Fed up American Airlines captain ‘lectures’ passengers

This is 😢 sad and unfortunate, but in this day and age very much needed. If nothing else the pilot got the passenger’s attention. If he’s bringing these things up they must be reoccurring events. It also makes me feel very old school because it wouldn’t even occur to me to lean on another passenger and fall asleep much less 🤤 unless of course it was my hubby, and even then I don’t think he’d appreciate that, lol.

I love this! Americans have seen a drop in basic good manners and politeness over the last 10 years. It has gotten to the point that when someone around us is well mannered and polite we are shocked by it. Sometimes we need to have someone remind us of the things we were taught in 1st grade, just maybe the number to people taken off planes due to disrespectful behavior will decrease!

I'm so glad this was done and it's gone viral. Agree with others above that this is long overdue. It's the b*tch slap many people needed, but others were afraid to do.

I agree! Basic good manners doesn't cost anything and makes traveling more pleasant for everyone.

"fall asleep much less 🤤 unless of course it was my hubby, and even then I don’t think he’d appreciate that, lol."

At this point I would give anything to have my wife fall asleep on my shoulder.

I don’t see how granting middle-seaters both armrests will go over well with the other passengers. . . .

Douglas, I agree with your main point that the airlines bear some of the blame for crappy flying experiences.

I had to laugh at your mention of treatment by the curbside baggage handlers. When the pandemic was in full swing my usual airports did away with curbside baggage check- in which I had always used in the past and for which I would nominally tip the baggage handler. In the last year it appears to be permanently gone from John Wayne airport, but then I noticed a curbside desk return to DFW. No optional tipping, there was a set fee on a sign for the service. Come to find out the curbside service employees do not work for the airline, they are a contracted third party company. This was news to me.

Let’s hope they had a nicer flight experience! In spite of all of the crazy videos that get shared, it’s still a wonderful mode of travel to be able to go to Europe.

I wish similar announcements were made at theaters, concerts, and movies. Too many people taking pics, recording the show, talking on their phones, or otherwise acting like they're the only people in the world.

Having said that we saw the Broadway show, "Ain't Too Proud To Beg" awhile back and despite the announcements, people were still recording the show, standing up and blocking the view of, in some cases, elderly people, and just being azzes.

As far as I'm concerned the pilot is setting a precedent for the future. Talk directly to people.

Douglas, I agree with most of what you said. The "flying experience" has deteriorated substantially over the past 30 years or so years, but I don't have a problem with a pilot making the announcement. As an ex-Air Force member I can assure you it had no impact on flight safety.

Oh I love this!!!

I'm not injecting politics into a courtesy discussion, but let's note that American citizens' failure to show up and vote, or to hold their representatives to account is also a factor. When the government took baggage security (and its costs) away from the airlines, they should have taken the opportunity to mandate one free checked bag for every passenger. But like most "pro-business" issues, Congress is "in the pocket" of the airlines. Some of those people who lost their manufacturing jobs could work in baggage handling as a result ...

Most of this stuff we learned in kindergarten. Probably not taught at all now. Courtesy, what a quaint word now.

I wonder if it would be useful to add the Rick Steves "No Grumps" policy into the terms and conditions?

Totally agree Tim. And it's ridiculous that people who planned ahead to seat their young children next to them can be separated from those children if their flight is cancelled or a different plane is used.

Big Mike, thanks for posting this. They should play this speech when they play the safety information. I love "my will is what matters." "don't drool on them unless ...they have a weather resistant jacket".

All I can say is "somebody had to do it". Just too bad it had to be an airline pilot to do it, they do have a lot of other stuff on their minds when flying a plane and shouldn't have to deal with this.

I don’t see how granting middle-seaters both armrests will go over well with the other passengers

As to the middle seat getting both armrests - so what if the other passengers don't take kindly to it, it's the only effin' perk they get and they're paying as much for their seat as the window and aisle seats are (at least I think they still pay the same) and giving up leg room and/or a place to rest their head.

As to the middle seat getting both armrests - so what if the other
passengers don't take kindly to it, it's the only effin' perk they get
and they're paying as much for their seat as the window and aisle
seats are (at least I think they still pay the same) and giving up leg
room and/or a place to rest their head.

What if they're in the middle seat because they refused to pay an advanced booking fee? Then shouldn't the people on other side get it if they paid the extra $35+-? On the other hand, my wife insists on sitting beside me even if it means the middle seat. She takes it because of our size difference of 14" and xx pounds. I do pay the price though as she will use me as a pillow, and may or may not drool on occasion...I'm not allowed to confirm.

What if they're in the middle seat because they refused to pay an advanced booking fee? Then shouldn't the people on other side get it if they paid the extra $35+-?

That's why I put that bit in parentheses about paying the same for the seat. On the other hand, if they were willing to pay the extra but the only seats left were middle seats so they were stuck with them it shouldn't matter what they paid they deserve the perk.

Kudos to the pilot!! People are out of control. One person with horrible manners can ruin the flight for hundreds of people. Ask the little kid who was kicking my seatback HARD and throwing a tantrum for HOURS on end from London to the U.S. The flight attendants were horrified - you could see it on their faces. But they didn't do a thing about it. I'm guessing they were prohibited from telling the kid's guardian to get him in line NOW. The guardian herself was yelling at him so loudly and for so long that you could hear HER throughout the plane, too.

I'm old enough to remember when flying was fun.

Anyway, here are my recent experiences: ATL to SAN. Delay for an hour departing ATL because someone puked in the bathroom sink and a maintenance worker had to come out and deal with it.

SAN to ATL. Cancelled. Probably due to thunderstorms in ATL.

SAN to ATL, part II: Downgraded from business class to a middle seat in steerage because that was the only seat available. 1 hour delay at ATL because the fly gate or whatever it's called couldn't connect to the plane.

ATL to ROA: Another 55 minute delay taking off due to "runway issues."

The good news is I'm done with flying for 2023! Staffing and other issues "should" be better in 2024. Fingers crossed.

Big Mike, did they refund the money/points you had spent for that business class seat from SAN to ATL?

Allan--Are you my husband? ;) When we can't get aisle seats by each other, I let my husband have the window and I take the middle seat. He is often times my headrest;)

cala, of course the desk agent said I had to call Delta. I've been too lazy to get around to it thus far because I suspect it's going to be a pain in the rear. Once I got transferred multiple times and eventually back to the same person I started with. Who has time for that? I'm guessing it will be a credit so I'll get on it some day.

I thought the pilot's speech was humorous in a sad way.

I also agree that flying economy class is miserable. But, please consider that if they make it less miserable it is going to cost you more to fly, maybe causing you to travel less often. There is very very low probability that economy class will become more enjoyable at the current prices. Airlines have responded to market pressure. Market pressure has shown that people want the lowest possible cost. It is the single most important thing to them other than safety.

I no longer fly in economy, ever. Not after flying economy class on Turkish Airlines for 12 hours. I still have nightmares about that flight. I simply pay more to have a wider seat with more leg room and better service. I arrive at my destination more rested and less irritable/angry. It is a choice. If you feel that you cannot afford a higher class seat, then be careful what you ask for, you may not be flying at all.

vandrabrud I agree with all of that.

Unfortunately premium economy has skyrocketed in price on many flights. It is worth noting how much more rested one feels with more seat and leg room.

With many passengers acting like spoilt brats, maybe the pilot needs to be a father or mother figure and lay down the law. There was some kerfuffle in first class on a recent flight. I heard someone say "a-hole" and then a flight attendant intervened to calm them down. How could someone possibly be upset in first class? My guess is excessive drinking was involved.