Be Cool

Be Cool, a simple rule to follow when flying. A lot of the times however, the airline system seems to be a challenge for most people’s sense of calm and cool demeanor. In spite of this, you have to realize that there are consequences for violating this rule. Forty-nine year old John Murray found this out November 17th when a US Airways flight diverted to Boston and had him removed from the flight.

Details are sparse at the moment but it is clear that at some point after takeoff from Philadelphia Murray became unruly and disruptive with the flight crew. The flight on it’s way to London was diverted by the flight crew to Boston when the Scottish man refused to take instruction from the flight crew involving an arm brace he was wearing. The reports say that he was arguing and causing a disturbance with other passengers.

That’s not all he did to the other passengers, the US Airways flight was delayed in Boston for 2 hours and 40 mins due to the unruly passenger. While unsure of the actual circumstances involving the dispute, Murray’s inability to keep his cool resulted in the flight and passengers being delayed. Murray is also now in custody of the Boston police for ” interfering with crew on flight 728.”

There are no allegations of terrorism, substance, or alcohol use involved in this case due to appear at East Boston District Court. There is an old saying that states: you have to pick your battles and I would add that you need to pick the place from where you wage those wars. Clearly aboard a flight going anywhere, let alone an international flight, is not the appropriate place to pick a fight. You will not win this dispute, the law and powers that be will always come down on the side of the flight crew.

If you have a dispute with the airline or flight crew, keep your calm and wait until you are off of the plane to make your argument or complaint heard. The consequences of not doing so, are hardly worth the instance which usually provokes these sorts of things. Murray has a girlfriend who lives in the states and frequently travels between here and there. Hopefully, after this incident Mr. Murray will learn to master this first and most basic rule of flight . . . Be Cool.

www.CaptainNowhere.com

Tags: arm brace, Be Cool, Boston, delayed, diverted, flight, flight 728, flight crew, flying, international flight, John Murray, passengers, Philadelphia, takeoff, terrorism, unruly passenger, US Airways

More Baggage Fees, Now on International Flights

Passengers have had to accept the fact that baggage fees are now a part of domestic flight. Passengers have grumbled and complained but, they continue to fly. Soon you can expect to pay for checking bags on international flights. International flights have remained exempt from baggage fees until just recently. American Airlines will start charging $50 for a second bag to India and most European destinations. They are not alone Delta and other airlines will begin charging for the second bag on international flights as well. Unless these fees have an adverse affect on the numbers flying, they will continue to charge them and as statistics have shown passengers will keep paying them.

Don’t expect them  to go away and just become a bad dream. Even if the economy turns around and fuel prices drop airlines will keep these fees I suspect. When the charges bring in $560 million a year and it is an established policy they won’t soon be giving them up. Airlines do tend to exempt those who pay for a full fare ticket and their elite member passengers but, the rest of us are stuck with them.

www.captainnowhere.com

Tags: airline, american airlines, bag fees, baggage allowance, charges, delta, flight, international bags, international flight, passengers