Last night I flew from Washington National to Dallas Fort-Worth on American. There was very little unusual about the flight other than we were delayed on departure by a ground hold for ‘VIP aircraft movements at Andrews’.
We boarded on time. I was flying up front. Flight attendants offered predeparture beverages. Drinks were kept topped up.
As I was deplaining one of the pilots asked a flight attendant whether he could take a bottle of wine from the galley. She said sure, and he asked which galley cart he’d find it in? I scurried off the plane. I didn’t want to linger, appearing to be listening in on their little transaction. Besides I was a little bit in shock.
- I don’t know if he was terminating in Dallas for the night
- And I have no idea when his next flight would be
I’m not at all suggesting the pilot was going to drink too much or try to fly too quickly after drinking. In fact I assume he was not. For all I know he planned to (re-)gift the bottle to someone rather than drinking it himself. I didn’t notice on his uniform whether he was the captain or co-pilot.
Two years ago American had to apologize to its pilots over a photo of pilots mixing cocktails in its inflight magazine – the image of pilot drinking is that serious – and that’s even without getting into issues of stealing the bottle from the plane.
American boards Airbus A321 aircraft 35 minutes prior to departure on domestic flights. My connecting flight to Austin began boarding with an announcement for ConciergeKey members 39 minutes prior to departure. No one boarded. First class boarded 38 minutes out. The cabin crew wasn’t expecting us – no one was positioned at the door of the aircraft, they were all congregated in the back galley. One of them declared “I guess they can start boarding whenever they want!” Another night with the world’s largest airline.
I flew two years ago on a BA flight LHR-BOS on New Years Eve, got a opup to CW from WTP, and I saw one of the FAs stashed away a bottle of champagne for herself in the overhead bin right before landing. I gave her a wink and a nod when she saw I noticed, and she smiled back.
It shouldn’t be too hard for AA to identify the crewmember now; at least narrowing it down to two. Wonder how long it’ll take for them to get a phone call…
I’m not saying it’s right to take things off the plane, but if the pilot was taking it from the galley for a layover, this article can cost him his job. This is not news worthy. If he was drunk in between flights, the CREW IS REQUIRED TO REPORT THIS. Crew are Regular people, as well and he could have not wanted to pay $15 for a glass of wine at the hotel he’s staying at. Possibly, he didn’t want to be around people, considering the fact that their job (and FAs) consist of interacting with people for up to 15 hours/day. This is such a non issue and I’m sorry, but if this is what you’re writing about regarding airlines, it’s a really sad life for you. #stayinyourlane
More times than I can count, flight attendants have gifted me a full size bottle of unopened wine. I’ve even gotten a bottle of Dom off Emirates. So I guess they have their ways of fudging the numbers of what was consumed on board.
So? As long as you’re not a 79 year old FA, snagging stuff from the galley is perfectly acceptable.
A glass of red wine probably helps him unwind, relax and get a better nights sleep. I don’t have an issue with this.
“Your” pilot?! Suggest you look up possessive pronouns and blog again. You sound like that trump clown and “his” generals.
Don’t these people understand that stealing is not okay.
Maybe he was going to gift it to someone in the back that the airline screwed over.
This would probably be against their policy. As a former ramp employee who cleaned planes, we were not allowed to take alcohol (in most instances, when the plane overnighted, the liquor was locked up with one of those plastic ties, so it had to be broken to get into). While I doubt that any harm was done, could you imagine every single employee being allowed to take a bottle or two? That would cost the airline quite a bit of money…and the captain asking if it was ok and the FA saying it was doesn’t matter.
Approaching the weekend before Christmas, I think we can be generous and assume this was to take to a holiday party or to gift to someone (though if a pilot gifted me a bottle of wine I knew they carried on board I’d be a little miffed )
If you see it on a Tuesday in March…then we dig a little deeper.
No assumptions are acceptable at this point. Whether it is the holiday season and he was going to re-gift, or he was going to drink it himself, etc. furthermore, anybody that thinks that it is OK to drink a glass of red wine to help the pilot to unwind and to sleep, is wrong. There are FAR’s dictating the timing of when a crew member pilot or FA must stop drinking. I’m retired from on of the big 3 and pilots were 12 hrs prior and FA’s were 8 hours. Those guidelines could have changed in the last 10 years. Now factor in that the individual is stealing from the company. That has always been a sure fire way of getting fired.
This story makes me mildly irritated. The rule for pilots is 8 hours bottle to throttle.
But calling out this pilot when you have zero information is really in bad form.
You are creating a guilty until proven innocent scenario and possibly putting this persons job in jeopardy over your assumption that something nefarious “may” be going on.
Please stick to real news and not thinly veiled character assassination pieces.
@Jen – I am not even SUGGESTING the pilot was drinking let alone violating rules around drinking. He did appear to be stealing.
Asking is not stealing. Maybe violating a company policy — but you can’t even be sure of that either.
So many assumptions…..I still call bad form.
Sheesh
Shame on you Gary. A Pilot or FA taking booze off the aircraft is nothing new with the exception of doing it while passengers can see. DFW, as you know, is a hub. The pilot was probably going home or a hotel and too lazy to stop to purchase a bottle. For you to report his stupidity will only cause problems for him and the flight attendant. Note: I’m not an AA employee
Theft is theft.
What could the Flight Attendant possibly say…..
Is this site only for AA news now?
“Asking is not stealing” — that’s rich.
I’m going to ask my fellow employee tomorrow if I can take a box of office supplies home.
And why is this any of your business?
I have seen Pilots buy Pizza for .stranded passengers, do you know if he even received the bottle, or maybe just need something to write about,
Give your credit card referal fees back, and other under the table offers
God you’re boring… so what.
This is the last post I read of yours.
You’re unbelievably square, boring, uptight and lame.
nothing unusual about this.
common known fact for frequent flyers.
if “Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel ” were really true, he’d know. Why bring this up as if it were a “wow discovery”
just watch crew distributing hidden bottles in barf bags and you know it is for a fellow crew member or friend.
Keith..NOT NICE!!!
@Andy you’ve been leaving insulting comments for me and other commenters for 18 months, pretty unhappy generally, wondered why you’ve come back around to begin with
I can’t believe a pilot asked for a wine bottle. A real penny pincher he is…
@ keith
We can always count on the hateful left to bring in politics, and over the silliest little stuff.
The crew may have been surprised that were boarding prior to their contractual boarding times. Stop being a cunt and mind your own fucking business.
You sure are nosy! What difference does it make that he took a bottle of wine.
I really like this blog, and have used your credit card links before Mr. Leff, but was this post necessary? Pilots and FAs in general do saintly jobs – even AA ones – by dealing with the American public and not screaming. We have the most rude, slovenly, entitled and boisterous population found in the civilized world and this industry takes us into the skies and down again safely every day.
Now their biggest customers are reporting on a missing bottle of wine? I truly hope there are no repercussions for this crew. You are free to write as you wish Mr. Leff – and I do really enjoy most of your content – but posts like this make me reconsider utilizing your affiliate links. Good day to you sir.
Gary, you keep saying that you are not suggesting that he was intending to drink this and work or drink this too close to working……but……that is exactly what you are suggesting? Otherwise there is no reason for you to even include the two bullet points in the post.
Also, do you even know that this is an unopened bottle of wine? What makes the most sense to me is that this was a pilot done with his shift and an open bottle of wine at the end of the night with a bit left that SHOULD have been chucked anyway instead of re-used the following day (disregarding whatever AA’s policy on reusing open wine bottles may be). So instead of throw it in the trash, he took it home/to the hotel to enjoy it.
I really don’t understand why you care enough to write a post. I have no idea what wines American serves domestically, but even if it was a full bottle then he took something that retails for, what, $20?
I don’t have any problems with taking things off the plane. The front galley items are not inventoried, so it does not matter if the passengers drink or abstain from booze. It’s been written off for the flight when caterers loaded up the plane. I do have a problem if the crew is working while intoxicated.
First, let me say I’ve received free bottles of alcohol on flights. But I never thought it was “right” and always wondered what the airlines’ policies were. Likewise I’ve see FA’s take first class food to the back to consume. But it has to be that all of this “taking” is costing something. And who pays for it at the end of day? Customers. It’s an interesting issue and worth discussing. (I also would like to know who’s employers allow them to take things home or give them away. Or if you are an owner, would you permit the same.).
None of us can judge the pilot — until we know if it was red or white wine, and with which foods he paired it. 😉
Gary, snitches get stitches. 🙂
Someone said this not too long ago. We have become a society where we have opinions on situations with little knowledge about a scenario that does not apply to us at all.
@ Gary — What Sen said….This seems like a situation where perhaps you should MYOB.
First time I’ve read your blog and so far it’s pretty lame. Here’s a suggestion…Mind your own business.
Agree with Gene. And Gary, I’d be sure to take my own food and beverage onboard for all your upcoming AA flights if I were you. Perhaps this is a good time to switch to DL; but it really is a close knit industry and word travels fast.
Agree with @Sen and @Gene – mind your own business.
None of your business. By posting this article, you know exactly what you’re doing. Shame on you Gary.
Pilots are well paid; they can afford to pay for their own drinks rather than steal from their employer.
On the other hand, it’s entirely inappropriate for you to publish details in this way; you’re better than to engage in this kind of snoopy impertinence.
Was it a single-use bottle or a full-sized one? If the latter, he probably wouldn’t even drink it because someone could have jizzed in it..just like they can in the full-size shampoo bottles!
I was an FA based out of ORD and the employee parking lot was littered with so many squashed tiny airplane liquor bottles it was like walking over crunchy snow.
P.S. the liquor airlines charge you for in economy they get for free. Yes, they don’t pay a dime for it. The booze companies consider it advertising.
If that is the most of your worries, you entitle bastard have a good life.
All the horrible things happening in this world and this jack ass writes about this.
Shut your pie hole and get off the plane.
@Gary,
I think the message is clear here – next time simply clutch your pearls, purse your lips, scurry off the plane and remember to MYOB.
Sounds like another lazy journo who expects everything for free because he writes a blog or two and was pissed off that he never got the wine he thought he rightly deserved. Instead it was given to a hard working pilot. Did you have a bad experience recently with this company where you did not receive your free upgrade, or was the flight a little too late for your poorly booked connecting flight? If this is the best you can come up with please reconsider your contribution towards society.
This is what my 85 year old mom was always telling me: pilots and FAs take drinks from the galley to consume later. She almost always flies J or F and she was telling me this for years and I was always telling her that this would never happen. I think I should never argue with my mother!
Well, it’s good enough for Delta to fire a f/a for taking milk from the galley. Why not a pilot on AA for taking wine?
It’s optics. It looks bad. Gary saw it, others might as well. Do you want the bus driver for your child stopping at the liquor store in the bus?
Ditto what @Stuart said. There should be no controversy about the pilot;s actions.
Stealing is wrong, guys, no matter how you justify it. And screaming at the person who writes about it really shows a lack of ethics and morality. And now someone blames this on the liberals? What, exactly in this case is being blamed on the liberals?
Well now that AA will find out and investigate two people will get fired for something that was probably harmless. I doubt the flight deck person was not going to drink it between flights. Optics or not, this is really petty,
So What. Get a life, find something else to write about that’s more important. Like the fact that AA treats it’s employees like shit. And that’s why we treat the asshole pompous customers such as YOU like shit. Let the man live who cares if he took a bottle of Damn wine. Im 100% sure he was not going to drink and fly again. You dick
I will never understand why people obsess over airlines. You must live a miserable life.
@Diana that is completely false. Liquor laws in play with liquor purchases and one airline is not allowed to get liquor for any less cost than any other airline.
As for the pilot asking for wine? He isn’t the first, won’t be the last and isn’t the only one. If the airline has a policy it enforces, it will find it in the discrepancies in the amount shown consumed vs. Onboarded. If they choose to make it an issue they will. This blog is nothing more than not having anything interesting or relevant to blog about. It is petty and whiny in most instances. I don’t get how this relates to a reader finding valuable tips in frequent flying.
This is the most ridiculous article. Thanks for making me waste my time reading it!
This is the most annoying thing I’ve read in a while. Sir, mind your business. People like you are the reason they probably drink after work. Also, gate agents are required to alert the flight crew before the boarding actually starts happening. So next time you’re annoyed that the flight attendants aren’t ready, go jog up the jet bridge and take your anger out on the gate agents for not giving the flight attendants a heads up to greet you with all of your pleasantness.
There’s nothing more annoying than a tattletale, especially when it’s a grown ass man. The only thing you should expect from any flight crew is for them to be prepared to save your ass in an emergency. That’s what they’re there for — to save your ass, not kiss it.
Literally who cares? Does it bother you that he got a bottle of wine for flying you home? No need to troll the airline or the pilot for his little “reward”.
The agents should not have boarded you prior to the contractual boarding time. For all you know they could have been having their crew briefing. You should stay in your lane.
You really must have nothing else to write about it if you decided that this was worthy of an article. Sad.
It’s very common for pilots to ask a flight attendant for a bottle of water. Which also starts with W. If you didn’t actually see the pilot take a bottle of wine off the plane you shouldn’t write things like this. It could jeopardize someone’s lifelong career just because you miss heard something.
Seems kind of whiny. I have a cousin who is a flight attendant whom I live with and know that they work 12 hour days on average, sometimes 14 or 15 and don’t get a lunch break on at all. They are expected to scurry from plane to plane while not getting paid to board and usually take up those 3 extra minutes that your gate agent border early to take a bite, check on family, go through emails etc. A lot of the time they are missing catering items or need some extra sodas so run to the back to get them from that galley and only had a few minutes after putting there things away in the new plane to setup before passengers were boarded. As for the wine, most airlines use screw on caps. Maybe it was already opened and going to be thrown away so he took it home ?
I’ll take the other side and say I don’t know American’s policy on this but I think it’s pretty immaterial.
re the last paragraph, this is extremely common on UA… often find boarding first as a gs that the crew is congregated amongst the FC seats. I don’t see the big deal.
Now watch someone looses their job because you had nothing better to post about this holiday season. Why even bother. Your a loser for this. Trying to ruin someone’s career. WOW. Hope you feel great about yourself.
So the agents boarded early which is why the flight attendants were in the back probably doing a briefing or checking equipment. Boarding times are contractual. Taking off the plane is not allowed but with the holidays and stress of being away from family etc I can’t blame the guy. At the end of the day it’s none of your business and reporting things like this isn’t gonna get you brownie points or upgrades. Get a life.
The pilot was probably done for a few days. Airline personnel take enough heat. They don’t need people like you making a big deal out of
Nothing. Mind your business and find something else to write about.
Useless article.
WATER, bottle of WATER
HOW ABOUT MINDING YOUR DAMN BUSINESS. Your speculation could have him fired. What’s the point of this article??
How do you know for sure he was asking for a bottle of water, which is also in a galley cart and starts with a “w”. Your story doesn’t carry much validity since you scurries off and didn’t want to appear to be listening. You didn’t actually see it happen at all, and most every crew member grabs a water for a layover.
I worked in the air line industry for over 40 years, no big deal. I’m sure when he got to his hotel room had a drink. A glass of wine helps in getting a restful sleep.
I have friends who are flight attendants and all of them say if they take one of those small, single drink liquor bottles off the plane (stealing) and are caught they will lose their jobs. So a pilot taking a whole bottle of wine (also stealing) I guess should lose their job too. Stealing is stealing.
Wow I hope the pilot is able to sue you for libel. Writing someone stole the bottle of wine and you didn’t see it or have proof or you misunderstood the conversation makes you a horrible person. I couldn’t imagine working or worse living with you. Please show the proof you have since you think it’s okay to write about. Are you the guy who was touching the lady next to you inappropriate and the guy who was peeing in the sink instead of toilet. I heard about you. I was next to you with my headphones on but I think the lady said quit touching me like that. Not sure cause like you I didn’t want to linger around while she was yelling at you. Beside I was also in shock.
I looked and I looked and I LOOKED. But I just couldn’t find the point to this article….
Unless there is clear communication between the agent and the FAs, they will board ON TIME, not early. The FAs were likely checking out something in back like catering or equipment to make sure you had a safe flight. And just so you know the FAs are not paid during boarding either so they do FREE work getting you your predeparture beverage and everything else. The crew is away from their family over the holidays so unappreciative people like you can be with theirs. Some people have real problems in life and the fact that this is something you are obsessing over shows the kind of sorry life you must live. Instead of criticizing these crew members who work long hours away from family for days on end on top of dealing with obsessive people like you, how about you step back and be thankful for what they do and have some empathy. I’d love to see you last one day working as a gate agent, flight attendant, or pilot.
GET A LIFE!! Y’all are so ridiculous and nosey. You clearly have such a low self esteem and utterly nothing better to do that stuff like this. Grow up. It’s not 5th grade. Pathetic
How could you publish this nothing tidbit as an article? It went nowhere. What a waste of time, writing it, and getting us all to read it.
WHO CARES … GET A LIFE
Next time I’m taking two bottles.
So what? I used to work as a gate agent for them and I can attest that everyone AA has been getting crapped on by Doug since the merger. Employee morale BLOWS, 1.4% profit sharing and lower wages compared to the rest of the majors while DL,WN got better compensation and treatment for doing the same job. I’m glad I left (It was a PT job during college) after being forced to stay against my will for 16 hours with limited breaks dealing with petty pax like you thinking you know our jobs better than anyone.
The best part of the night was when you met your last inbound and you raided the galley carts to make you feel better from the abuse AA laid on you during the shift. I will NOT miss working for them and dealing with entitled “Gold” “Plats & EPs” /scum bloggers like you and Lucky, newsflash AA doesn’t care about you or what you think, they only care about CKs and putting billions in their pockets at the expense of their beaten down workforce.
Stupid article.
1) whether or not a pilot took a bottle of wine now you’ve blackened the names of both the Captain and FO because you’re UNSURE of which might have probably committed the horrid act. Well done, jerkelton.
2) the FAs were likely trying to grab a quick bite to eat before boarding. They’re not paid to board your ignorant, over-privileged ass, and on “quick turns” on some airlines dont even allow FAs off the plane. As a Captain I detest agents who try to board early, it’s wrong. We’ll get off the gate on-time barring maintenance, ATC or weather.
3) you’re certainly one of those “status” customers who crews heartily dislike. You know everything, absolutely require your butt kissed from boarding to bag claim and beyond.
Well done on probably ruining the holidays for at least two pilots and probably a few FAs who will likely get investigated. Every airline follows your itineraries, it wont be hard to figure out who to screw with over the next few weeks.
Happy holidays, jerk.
Gary, you’re a fucking cunt.
Sincerely,
A professional pilot.
How did this directly affect you? Were you harmed? Did you witness them breaking a FAR?
This is ridiculous and you’re going to be responsible for their loss of employment. Good job jackass.
Theft is theft people – the pilot and steward should both be fired and charged. This type of behaviour is what causes ticket prices to rise or airlines to go broke.
I’ve got an old USAF bud that’s a 20+ year DL pilot, he’s told me Delta is generally incredibly forgiving of employees making missteps, HOWEVER the two major exceptions that will typically get you fired are lying and stealing.
Oh please. I’ll bet he asked for a bottle of water, like pilots always do. Why do you think the flight attendant didn’t care? But that’s right, you didn’t stick around to find out – so you have no idea. Pathetic “journalism” here.
Truly unfortunate that you think this type of “story” is important. It’s not even clear what you saw—water or wine or why he was taking it. You sound like a five year old running to tattle on someone or a hysterical drama queen (“I was in shock”).
Gary Leff, Why don’t you just give up writing your blog and find something better to do with your life and stop wasting everbody’s time in the process. Seriously. It’s time to quit.
Get a fucking life. Keep your nose out of other people’s business. This post is nothing but click bait and bullshit. You “scurried off” so you have ZERO proof of what actually happened. You should be ashamed.
Gary YOU ARE THE WORST. And trust me now every flight crew will be on the look out for your name. I’m sure they will treat you wonderfully
Slow news day huh? Go fart into a wine glass and sniff it, then tell me what vintage it is. Mind ya’ business!!!
I have a major conspiracy theory idea for you to write about. Play this out I’m a captain for a major airline. Last week I bought two bottles of liquor at duty free. Think it was dufry they put my bottles of liquor in this fancy fabric bag. Heck they even gave me a 20% discount! I then paraded right through a group of 190 passengers showing off my inflight adventure and put it right in the cockpit next to my flight bag. I know you probably think this is impossible based on your useless article but those bottles made it the next three days on my trip packed safely away in my bag and sit to this day unopened in my kitchen.
My point? That crew sitting in the front of that aircraft have more integrity, training, professionalism, and skill than your useless self serving entitled and baseless article.
Maybe you would have a little respect for your crews and in this case yourself for publishing such self serving garbage if you saw the sacrifices crews make to cart your low budget blogger ass around.
Honestly you should be ashamed of yourself for publishing such garbage.
Dumbest article ever. You admittedly have no specific details to the story other than you saw a pilot ask for a bottle of wine as he was leaving the aircraft. For all you know, it was something he purchased earlier as a gift and stored it there. Now on his wedding anniversary your story wants to get him fired because of the “optics.” Your optics also caused me to click the 3 dots and block all stories from viewfromthewing.com.
@Stuart
Different companies have different policies, genius. Optics? Only for Karens like Gary does this matter. I’m surprised he didn’t want to talk with the manager.
And the school bus example is literally nothing like this. Well done. You must be another Karen.
@David
So he stole it? Really? You got any evidence for it? You’re accusing the pilot of theft, better prove it or it falls under libel and slander. Falsely accusing someone of a crime is a crime itself.
But ethics! And morality!
Oh shut up Karen.
As for the “issue” at hand?
So Gary even admits he knows nothing about what’s going on, but he complains about it anyway. Yep, that’s the sign of a typical Karen.
Nobody likes Karens.
You must really hate airline employees. Your whole blog is nothing but a rant against them. Crew are allowed to bring a bottle of water from the plane for their layover. Are you sure that wasn’t what he was getting? I find it hard to believe a pilot, knowing he was in full view of passengers, was grabbing wine.
Keep on hating.
Really dude! Write about something more significant and worth reading about!
OMG what if Gary Leff is a terrorist ?!?!
OMG what if Gary Leff is a child molester ?!?!
OMG what if Gary Leff LISTENS TO DISCO?!?!!
Seriously, unless you have some reason to suspect the pilot was going to fly under the influence it is VERY wrong for you to be asking these sorts of questions.
okay people, time to get a new travel blog to read because this one has run out of things to write about and has resorted to tattling on people.
I’m a flight attendant for American for many many years. I have NEVER had a pilot ask me for wine ever. However sometimes after the flight they ask us for a bottle of WATER to take with them. Most flight attendants give them a bottle of WATER at the beginning however sometimes we forget. We like our pilots hydrated to fly safe. Shame on you. You have no idea how we do our job to make those sort of assumptions.
Are a douche
Are a douche.
It seems to me that your claims are based on a rushed observation that you yourself claim you don’t recall the details from. It is extremely common for pilots to ask for a bottle of WATER as they exit the plane. It seems quite possible that you heard what you wanted in this interaction and replaced words.
Ultimately, this pilot did nothing to impact you or your flight. If this had been a real concern you would have remembered details and reported it instead of blogging about it. Good luck with your click bait. You should be ashamed of this diary entry you call an ‘article’ and distributing false information.
Wow, ok…. this…. this is news worthy. Get a life.