I'm sure that there has been a day at work where you've wanted to do something as crazy as what Steven Slater did.

And I'm sure if you troll the FA blogosphere you'll find stories from fellow Flight Attendants as to what they've had to endure, the assaults, the name calling, the f- and c- bombs, the sexual harassment from passengers day in and day out. For those of you who have been following this blog since the beginning, and think that I've seen some rough days, there are still some things I have had happen to me that I don't actually write about on here, either because the matter is pending in court, or it's so well known it will instantly identify my employer.

This job is first and foremost about safety. If my job was just to get you your coffee, I'm sure there would be airlines keen to have vending machines in the galleys for passengers to serve themselves, especially if it meant saving on cabin crew wages and benefits.

That doesn't mean I don't value service in the job, I personally take a lot of pride and passion in making sure that as many of my passengers leave the aircraft satisfied with their flight and a smile on their faces. But we cop a lot of abuse nowadays. And most of the problems stem from a passenger's failure to comply with safety instructions. It really shouldn't have to be this way.

Personally, I don't agree with that Steven Slater did. I think it was inappropriate to announce the f-bombs over the PA, especially if there were small children on the plane. I personally wouldn't have taken the beers off, and I'm still undecided about the blowing of the slide. Clearly this was one very frustrated man who had enough of being treated like dirt by someone with complete disregard for their own safety.

If this woman had hit him on the head with luggage stowed in the bins, and disobeyed his instructions, the best thing to do would be to call Security and have them meet this woman once the aircraft reached the final gate. I find it hard to believe that this would have not been satisfying enough for Slater to see, the woman being led away by heavies in handcuffs. But he was not in a decent frame of mind, and his subsequent actions have made him an internet sensation.

What also hasn't been mentioned as of yet, is that whilst he had a number of personal issues he was dealing with at the time, quite a few airlines have a welfare or counselling department. If he had personal problems that were preventing him from doing his best at work, there are people around to talk things over with. The situation may not have escalated the way it did and Slater might still have had his job, or at least have had it long enough to complete his one month resignation period.

I would love to see how this story develops over time, and I do hope things work out for him in the end, even if his days in the not-so-friendly skies is over.

Labels: Airline Stuff, Galley Gossip, Random Thoughts, Security, Work

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