When Adults are like Children

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On my recent commute flight to San Francisco I found myself in a situation I’ve never thought about before. I’m curious what your thoughts are about this as well.

We boarded late, of course because of SFO weather, but just before we closed the door about 5-6 people come running onto the plane. It was apparent that they were at the bar, well, because they said so. Many times. Now, I usually sit in the back, because theres always a better chance of getting a row to myself, they all came to the back.

Great.

So, they sit 2 rows behind me and fill up a few rows, since it wasn’t a full flight, they spread themselves out. Once inflight, they all had another drink and were all talking to each other, very loudly. And I mean, VERY loudly. At some points during the flight the ‘party’ also moved into the aisle and they were talking between the rows ahead of them, behind them and along side them. I put my iPod on and drained the noise, but before I did that I was updating some paperwork that I brought with me to complete before going to work. I found myself SO annoyed with these passengers. Not just because they were loud, but because they obviously didn’t care about everyone else seated around them. They were having a good time, and that’s all that mattered.

The Crew repeatedly asked them to move out of the aisle while they did their inflight service, and they always moved. They even tried to get the Crew’s names to become friendly with them, in hopes, it would stop the Crew from shutting down their party.

Now, the Crew did find these passengers fun and entertaining and they did converse with them for a bit, but then, to avoid the noise, they all went to the front galley.

Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy having a good time when flying and what not, and I am known to give people free alcohol on occasion to get ‘the party started’ or to further along their experience. However, I would never let the other passengers be disturbed by what was going on, and at the very least I would have asked the group to quiet down a bit.

Here’s my question.. I didn’t pay for my seat on this flight, so I kept my mouth shut. It’s none of my business how the situation was handeled and what the crew did or didn’t do; but.. when you’re flying (as a passenger or FA) what is your view about a few people having a good time and being loud?

On one hand, they have every right to, they paid for their seats… but on the other.. so did the passengers seated around them. Is it rude to ask the group to quiet down?

Further, as a Crewmember, aside from asking the group to quiet down, at what point do you stop trying to break up the ‘party’ and the noise, because you’re worried about your own reprecussions from them writing a letter or such? And, mind you, they aren’t interferring with your jobs or disobeying your instructions, they’re just being loud and having a good time.

This flight struck me as interesting, and I want to know what you all think.

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  • http://intheairupthere.blogspot.com Lookin4acity

    Like your working crew, I usually make friends with the party people. I find it gives me the ground to caution them not to be loud and disturb the other passengers. I fear write ups not from the rowdy people but from the people who have to endure the rowdy people. Even if I don’t succeed in quieting them. At least the other paasengers know that I made an attempt.

  • Bobby

    I agree! They didn’t try to quiet them down though. I counted about 3-4 complaints.

  • Bobby

    By the way, Lookin4acity, your comment was my 400th! :D

  • http://airlinesangel.com Airlinesangel

    Hi Bobby

    I had something similar on my flight last night. A group of 8-10 lads boarded all very “loud” it was obvious that they had been on a stag weekend. I was waiting to see how the interaction between them and the crew would develop. Seated in the row in front of them I thought it was going to to be a long flight..

    I was really surprised, they paid attention to the safety briefing and settled down after takeoff. One of the group, was seated towards the front of the aircraft and it was just as well, he was a little worse off than the others. So much so the crew allocated him the forward toilet (say no more). The crew members joked with the rest of the party and commented, in a fun manner how much time he had spent in the toilets. On descent into Gatwick the FD called to say it would be quite bumpy and looking out I could see it would. The crew started looking for more sick bags for him as the seatbelt sign was on. I handed mine over and the group thanked me..

    I suppose its all in the way in which the crew deal with the situation.. My crew were outstanding especially as we were delayed due to the weather..

    AA

  • rw2

    I’ve only experienced this coming from party cities and it bothered me, but no more than if the same thing happened on the ground.

    I guess, as a passenger, my two rules would be:

    1) Don’t do this on an overnight.

    2) Don’t bump into my seat and bounce me around while you are partying.

    As long as those two rules are obeyed I’m not going to raise a stink. So, while I’m sitting there not raising a stink if the FA were to stop by and ask if I’d like a comp drink, that would be as nice a gesture as actually getting the party stopped.

    • Bobby

      If things are getting loud and the party isn’t quieting down.. I always offer the people around them a drink or a free pair of headphones to watch the movie. It just makes sense.

  • Skitten

    What are the repercussions for you (as working crew) if someone writes a letter?

    • Bobby

      Skitten, each airline handles it differently. At my current one, it can be pretty detrimental to your job. They seem to take the passenger side a bit more than ours. Which is some cases is unfair, since they (supervisors) weren’t there to witness the situation to begin with. The passenger is, usually, out for something free when they write a letter, and don’t realize it can come back to us.

      I do everything I can on board to avoid a letter for my crew and myself, by trying to solve all problems on the plane. But, sometimes letters are inevitable. I just always hope the supervisors trust my story over theirs. Though, I have a proven track record to do the right thing and do all I can to fix a problem, so if I were to get a letter now, I doubt it would hold much weight.

  • http://www.dirtandnoise.com/ ilinap

    It just goes to show that people don’t mind their manners at any age. When I fly with my children I do my damndest to keep them quiet and I assure you, they are awesome little travelers. Funny that eyes roll when I board a plane with my 2 sons, but the most ill behaved people are always the grown ups.

  • Noah

    My answer to both questions…it depends.

    When I’m a passenger (non-rev or otherwise) I don’t mind people being a little bit noisy during daytime shorter flights. They are usually having fun and I can throw on a pair of headphones to drown out the noise if they are bothering me. Nighttime or early morning flights, and international or transcon flights I usually want to rest a bit, and would prefer if everyone was quieter and stayed in their own seat for most of the flight.

    As a crewmember it’s pretty much the same rules. Unless we have other passengers complain or act like they are uncomfortable with the situation (rolling eyes, sighs, etc.). Then I approach the offenders, inform them that their behavior is disturbing others and request they stay quiet. If they continue being loud I’ve don’t push the issue much, unless the passenger complaints continue.

    Our airline will usually side with the employee if the response is reasonable, but it depends on the supervisor who fields the complaint and I often find myself questioning what is going to be considered reasonable if there is a complaint.

  • Debbie

    Are you sure you weren’t on MY flight from NAS-LGA??? It sure sounds like you were… except I was working up front cuz that kind of stuff just gets annoying after awhile and I either ‘grow’ an attitude toward the partying people so they get the hint, start being a drill-sergeant FA, or TRY to ignore it altogether unless other pax become vocally/outwardly annoyed.
    Honestly, I want pax to have fun while they are on my flight, and enjoy each other and the crew, but at some point, respect needs to be shown to the other pax who aren’t in their group, so, since it isn’t their own private airplane, they need to be able to contain themselves in a way that doesn’t annoy everyone around them.

    How’s that for an answer?
    Take care & safe flying!

  • Scott

    I think ultimately how you act as a passenger and how the crew should respond depends on the route. Flights to LAS, MBJ, UVF, BGI, etc. all go without saying should be fun friendly and a blast. And so crew shouldnt feel they need to be heavy handed.

    But if your a drunken frat boy being ACTUALLY louder than the infamous crying baby during flight than you need to sit down and shut up.

    On the note of ADQ’s and guest complaints… I find it truely sad to hear that you do all you can to avoid a write up. I find the secret is to document your ass before that drunk even has the time to get home and write an email. Those trusty CSAs at the top of the bridge can always be a key resource in identifying the bad boys of a flight.

    If that doesnt work you can always shout down to the rampies and ask them to “delay” their bags.

  • Crissy

    I wouldn’t mind if everyone got on the plane, put their ipods on and were quiet the whole flight. But in reality… Early morning flights and overnight flights I expect people to be fairly quiet and considerate.

    Daytime flights it’s fine if their is a group off talkative friendly people, provided they’re not disturbing people by being loud or walking around a lot (if you’re up a lot someones getting bumped or has a butt in their face). But if you can hear them 3 rows away they’re probably too loud.

    I work in Law Enforcement and find that with a loud group it often helps to be friendly with the group, then if you have to tell them to quiet down they don’t take it as the mean FA bugging them.

    I would be really annoyed if I complained to the FA and they didn’t even try (and then hid in the front of the plane). I probably wouldn’t write a letter just for that and I’ve been known to write a couple letters in my day.

  • Danny Jack

    I always found it interesting that when people pay for something, that gives the right do be dumb in most cases. Because you paid for a product doesnt give you the right to act like that product at that point works for you and no one else. People seem to step through airport doors and act dumb. They walk into a McDonalds and expect 5 star service. Where were these people raised? What I would give to live in this state of constant delusion.