, yup. AA execs need to travel next to one of these types to feel the pain.
Passengers today are nothing but trash.
@Coffee Please – yes, you ARE a cracker, and by your attitude here can confirm you are also a redneck. When we say Trumpers are racist, we mean you. “Why can black kids in school say the N word, but I can’t yell it at my cashier?! Why am I the racist one?!” We’d be much better off with far less of you.
@krissy – remember when they tossed like 20 black passengers because of “smell”? Ya, that’s not fine.
The problem is now with the corporate world that is yielding & accommodating all scam artists!
“Black Fatigue” is the result of “Black Privilege”. The black scam artists making news by misusing & abusing the Race Card for ANY & EVERY situation, disturbance, or conflict. Too much, & so many times its staged to create a “problem”!
It isn’t used & abused by all black people; there is a similar % of the white population (& all races) that are scam artists.
People WANTING to be a victim! – for attention, perks, & money.
I think it seems to favor the black population better, as they effectively use the race card. What is the solution when the corporate world that is yielding & accommodating all scam artists!
The FA following the passengers outside of the terminal makes her look entirely too crazy to be in the air. Perhaps she should be on the no-fly list.
There’s 100% more to this story.
No one is going to get in trouble and have the cops waiting for waiting to finish their water.
Sounds like a liar of a passenger.
What’s the going fee from UAL and DAL to besmirch American?
I can’t count how many times I’ve had to crumple up, and shove my empty water/G&T cup into the seatback pouch before landing/takeoff. And without an unhinged rant. Ever.
And I’ve never had any employee stalk me, out into a parking lot. Not even for a date, sadly.
But, I’m a tall, middle-aged white guy wearing nice casual business attire (and, the inner sport coat pockets come in mighty handy). So, in this new era of unabashed bigotry and hate, my generic armor proves effective. Heck, I doubt ill even be disappeared.and sent overseas without due process. “What a country!”
I’ve also never entertained the asinine, vulgar, and blatantly racist notion that racist slurs are OK, because I overheard some teenagers of using them amongst themselves. Disarming the abusive power of racist slurs, via irony and parody, has been proven effective for generations by abused communities.
I’d rather be sold down the river for being in the peanut gallery, or was it the grandfather clause? No can do, either way.
@Molly you idiot, they were going to their layover.
Been hearing these kind of stories a lot with American and Southwest lately. I’m going put myself on their do not fly list.