A Delta Air Lines first class passenger on a trip from Seattle to Detroit watched another customer in the cabin get mad – and take matters into his own hands – when his seat back entertainment screen wouldn’t work.
The screen was frozen, and the man’s son told him to ask a flight attendant to reset the system. Instead, the passenger “decides to start pulling on the wires behind the screen. This dislodges them and his screen goes black.”
- The man tried to fix the screen and re-insert the wires.
- Then he asks the flight attendant to fix it. She demurs, but offers SkyMiles as compensation.
- The man insists that flight attendant training qualifies her as an electrician and inflight entertainment service tech.
“It’s just a simple wire, I just need someone to plug it back in.”. …Everyone has now boarded and copilot is here. We’re otherwise ready for take off but the [first class] wire cutter still isn’t satisfied and insists on a mechanic so he can enjoy his flight.
I can feel the seconds drop off my time to run gate to gate for my connecting flight as the FA fetches a mechanic. It’s not long–maybe 5 minutes–and the mechanic is successful.
The delayed flight was further delayed, but the damage done to the system was fixed and his inflight entertainment reset. It appears he didn’t get any SkyMiles though.
Many years ago there was a character who posted at FlyerTalk.com and was banned from the forum about a dozen years ago, who used to share tales of intentionally damaging the inflight entertainment system at his seat in order to claim compensation. Other than that there aren’t too many tales out there of passengers dismantling their screens.
The moneyline bet on MGMBets is -1200 that there’s alcohol involved in the story. Same for most stories involving people acting subhuman on airplanes. And yet cheap alcohol continues to flow at most airports, and is even free for some people when they get on the plane. It defies logic, but I usually get roasted whenever I suggest limiting alcohol on airplanes and making it more expensive at the airport. It’s depressing to me how many people are so reliant on alcohol.
It takes all kinds of ****oles to make the flight “entertaining”. If the company personnel saw the damaging act, then send the SOB the bill to get it fixed. Certified airline parts are EXPENSIVE. Hit him in the wallet.
Another way to get banned by Flyertalk.com is to unwittingly post on Omni PR (politics and religion). Moderator Sweet Willie will ban people if they are not leftists (progressive Democrats). Moderates, conservatives, and mainstream liberals are banned if they post too much.
Good for him getting his screen fixed quickly. A true premium airline wouldn’t have these issues.
This is why I am no fan of seat back video screens. Bring your own device. Most people do anyway.
a premium airline is one that manages to fix the problems that sub-humans create, Gene.
He would have been thrown off of AA or UA before he ever got around to asking the FA to fix it for him.
You never disappoint in demonstrating your bias, Gene
@derek you mean how entire states have banned information they deem inappropriate? Can’t have it both ways. FT banning people for comments offends your sensibilities. Governments banning free speech cause actual harm.
@LAX Tom – Nothing on your part but speculation. The hysteria surrounding alcohol on airplanes is wildly overblown by teetotalers like yourself. Speaking as someone who’s logged nearly four million miles in the air, I can say with confidence that the vast, overwhelming majority of passengers either choose not to drink — and those do engage in it very responsibly and without incident. Your crusade against in-flight alcohol says more about your personal hang-ups than any real public safety concern. Just because you’ve chosen abstinence doesn’t give you license to impose that choice on everyone else. Get over yourself.
@Coffee Please — If you don’t like IFE, then don’t use it, but don’t deny everyone else the option. We (and others) have had this ‘debate’ before. For instance, Delta is superior because they have screens on most aircraft; whereas, American is inferior because they gave up on IFE. *spits*
I’m enjoying the back-and-forth between @derek and @Parker. Of course, @derek is wrong, as usual. Thank you, @Parker, for standing up for reason and actual ‘common sense.’ I continue to appreciate how Gary promotes free speech, differing views, even if some find it offensive. Engage or ignore. It’s that simple.
@Tim Dunn — I’m with you on this spat with @Gene, but I think we should refrain from using ‘sub-human’ to describe any people. Intentional destruction of equipment is indeed vile, especially since it needlessly harms other passengers thereafter.
@Mike Hunt — Well said, sir. See, we do agree sometimes. Congrats on the 4 million miles. As to @LAX Tom, we shouldn’t re-attempt prohibition, though some ought remember to ‘drink responsibly.’ Like, maybe 2 G&Ts per hours is enough…
@1990. I have flown DAL plenty. As a matter of fact I was raised in a DAL household. Years ago I would agree with you on DAL and its superiority over AAL. Today? Not so much. I flew AAL and DAL a couple of years ago both in Premium Economy. I actually felt that AAL was better. Nowadays it’s the luck of the draw on who you get for cabin crew. All airlines out there have excellent cabin crew and they also have professional candy crush players.
1990
yeah, sub-human is not a very flattering term for another person whether it was used by me or above me in the comments.
ripping up someone else’s property is poor behavior regardless of where it takes place.
and my primary comment to Gene is that AA and UA FAs are so quick to throw people off of their planes that this incident never would have gotten as far as it did if it were on either of those two airlines. It is a tribute to DL’s care of its passengers that DL actually fixed the airplane while leaving the passenger onboard.
DL has ALWAYS done a far better job of de-escalating situations than AA or UA.
@Coffee Please — “I was raised on the (Delta)!” (Sorry, couldn’t resist; your comment reminded me of the Kenny Rogers Jackass Dairy Challenge bit from Mad TV, back in the day.) As to the crews, sure, hit and miss, regardless of the US carrier (they ain’t Emirates, that’s for sure). As to phone games, I’d recommend ‘Mini Metro’ if you’re into choochoos. Bah!
@Tim Dunn — Oh, I’m with you, 100%. I think de-escalation is key. Peace is hard. War is easy.
@ Lil Tim — A premium airline fixes these things before passengers board.
@Gene — Think of all the money American Airlines saves by simply never fixing its seats, slappin’ that duct tape on Flagship First a321T… don’t worry, they’ll last a few more years *fingers crossed*
Since the passenger , an unqualified repair person/electrician, pulled the wire, I would assume they get charged for damaging the aircraft parts. vandalism or just stupid, doesn’t matter, they intentionally broke it, they should pay for the repair, and the delay of the flight.