Support for Slater

Posted in In the News | 26 comments

News broke early yesterday of a flight attendant losing it at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport.

Steven Slater, a jetBlue Flight Attendant since 2008, did something flight attendant’s always dream about doing.. but never actually do. According to reports, Slater was dealing with a passenger who attempted to remove his luggage from the overhead bin before the aircraft was parked at the gate after arriving in New York. After getting into a tiff with the passenger over the issue the passenger reportedly cussed at Slater calling him a “mother—–r.”

Once the aircraft reached the gate, Slater lost it. He got on the public address system and said

To the passenger that called me a mother—–r, f–k you! That’s it. I’ve had it.

Slater then deployed the aircrafts emergency slide, grabbed two beers from the catering carts and slid down the slide to unemployment. Slater’s MySpace page reads: “chances are I am flying 35, 000 feet somewhere over the rainbow on my way to some semi-fabulous JetBlue Airways destination.” Well, as I write this, Steven Slater is sitting in a jail cell in New York City. But, I’d like to take this opportunity to say:

From one flight attendant to another, BRAVO! BRAVO Steven Slater!

I’m sure a lot of you are wondering why I support Steven in what he did. So, allow me to explain.

First, we’ve all thought about doing it. We’ve all had those moments where you just want to tell a passenger exactly whats on your mind, what you’re thinking and how you really feel. A lot of passengers have the mentality that the rules don’t apply to them and that most of the rules are just guidelines and don’t really need to be enforced. Further, that line of thinking creates a disrespect for the job of a flight attendant and the role they are actually on board to preform. Serving a coke, isn’t the role I’m talking about.

In this situation, Steven was protecting the passengers below the open overhead bin from falling luggage if the aircraft was to stop short of the gate or jolt in either direction. He was doing his job by telling the passenger to place his luggage back in the bin and close it. Granted, we don’t know for sure how it was said and what words were used but for the passenger to cuss at him, regardless, is unacceptable and disrespectful.

We deal with that situation and others on a daily basis. Some passengers take us asking them to turn their phone off or to push a bag under their seat personally. They get upset and frustrated.. and some talk back and create a mountain out of a mole hill. Not to mention, they’ve become upset at the flight attendant whose simply doing their job and following the rules. I will admit, like I’ve stated, the job of a flight attendant is based upon how you say things to the customer. Sometimes even saying what you have to as nicely as possible, as I always try to do, still sets the passenger off. But face it, if you took a verbal beating like flight attendants do, when doing their job everyday, you’d reach your breaking point as well.

I often wonder what (if any) my breaking point will be that’ll drive me to quit my job on the spot. I love my job, I really do. But at the same time, its one of the most respect-less and thankless jobs out there and we only get recognized when something fatal happens and a flight attendant saves the day.

Well, today that changed. Today, in my opinion, Steven Slater stood up for himself and flight attendants everywhere. He did what every flight attendant thinks about doing, but never does.

Not to mention, he also took beer with him down the slide, which in my opinion was a perfect homage to the flight attendant career. I wonder which situation jetBlue holds more severe.. popping the slide or stealing the alcohol. I’m just kidding.

In closing, Mr. Slater you are my hero. You did, what I could and would never do. I applaud you for standing up for yourself, realizing that you had reached the point of “not having fun anymore,” and doing so – the best way a flight attendant knows how to. I hope you can find solitude in your new career, whatever that may be because it’s evident you won’t be working for an airline again.

Slaters MySpace page stated: “The last few years have seen me grounded, doing the daily grind, ’9 to ’5-, “real job” thing and hating most of it.” I have a feeling he’s going to have to get used to it. His wings have been clipped, but not forgotten.


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  • http://twitter.com/Rob_Pilot Rob

    Oh Bobby, I have to disagree! Although the passenger was completely out of line on so many levels, Slater as you said lost it. He became unprofessional (swearing at the passengers and stealing the beer) and did something quite dangerous and stupid (popping the slide). He let all of JetBlue down and flight attendants as a profession.

    Yes he has probably drawn attention to a slipping standard but he could have done it in a much, much better way for all concerned!

  • Bobby

    Rob, you’re right. It was unprofessional. But, what is the professional standard for someone who obviously didn’t care about the outcome?

    Personally, like I said, I’d never do it. Sure its funny to think about, but to see someone actually do it.. is just.. amazing.

    He definitely brought attention to the fact that our job is respect-less and thankless. For that, I thank him. Because now, everyone knows what was said to him and the fact that if it happens enough — it’ll send anyone over the edge.

  • http://twitter.com/Rob_Pilot Rob

    True, I did laugh the first two or three times I heard the reports. And overall for FAs hopefully it will make people adjust their attitudes but I feel for the captain and CSD (or whatever JetBlue has) on that flight, I would have been lost for words and actions!

  • http://traytables-travels.blogspot.com Traytable

    My first thought was that the blow to the head did it, you know he just might beat the charges with that argument- it works for the jerks who decided to punch one of my colleagues and claimed mental illness…

  • Kim

    Bobby, nicely written. I agree with you 100%!

  • http://brajit.blogspot.com Brad

    JetBlue wasn’t even in BUSINESS in 1997. He started in 9/2008.

  • http://dining.14850.com/ MHA

    I have mixed feelings about this, and I was with him through the rant over the PA, yelling at the jerk of a passenger who felt himself too important to obey the fasten-your-seatbelt sign and order. (Even though it was unprofessional to curse for all to hear.) I would even have been OK with him bolting as soon as the cabin door opened onto a jetway or stairs. But activating an emergency exit and fleeing into the secure tarmac and taxiway, a part of the airport facility he was not authorized to be in, was a boneheaded thing to do. That, in my opinion, is the only part of this escapade that warrants the loss of his job.

  • http://none ken klaus

    Being a retired salesman I know the feeling for taking abuse from costomers for 37 years…… there did come a time when I did loose it with 2 people who thought they were having some fun at my expence, but at the time I did’nt care for I had it up to my adams apple that day……..these things build up over time and I KNOW exactly what happened……

  • http://www.postcardsandcoasters.blogspot.com Sherri

    Wow! That’s a creative way of leaving a job.

  • Bobby

    MHA, He wanted out of his job. He was quitting. So, the one thing we do every year in recurrent which is “fun” is the slide jump. So, he popped the slide and had a bit of fun with his resignation.

    Flight Attendant’s understand why he did it. And think of the amazing metaphor. You the “emergency exit” out of your job.

  • http://today.14850.com/ MHA

    Oh, I understand why he did it. But talk about burning your bridges.

  • Bobby

    Oh yeah!

  • Frank

    Arent there reports where Steve was hit in the head? Seriously, after that moment, he should of bitch slapped her.
    Self defense, I would say.

  • http://www.usalyright.blogspot.com William R. Barker

    O.K., serious question first: To all the flight attendants reading this – particularly Jet Blue flight attendants – would your airline have supported you had you been Slater and instead of reacting by as Slater did you insisted upon notifying the proper authorities and filing the most serious complaint you could against the non-compliant passenger?

    I’m a “civilian.” From what I think I know there are pretty heavy penalties on the books for disregarding legal instructions of civil flight personnel. My question, if instead of deciding to “get mad,” Mr. Slater had decided to “get even,” could he have “forced” the matter without risk of either Jet Blue or the feds taking action against HIM because in their view he was “making waves?”

    Now… second… just to share my gut reaction…

    HA! HA! HA!

    God bless Slater!

    Oh, sure… Jet Blue should slap him on the wrist, suspend him for two weeks without pay or something like that, but I’ll be honest… if I were the guy with the power at Jet Blue, I’d feature Slater in a new sales/marketing campaign!

    Think about…

    “Jet Blue: Fair fares; We don’t nail you with luggage fees; all we ask is that you behave!”

  • PLR

    I am a flight attendant for a government agency, transporting (primarily) fellow agency employees. Therefore, I don’t have to put up with the level of abuse that commercial flight attendants do.

    Nevertheless, I have been pushed to the point that I have wanted to say “Screw this duty–I shouldn’t have to put up with that!” Plus, I used to work in government jobs that required extensive public contact, and have been told more than once “I pay your salary!” (Following that argument, I also pay my salary, as I pay taxes too.”

    Therefore, I understand where he was coming from, I do not believe he has damaged the perception of professionalism for all FAs, and in fact I think he has done us a service: he has dramatically brought attention to the decay of decency in human behavior. I am impressed by the outpouring of support from the general public, and the outcry for the head of the woman who violated FAA regulations and disregarded the safety of her fellow pax.

    I hope Steven finds success from his notoriety–he certainly deserves it more than most of our pop culture “heros”.

  • Kim

    I read you blog from time to time – I love it. I am a civilian but have dealt with customers on all levels all my adult life. FA’s have a very tough gig. Our lives are in the crews hands – while you bring us peanuts and soda. It is so hard and the abuse by crabby tired people can totally be too much. Slater is a hero to me because he did not really hurt anyone but himself (and I don’t think he even did that). She deserved a lot more than being told to F off. His exit was the stuff of legend that most of us only dream of doing someday. He will be fine. He’ll go through a bit of stuff – but he will be fine. She on the other hand has a real problem.

  • Diya

    Bobby, a lot of people have thankless jobs and don’t act out like this. Nobody forced him to take this job.

    From reading your blog, it seems like you have a chip on your shoulder. “My job is thankless, no one respects us, etc.” It’s not like you’re a slave. I don’t know, I read your blog entries about how you and your fellow FAs laugh when someone comes to the back and asks where the bathroom is. Yeah, it’s dumb, but did you ever consider that a lot of people don’t fly that much, and may be a bit disoriented?

    I’m just saying, it seems like you and your fellow FAs have bitchy attitudes as well about minor stuff. I bet that you guys just sit around after your shifts drinking and bitching non-stop about work. That’s kind of pathetic, but it’s the sort of low-class behavior people expect from uneducated FAs. Sorry, but my boyfriend is a surgeon – and he probably bitches way less than all of your FAs, and he’s got a LOOOOT more at stake!

  • PLR

    Uneducated FAs? Bobby has a BA degree. I have a Masters Degree in Education from GWU, the most expensive college in the country, along with certification as a paramedic. The of the other 20 FAs I work with, 15 of them have Bachelors Degrees and 2 have Masters. My FA niece has an aviation degree from Embry Riddle.

    Your surgeon boyfriend “probably” doesn’t complain as much? Are you with him 24/7? How about when he is with HIS colleagues? My brother-in-law in an ER physician (pretty much at stake there) and he complains A LOT about his “customers”. So do the doctors and nurses I work with when volunteering as a paramedic in my community (Paramedics? They take the prize in complaining and making fun, and again, are well trained with big responsibility).

    Maybe you should walk in someone else’s shoes a bit before criticizing (and of course you never vent about your job, I assume).

  • PLR

    Uneducated FAs? Bobby has a BA degree. I have a Masters Degree in Education from GWU, the most expensive college in the country, along with certification as a paramedic. Of the other 20 FAs I work with, 15 of them have Bachelors Degrees and 2 have Masters. My FA niece has an aviation degree from Embry Riddle.

    Your surgeon boyfriend “probably” doesn’t complain as much? Are you with him 24/7? How about when he is with HIS colleagues? My brother-in-law is an ER physician (pretty much at stake there) and he complains A LOT about his “customers”. So do the doctors and nurses I work with when volunteering as a paramedic in my community (Paramedics? They take the prize in complaining and making fun, and again, are well trained with big responsibility).

    Maybe you should walk in someone else’s shoes a bit before criticizing (and of course you never vent about your job, I assume).

  • Mike

    I mostly support Slater, but he did take a plane out of service while the slide was inspected and restored for use, and somebody could have been hurt by the force of the slide had he or she been working right in that area.

    I am a frequent passenger, and I find so many people behaving like jerks to the crew and to the people seated nearby. They won’t turn off their phones or put away their things. They toss stuff at the flight attendant like they are servants and they can barely muster a thank you. However, there are certainly plenty of people who say please and thank you and try to treat the crew with respect. I think I am mostly in that latter category.

    There was one flight, however, where I did something wrong and then got upset with the flight attendant. The scenario was that I was seated in a bulkhead in economy, and there was no bin right over my seat. Since I wasn’t among the first group to board, I had to place my backpack a few rows back. As we took off and started to climb, I realized that I needed something as soon as possible. Once the 10,000 feet announcement was made about electronics, I got up and took out my bag. The flight attendants, who were still seated, scolded me for getting up, and I said something back. I didn’t cuss, but it wasn’t especially nice.

    However, I did realize later that I had been a jerk, and I apologized. The flight attendant said it was no big deal, but I said, “that doesn’t make what I did OK, I’m sorry for talking back.”

    How would you react to that situation?

  • Frank

    August 11, 2010 at 8:19 pm
    Once the 10,000 feet announcement was made about electronics, I got up and took out my bag. The flight attendants, who were still seated, scolded me for getting up, and I said something back. I didn’t cuss, but it wasn’t especially nice.
    However, I did realize later that I had been a jerk, and I apologized.
    ==================================================

    In training, it’s drilled into our heads, that YOUR SAFETY is our number one priority. That said, ask any Flight Attendant about turbulence and they can probably tell you about someone getting hurt, seriously hurt or had to fill out a report because of someone’s bad judgement.
    In my years of flying, I have watched someone fly to the ceiling of the aircraft, get taped to a board as paramedics rushed them to a hospital. They had NO feelings in ther legs for a couple of days. We, as flight attendants ALWAYS
    side on the side of caution. The announcement to you wasnt personal, it was required.

  • Bobby

    I’m glad you side with me on this! I really think that most people start confrontations on flights because they take what we tell them personally.. and forget we’re doing out job!

  • Bobby

    Well, you said they “scolded” you.. I wouldn’t have done that. I would have said “just so you know, the seatbelt sign is on.. is there anything I can get for you while you take your seat?”

  • Bobby

    Thanks for the note Kim! And you’re right, he will be fine!

  • Bobby

    Flying for an agency like that would be fun I’d imagine! I, too, was impressed that he become a hero to working class Americans and not just flight attendants.

  • Frequent Flier

    I had debated about writing a comment on this post. I am (as the name says) a frequent flier. I don’t fly enough to be considered an elite flier but I fly about 30-40k miles per year. I also worked for a long time in a customer service, customer facing position.

    I am really surprised that you are defending this person let alone publicly admire him for what he did. If you look at what a flight attendant does, and compare it to other positions and be objective I think you’ll see this differently. I see what he did no different than:

    A police officer who walks into his station and has a perp tell him off. The officer then loses it, says he doesn’t need to take it anymore, fires his gun off, grabs some evidence and leaves. The police station will be on lockdown thus inconveniencing others who may need the use of the public service. Safety protocols were breeched even though no one was hurt, laws were violated, again even though no one was hurt. Would you consider this former police offer a hero? Would you think the officer was “standing up for himself” as you do Slater?

    How about a different scenario…how about a waiter who is told off by a patron of the restaurant. He says “F**k you, I’ve had it”. Grabs a beer from the bar, goes to the kitchen and just before walking out the door pulls the fire sprinkler system over the grills/ovens/fryers effectively shutting down the restaurant. Would you be saying “BRAVO! BRAVO Waiter!”? Should the other people in the restaurant suffer because of one upset waiter? How about the couple who had reservations to the restaurant where they had their first date canceled because some waiter blew a gasket and went crazy due to a few a few words from an a**h*le patron.

    How about if the sprinkler set off the fire alarm and while the fire dept was responding a real fire broke out where someone was killed? What would you think of that. Sure it is a “what if” but Slater didn’t know if there was some unstable person or adventurous child on the plane who would run and try to follow him down the emergency slide.

    I feel you can’t have it both ways. You can’t be there for customer service and, more importantly, for the safety of the passengers then speak out of the other side of your mouth to applaud someone who goes violates this.

    Plainly put, if he was sick of his job he should have just quit without endangering the rest of the passengers… without delaying other, innocent, customers, without tying up all the resources that an investigation of this magnitude calls for…all because he “had it”.

    Poor form on Steven Slater and you.