We do realize we have power--I exercise mine daily with the almighty dollar. And I do think the other passengers on that plane realized they were saying something. They were speaking very loudly with their silence that they agreed with the flight attendant.
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Incidents on planes are tense, but 'pajama pants' ?
- Thread starter winger
- Start date
Just found this thread, so a little late but:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoAMWnnz98w
This guy says it all.
My kids talked about this for days. I had never seen it before. Thanks for posting!
elaine
Not the way I would dress, but this seems like a major incident just for wearing baggy pants. Same too with the Hooter girl incident. Safety wise, I'd rather be sitting between baggy underwear pants and Hooter girl, than between trench coat and hidden face...
I've seen dozens of police storm an airplane after landing and escort away an elderly couple who complained when the flight attendants ran out of salads for sale before they reached them...
IMHO, the bigger story here is that flying sucks nowadays! A small incident can quickly escalate and spiral out of control and common sense seems lost in fear & panic. I've taken to driving anything less than 800 miles. And, when flying, I shut up and do as I'm told. This guy should have done the same. Afterwards, he could protest and complain outside the airport and I would applaud him for doing so. There is blame in this story to go around against us airways overreacting, if only he pulled up his pants and exited the plane first...
I've seen dozens of police storm an airplane after landing and escort away an elderly couple who complained when the flight attendants ran out of salads for sale before they reached them...
IMHO, the bigger story here is that flying sucks nowadays! A small incident can quickly escalate and spiral out of control and common sense seems lost in fear & panic. I've taken to driving anything less than 800 miles. And, when flying, I shut up and do as I'm told. This guy should have done the same. Afterwards, he could protest and complain outside the airport and I would applaud him for doing so. There is blame in this story to go around against us airways overreacting, if only he pulled up his pants and exited the plane first...
Me too. I remember wearing a grey suit and white gloves on my first flight when I was about 10 or so.
L
laurac260
I agree that the steward(esses) can be a little quick with the option to kick someone off the plane.
We were flying to Orlando, 18 month old and 7 year old in tow. (SW Air to be exact). I was back in the plane, struggling with the two kids while trying to put a car seat in (lots of fun in a packed plane with everyone trying to stow their luggage). No one offers to help you with this. DH was having similar issues trying to fold up the stroller in that tiny hallway while 50 people pushed past him. The stewardesses saw him there, and just stood and watched. When he complained that no one provided him any assistance the stewardess kicked him off the plane. I couldn't believe it! We had driven 90 minutes to catch a flight to disney and were kicked off! Or better yet, HE was kicked off. We could stay, like that was going to happen. I stood there shaking and in tears. How on earth do you kick off some little kid's daddy on their way to Disney, because he showed frustration over a stroller?
He went up to the stewardess and captain and calmly explained to them his disability, showed them all the documentation he had to carry to back it up, (he cannot go thru metal detectors because of two implanted devices and has to carry cards to show this) and was just questioning why he couldn't get any help. They said it was because he wasn't flagged as disabled. Ok fine. Atleast they let him stay on the plane.
So while I think it is a good idea that stewardesses can exercise their right to kick off someone because they deem them to be a safety threat, I don't think it's meant to use just because you (the stewardess) had a bad day.
The part about him not being flagged as disabled---I used to work in hotels. Similar to airlines, this is a hospitality industry. I wouldn't dare walk past a guest that was struggling with something and not offer assistance, whether that guest was in a wheelchair, or was 200 lbs of solid muscle. That's the problem. The airlines don't see themselves as a hospitality industry. I think they see themselves as "we are flying a plane. we are nice enough to let you buy a ticket and ride it. now sit down and shut up."
We were flying to Orlando, 18 month old and 7 year old in tow. (SW Air to be exact). I was back in the plane, struggling with the two kids while trying to put a car seat in (lots of fun in a packed plane with everyone trying to stow their luggage). No one offers to help you with this. DH was having similar issues trying to fold up the stroller in that tiny hallway while 50 people pushed past him. The stewardesses saw him there, and just stood and watched. When he complained that no one provided him any assistance the stewardess kicked him off the plane. I couldn't believe it! We had driven 90 minutes to catch a flight to disney and were kicked off! Or better yet, HE was kicked off. We could stay, like that was going to happen. I stood there shaking and in tears. How on earth do you kick off some little kid's daddy on their way to Disney, because he showed frustration over a stroller?
He went up to the stewardess and captain and calmly explained to them his disability, showed them all the documentation he had to carry to back it up, (he cannot go thru metal detectors because of two implanted devices and has to carry cards to show this) and was just questioning why he couldn't get any help. They said it was because he wasn't flagged as disabled. Ok fine. Atleast they let him stay on the plane.
So while I think it is a good idea that stewardesses can exercise their right to kick off someone because they deem them to be a safety threat, I don't think it's meant to use just because you (the stewardess) had a bad day.
The part about him not being flagged as disabled---I used to work in hotels. Similar to airlines, this is a hospitality industry. I wouldn't dare walk past a guest that was struggling with something and not offer assistance, whether that guest was in a wheelchair, or was 200 lbs of solid muscle. That's the problem. The airlines don't see themselves as a hospitality industry. I think they see themselves as "we are flying a plane. we are nice enough to let you buy a ticket and ride it. now sit down and shut up."
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When dealing with a flght crew on a plane or when dealing with the police you argue or complain at your own risk.
If a policeman tells you that you were speeding, rolled through a stop sign, etc you can either talk to them nicelly saying yes sir and no sir and accept your ticket or argue with them and get rude risking additional charges. I have seen people turn a simple traffic stop into an arrest because they had to show their butt (not literally like the guy on the plane). If you yell at them, call them names, or simply get belligerent you can be arrested. If you simply say I didn' think I was speeding could you give me a break you might get one. If you receive a ticket you feel you shouldn't have gotten, the place to argue yoiur case is in court, not on the side of the road.
Same thing on a plane. I was first class 2 years ago and the pilot came out to stretch his legs and use the restroom. When they leave the cockpit the stewardesses block the aisle and rest room with the meal cart to prevent anyone rushing the cockpit. The pilot flirted with a stewardess for 45 minutes while our first class rest room was blocked putting us to use the already crowded coach rest room. We also got zero drink or food service while the pilot had his social hour. I got madder and madder and was going to say something loud and rude. My wife said you know that if you get loud that they will have the police meet you at the gate and arrest you. I don't feel like waiting on luggage and then waiting to bail you out of jail. I shut up. When the pilot went back to the cabin the stewardess came by and I wrote down her name from her name tag and aske the name of the romeo pilot. She asked why I wanted it. I said as soon as I get home I am writing a complaint to the airline because for almost an hour of our 4 hour flight I did not get any first class drink, food, or rest room access that I paid extra for when I purchased my tickets because the pilot was flirting with you. She said he was not out that long I said I have the times documented and I will not discuss it with you, I will take it up with the airline after I return home. Had I raised holy hell like I wanted to I would have been met at the gate by security ad arrested. I had the option to do it but it would have been a stupid thing to do with an inevitable bad outcome. I instead (thanks to my wife) handled it correctly and got an apology from the airline and several 1000 flyer miles added to my account.
When getting mad and losing your cool on an airline, with an officer of the law, or in court you know that you are possibly making your situation much worse. If it is worth a nght in jail or being placed on a no fly list, go ahead and argue and complain on principle. Just make sure that as you sit in jail and/or miss your flight that your indignation and outrage are worth the consequences.
If a policeman tells you that you were speeding, rolled through a stop sign, etc you can either talk to them nicelly saying yes sir and no sir and accept your ticket or argue with them and get rude risking additional charges. I have seen people turn a simple traffic stop into an arrest because they had to show their butt (not literally like the guy on the plane). If you yell at them, call them names, or simply get belligerent you can be arrested. If you simply say I didn' think I was speeding could you give me a break you might get one. If you receive a ticket you feel you shouldn't have gotten, the place to argue yoiur case is in court, not on the side of the road.
Same thing on a plane. I was first class 2 years ago and the pilot came out to stretch his legs and use the restroom. When they leave the cockpit the stewardesses block the aisle and rest room with the meal cart to prevent anyone rushing the cockpit. The pilot flirted with a stewardess for 45 minutes while our first class rest room was blocked putting us to use the already crowded coach rest room. We also got zero drink or food service while the pilot had his social hour. I got madder and madder and was going to say something loud and rude. My wife said you know that if you get loud that they will have the police meet you at the gate and arrest you. I don't feel like waiting on luggage and then waiting to bail you out of jail. I shut up. When the pilot went back to the cabin the stewardess came by and I wrote down her name from her name tag and aske the name of the romeo pilot. She asked why I wanted it. I said as soon as I get home I am writing a complaint to the airline because for almost an hour of our 4 hour flight I did not get any first class drink, food, or rest room access that I paid extra for when I purchased my tickets because the pilot was flirting with you. She said he was not out that long I said I have the times documented and I will not discuss it with you, I will take it up with the airline after I return home. Had I raised holy hell like I wanted to I would have been met at the gate by security ad arrested. I had the option to do it but it would have been a stupid thing to do with an inevitable bad outcome. I instead (thanks to my wife) handled it correctly and got an apology from the airline and several 1000 flyer miles added to my account.
When getting mad and losing your cool on an airline, with an officer of the law, or in court you know that you are possibly making your situation much worse. If it is worth a nght in jail or being placed on a no fly list, go ahead and argue and complain on principle. Just make sure that as you sit in jail and/or miss your flight that your indignation and outrage are worth the consequences.
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Laura,
I am considered a senior citizen by many groups. I am tall (5'9") and look 40ish yo, due to genes, good skin, dark hair and alert eyes. I refuse to help any passenger who is trying to get a bag into the overhead - SWA has free baggage checking and the amount of luggage carried onto these planes is stupid. People want to run off the planes and get home without the 15 minutes wait for their luggage. SWA has a policy for ALL flight attendants to NOT help with any lifting of bags into the overheads - because of injuries! The exception is the DISABLE passengers.
I sit in the back of the plane and regularly see 20-30 yos who CAN NOT lift their own bag (many are way over 50lbs bags). They stand there and beg for help. It is amazing HOW many passengers do not help, because they can't get hurt due to no paid time off, limited medical coverage or they checked their under 50lbs bags like that person should have. One seatmate after takeoff told me about his friend who tore his rotator cluff by "helping" someone who didn't even say thanks with their bag. No, SWA didn't pay anything as he did it to help this individual, not under a request by a SWA employee. And if a bag does not get into the overhead, the flight attendant wheels it to the front hatch, to be gate checked by someone who is covered, trained and insured to handle luggage.
I am sorry you almost had your trip ruined. But almost all SWA flights to MCO are packed with other parents, just like you, with multiple small kids.
My sister when she travelled with 3 kids, she either invited a third adult or teenager to help her during the trip. It was just part of the cost in her plan to go on vacation.
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Phydeaux
TUG Member
You're asking everyone on this forum to believe that a flight attendant required a passenger to leave the aircraft for complaining they weren't getting help. And there will be those that believe this. I, however, am not one of them, and I find it insulting to do so. As a frequent flyer for more years than I care to admit, logging literally millions of air miles, I've seen a lot of behavior on an aircraft. I do NOT believe this story, and as everyone knows, there are 3 sides to every story. There's a pretty big slice of information missing in this one.
Going off on a tangent here but your post reminded me of the time we invited our children's babysitter to go with us to Disneyland. We drove. She entertained our children for the long car ride there and back. At the park, we divided our three children with the three adults (well, babysitter was a responsible teen). Each child got to ride what he or she wanted to ride without aruging about having to do what their siblings wanted to do. We'd meet up at a specified time for meals, switch kids and go off again for a couple of hours. At the end of each day, we gave the babysitter some free time to shop or do whatever she wanted.
DH and I still talk about how that was the smartest Disney vacation we had with smaller children.
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That's a little harsh. Some people are very short, and if the carry-on is their only luggage, what's the problem? Some people are elderly, and if being able to walk off the plane directly to their transportation with one piece of luggage makes their lives easier, why not assist them? You don't know everyone's story.
I will help unless it is truly obvious the baggage is overweight or oversized and the person is trying to skirt the rules. A kindness usually gets passed on by the recipient.
I've seen enough snarky, bitchy flight attendants to believe that Laura's story could easily be real. And I don't fly that often.
While I agree with Tombo that you make a scene at your own risk, I also consider the job of flight attendant as one where you're suposed to keep a smile on your face and be as helpful and pleasant as possible at all times. They are the ambassadors of the airlines -- God knows they do little else these days. I already know how to fasten my seat belt and find the exit aisle, thank you.
I've seen numerous flight attendants that should be canned, and probably would be if the CEO of the airline got to witness their snotty behavior.
I believe it. It passes the plausibility test. I've flown a fraction of the miles you claim to have flown, and witnessed first hand how quickly some stuff can escalate. There is little to no counterbalance remaining to prevent a lone flight attendant (or especially the 'junk grabbing' TSA agent, or even the post flight baggage claim rep) exercising their absolute authority towards the smallest of infractions. While I expect most employees are good employees, and most passengers are on their best of all keep-their-mouth-shut-grin-and-bear-it behaviors, enough people fly everyday so that these overreacting incidents happen all the time. Over the past few years, the pendulum has swung too far against the basic rights and dignity of law abiding passengers. The hospitality and enjoyment in flying is nothing of what it once was. Terror fears and bottom lines have conspired to strip away the frills.
Have you thought about? -
1. People don't want to pay extra for a checked bag.
2. People don't want their checked bag damaged, mishandled or lost in transit.
3. People know the airlines have put enough bureaucracy and obstacles in place to minimize and eliminate reasonable claims for damage.
I've experienced firsthand, ridiculous checked bag damage with SWA - bag and contents totally water soaked and destroyed - and they put enough obstacles, complete exclusions to the most expensive items damaged and hassles to document my claim, where it wasn't worth my time and aggravation, so I finally gave up and accepted my loss. I estimate they did about $250 in damages. Years back, if this had happened, a baggage claim agent would look at the damage and make a reasonable offer right then and there to correct it. No more. Now, I check only cheap clothes and toiletries, stuff I can afford to lose and a plan of what to do in the event that it happens on the way to my destination. I pack as light as possible too!
Couldn't agree more. While there are undoubtedly many airline passengers who need to be treated harshly, there are also numerous employees who abuse the "power" they've been given, especially post 9/11.
Phydeaux
TUG Member
Sure, a passenger struggling with their carry on asks for help from the flight attendant, and instead the flight attendant removes the passenger from the aircraft. Uh huh. Sounds perfectly reasonable.
Except it doesn't to me. The backlash from other passengers would have exacerbated the problem, or is that also difficult to believe?
Except it doesn't to me. The backlash from other passengers would have exacerbated the problem, or is that also difficult to believe?
Ridewithme38
TUG Member
People don't really step up like that anymore...Everyone has been programmed to sort of 'sit down and shut up' they've been taught that if they try to fight the system they can't win, people just don't believe they matter or can make a difference anymore
This country has swung full circle from the time when people knew their neighbors and stopped to let old women walk across the street, now we check websites for child molesters and don't let our kids walk down the block to the park alone and speed up so we can get through the intersection before the old lady gets there...It's gotten to the point women are suprised when i hold the door for them
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And it has gotten to the point where some feel that they can play their music loud, use profanity in public, and can sag their pants showing their underwear because they want to no matter how many it offends.
Ridewithme38
TUG Member
:rofl:
Or wear socks with Sandals, drive really slow and use phrases like 'you know in my day' also no matter how many people it offends
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This is sad but true.
My mother-in-law flew to Kauai by herself this last trip. We had FF seats on USAirways and booked months before she decided to go, and she booked on American Airlines with Rick's brother's FF miles. She is 83 and looks really tiny and frail. She gets lots of help from people but will not take the help, and this time she had seat mates, who not only insisted on raising her small carryon bag, but they also made sure she got to her connecting flight, which ironically was their flight. (They also shared their snacks with her.) She sat next to them again, which is amazing for assigned seating.
And coincidentally, we went to the welcome breakfast the next morning at our beloved Shearwater on the North Shore, very small resort for Kauai, and there they were, the same two guys, sitting at breakfast as we entered.
I wish her return flight was not good. It just didn't go well at all. She had a difficult time getting help with her bag, she almost missed her connection, we think she fell asleep (it was an all nighter from Kauai to LAX). She was treated poorly, when she went to board the plane and the attendant wasn't there to get her ticket. The woman was rude and told her not to get on the plane without giving her ticket. She arrived back and couldn't find her bag. She was a wreck.
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You will do it too. You think you won't, but you will find yourself doing the same. Life is changing, and it won't be long before you say something like, "Back in the day, I had to use a pencil to take a test," or, "I had to walk to the mailbox in the snow to get the mail," and there were actually people who wore uniforms and delivered mail to every home," or, "I used to get a newspaper thrown on my driveway every single day." And your kids will think, or say out loud, "So?"
They will disrespect your history. That's what you will think. You will say, "That was really disrespectful, when I was trying to relate to you what life used to be like."
I read the Little House books to my kids, when they were small, and they were amazed at how different life was back then. Horses for transportation, trains just coming through the smaller towns, and the telegraph was the only way to get news quickly from relatives far away.
We had telephones growing up, but not everyone had one. Calling long distance was expensive. We had cars, and we drove only to Nebraska for vacation. Planes were so expensive, only the rich could fly.
And now life is so different for our kids. There are now computers in every home, and video phones are old hat, with Skype available. And flying is cheap and widely available, lots of options, many airlines.
Life will be different for your kids, and they won't like it when you point it out.
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It's been my experience that people just don't care about anything that doesn't impact them immediately. They aren't "programmed" to think they can't make a difference any more than people were generations ago. If anything, as you have pointed out time and time again, they defy authority just for the sake of defying authority.
Nope, people are too immersed in self to pay any attention to what goes on around them. Our television and movie entertainment is often centered on rude and tasteless jokes.
It isn't that people don't care. It's that they only care about themselves. (And seem to think everybody else should care about them, too.)
Maybe it is because I am from the south and even more importantly small town south (big cities in the south become more impersonal like they do everywhere), or possibly because of how I was raised, but I will always help someone who is young, old, small, weak, etc whether they are male or female with their luggage. I too open doors for women and the elderly. I say hi to total strangers. When a woman is broken down on the highway I stop to help. Not saying I am anything special, it is just what you do according to what I have aklways been taught.
A couple of years ago i saw a lady in a new Cadillac with a flat on the edge of the interstate. I stopped and offered to change the tire for her. I would hope that someone would do the same someday for my daughter or wife. She said thanks so much, i wouldn't have a clue how to change it. It was upper 90's and I was dressed business casual, but I did it anyway. I was covered with sweat and questioning why I stopped about half way through. I was filthy and had black marks on my shirt and khakis that never totally came out. I felt good though that I had helped this lady in distress. After I put the flat in her trunk she said I guess I had better get back on Onstar and tell them to cancel the wrecker that is on the way to change my tire. It is a free service you get with a Cadillac. I almost said a string of bad words. I instead said have a great day. She said thanks. I said you are welcome and drove away. That good feeling of doing good for others totally left me.
Sometimes it is true that no good deed goes unpunished, but in spite of that I will stop to help stranded woman motorists again in the future. The next time I will make sure that they don't have AAA or Onstar before changing the tire though.
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Tombo, I am not saying there aren't helpful people. I am saying that as a whole our society has become less willing to help others. Maybe for the reason you gave (or similar ones where the good samaritan gets burned). I think it is also because we just don't "see" need. We get wrapped up in our own cares and agendas and don't pay attention to what is around us. We are stressed and in a hurry.
I was responding to Ride's post. It's not that we don't get involved because we are programmed not to resist authority. We don't get involved for numerous other reasons based on being lost in our own little worlds.
I see struggling with a child seat and/or stroller as a lot different than trying to lift a huge bag into the overhead.
DH and I would absolutely help with the stroller, seat, and/or children, and I expect that my older kids would too. If they didn't, I'd nudge them in that direction and say "go help". If I saw an older, small, and/or otherwise possibly less strong person having luggage problems, I'd nudge my DS over to help. It's the way we were raised and the way we raised our kids.
If I was enduring the lack of food/drink/restroom while the pilot/flight attendant were flirting or gabbing, first class OR coach, I'd politely say "excuse me, but I really need to use the bathroom" or "Could you please get me some (whatever)", or maybe smile and say "Yikes, if you're out here, who's flying the plane???" as a reminder.
Only once did I get a tad mouthy with a passenger.....she was a tarted-up 40-something, black cocktail dress cut low at the top and high at the bottom, high stiletto heels, tons of make-up, with the cutest sweetest little boy, maybe 10. She spent most of her time flirting loudly and drunkenly with the passenger unfortunately stuck next to her and complaining to the stewardesses about just about everything, especially being in coach while she was (supposedly) supposed to be in first class; her little boy wanted to hold her hand or get a hug or go to the bathroom, and she mostly either ignored him or told him to be quiet or said "Stop touching me, you know I don't like to be touched".
Passengers all around were rolling their eyes and giving her looks and saying "shhhhh" - even the little boy was asking mommy to please be quiet. Finally she started whining about why were people being mean to her and I turned around and said "because you are making a complete fool of yourself and embarrassing your son." Some people actually applauded me! She shut up for a while, but in the luggage area, there she was flirting with men, drinking, and ignoring her son. Sad. Poor kid.
DH and I would absolutely help with the stroller, seat, and/or children, and I expect that my older kids would too. If they didn't, I'd nudge them in that direction and say "go help". If I saw an older, small, and/or otherwise possibly less strong person having luggage problems, I'd nudge my DS over to help. It's the way we were raised and the way we raised our kids.
If I was enduring the lack of food/drink/restroom while the pilot/flight attendant were flirting or gabbing, first class OR coach, I'd politely say "excuse me, but I really need to use the bathroom" or "Could you please get me some (whatever)", or maybe smile and say "Yikes, if you're out here, who's flying the plane???" as a reminder.
Only once did I get a tad mouthy with a passenger.....she was a tarted-up 40-something, black cocktail dress cut low at the top and high at the bottom, high stiletto heels, tons of make-up, with the cutest sweetest little boy, maybe 10. She spent most of her time flirting loudly and drunkenly with the passenger unfortunately stuck next to her and complaining to the stewardesses about just about everything, especially being in coach while she was (supposedly) supposed to be in first class; her little boy wanted to hold her hand or get a hug or go to the bathroom, and she mostly either ignored him or told him to be quiet or said "Stop touching me, you know I don't like to be touched".
Passengers all around were rolling their eyes and giving her looks and saying "shhhhh" - even the little boy was asking mommy to please be quiet. Finally she started whining about why were people being mean to her and I turned around and said "because you are making a complete fool of yourself and embarrassing your son." Some people actually applauded me! She shut up for a while, but in the luggage area, there she was flirting with men, drinking, and ignoring her son. Sad. Poor kid.
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Phydeaux
TUG Member
Since a few have shared their stories, here's one of mine. While waiting at the gate for the arrival of the inbound aircraft that would be my outbound flight, the gate agent made an announcement explaining a crew member on the inbound was injured. Since the same crew was to accompany the outbound flight, the agent wanted outbound passengers to know that if the flight attendant was unable to make the outbound due to her injury, all passengers would need to be rebooked to a different flight because they are required to have the appropriate number of attendants to fly.
When the aircraft arrived, the flight attendant was pushed off the aircraft in a wheelchair, in obvious pain. I quickly stepped up to the desk for rebooking, but was behind a couple that whined and complained to the agent about their need to be booked on another aircraft. Apparently they felt flight attendants should be available on call at a moments notice. Typical infrequent flyer, novice misconception. I digress.
After their verbal assault, they left, and I immediately apologized for these strangers rude behaviour, and commented how it must be difficult to remain courteous toward such idiots. She seemed to appreciate my empathy. I was on my way a short time later, and got home an hour or two late.
Several days later, I received a hand written round trip voucher to fly anywhere free. I wondered if the obnoxious couple received one. Doubt that...
Yes, there are rude flight attendants, but my experience over many journeys is that the majority are professional, polite and accommodating, considering the crap they have to put up with day in and day out. I wouldn't want their job for a minute, and that's just one reason I treat them with the utmost respect and courtesy. Hopefully it offsets just a bit that they get from others that just don't get it.
When the aircraft arrived, the flight attendant was pushed off the aircraft in a wheelchair, in obvious pain. I quickly stepped up to the desk for rebooking, but was behind a couple that whined and complained to the agent about their need to be booked on another aircraft. Apparently they felt flight attendants should be available on call at a moments notice. Typical infrequent flyer, novice misconception. I digress.
After their verbal assault, they left, and I immediately apologized for these strangers rude behaviour, and commented how it must be difficult to remain courteous toward such idiots. She seemed to appreciate my empathy. I was on my way a short time later, and got home an hour or two late.
Several days later, I received a hand written round trip voucher to fly anywhere free. I wondered if the obnoxious couple received one. Doubt that...
Yes, there are rude flight attendants, but my experience over many journeys is that the majority are professional, polite and accommodating, considering the crap they have to put up with day in and day out. I wouldn't want their job for a minute, and that's just one reason I treat them with the utmost respect and courtesy. Hopefully it offsets just a bit that they get from others that just don't get it.