For example, one of my Twitter posts was mentioning how some people board through the premium part of the plane, see things set out on the counters for the service, (such as drinks) and help themselves.
The rationalisations for such behaviour include 'I paid for a ticket too', 'They looked nice' and 'I just wanted one'. That's all well and good, but what it boils down to is, to put it bluntly, stealing. If you bought an economy seat and you take something meant for premium economy, business or first (without asking first), you're technically stealing it, because you didn't pay for it. Those drinks laid out on the counter, that magazine in the book rack, the newspaper you lifted from a premium seat- they all belong to the people who paid for the seats in that class.
Another example of this is 'helping yourself' to things from galleys or other service areas when the crew aren't looking. These include things like eye-shades, alcohol, extra meals or snacks. The most serious one though, is the alcohol. Believe it or not, I've actually caught passengers with their hands inside bar carts, rummaging around for a drink and thinking this is ok. When we ask for the drinks back, they get mad, and say "I've bought a ticket, I'm entitled to it". Actually, they're not.
Alcohol is a controlled item (and on international flights is bar-bonded by Customs & inspected on landing). Taking alcohol without it being served to you by the crew actually breaches the liquor licensing laws in some countries, and is technically a crime onboard the aircraft. So if you do it, and get caught, don't be surprised when the crew cut you off from having any more drinks. It always surpises me that people ge tmad when told they cannot just help themselves to booze- I mean, come on- would you jump behind the bar in your local pub and just start filling up on drinks? I don't think the barman or bouncers would be very happy!
Then there's the other items- like extra meals, snacks, blankets or taking 3 pillows for yourself even though you only need one.
All this means that some other passenger (who also paid for their ticket) misses out because some people don't know the boundaries. If you want two pillows, fine. Wait until everyone else has got one before you take a second. Or if it's that important that you be comfortable, bring your own! (Novel idea huh?) By all means, ask for any of these things, but please don't just help yourself... because most of the time, you definitely won't be helping others.
Photos: Wine-By Hirox on Flickr, Attendant- NyDailyNews.com,
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Sic 'em TT!
ReplyDeleteI like the way that your blog matches your twitter page - v sharp. And the white background makes a difference (a good one)!
Yeah so many of them. I had skittles once for the crew on a return sector from Singapore and left them on the galley top just after take off so we could get our sugar levels up as well as the spirits. Then a pax comes by, sees the pack of skittles and literally helps himself, picks a handful and buggers off to his seat. IN FRONT OF EVERY CREWs EYES. We were stoked. He didn't really enjoy the rest of his flight lol.
ReplyDeleteI really liked this post, it's so true that all of the things you've mentioned are theft. The stupid thing is that if you are polite and actually *ask* rather than take people are much more accommodating to you! Bleh to rude bastards!
ReplyDeleteLove your blog! I just happened upon it via the suggestion by my Google Reader.
ReplyDeleteI had a passenger who didn't want to stow his briefcase under his seat, as the bins were full, because apparently it was his "right as a passenger" to have space in the overhead bin to stow his carry-on as well as have leg room.
This was a 20 minute flight from Philadelphia to New York City...not an 8 hour flight to London.