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Sunday, Nov 8, 2009
JorenCarlson
Published Letters: 29 Editor's Choice: 3
I'm glad someone else has mentioned what to wear and what not to wear as a passenger.
Now if only the airlines themselves would take note and stop issuing uniform components that are made of polyester blends that melt in high heat. Those nylons they like their female employees to wear? Melt. Scarves? Melt. Jackets, pants and skirts? Melt. But at least the food and grime just wipes away!
I still remember the commands that were ingrained in me at my first FA job over 25 years ago as well as each carrier since - and one of the lines was always a variant of "LEAVE EVERYTHING BEHIND!". I actually had the opportunity, or misfortune depending how you want to look at it, to put them to the test twice since.
One time (September 1986) involved an evacuation using the stairs. Yes, people still started reaching for their carry ons... though some relented when they heard us and saw us turning purple from screaming at them so loudly.
I then noticed some people coming back UP the stairs trying to get back in the plane we were evacuating due to a tire fire.
Why?
Seems the authorities on the ground were asking our evacuees for their passports.
While on the subject, I'm always amused by some of the snippets that make the news:
"The Flight Attendants were freaking out and yelling at us" during an evacuation.
They're supposed to do that. Got your attention, did it not?
"We decompressed, the masks fell and then the airplane nosedived!"
It's supposed to do that so you can get to an altitude as soon as possible where you can breathe. (Which for the record was the best part of my FA training and IMO, the ultimate thrill ride!)
"The Flight Attendants wouldn't let us out the door!" often heard as "The Flight Attendants wouldn't open the exit!!".
Believe it or not, the Flight Attendants want to get out just as much as you do - the sooner you are all out, they can get out. If they won't open a particular exit or are directing you away from an exit, theres a darn good reason for it. Opening a door and having you and everyone behind you plummet into debris or fire would be just about as bad as having you all die of smoke inhalation as you try getting out an exit that WILL NOT open.
For the record, if airline staff tell you to do, or not to do something, its usually because theres a pretty good reason for it, not because they are just having a bad day.
I agree with the policy of air crew having to be in uniform in order to be exempted from some searches. Otherwise, how do other travellers know why the person in front of them didn't have to remove their shoes.
When I was a crewmember several years ago here in Canada... pre-911, we weren't even allowed to wear our security badges through security unless we were in uniform. If you were deadheading in civies, you went through all security screening. If you were in uniform, with your ID, you usually got waved through.
I'm more able to get my back up over what seems to be a policy of red flagging employees' family members travelling on benefits. My better half is the employee, and every time I travel in the U.S., I get flagged at check-in for secondary inspection. As do other "travel partners" I know of.
Apparently, theres something about travelling standby that is a big red flag, as is not having a confirmed return ticket/itinerary (through no fault of our own since thats how employee travel works)
Seems like a waste of Security resources to be routinely heavily searching persons whose names and other personal information is in most cases, on file in an airline Human Resources computer somewhere, rather than passengers they don't know from Adam.
Much of the initial coverage about Fort Hood turned out to be wrong. Is there anything wrong with that?
The accountability imposed by another country for the CIA's kidnapping and torture reveals much about our own.
Fox News' morning show plays to type, talking about whether Muslims in the Army should face "special debriefings"
The survivor and author is upset about comparisons some on the right are making to genocide
219 Democrats and one Republican join in favor of the legislation, which passed by a narrow margin
Salon headlines in your mailbox
