Passenger refused carriage

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Batesy

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Sep 21, 2005
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Bit of a story here.
Last Friday I was scheduled to fly from Sydney to Albury with Qantas. The flight was orginally scheduled to depart at 18:55, but was delayed till 8:30pm, due to some storms. No problem for me, can't do anything about it so I sat back in the T2 QP with Mrs Batesy and chatted to another person who happened to be on the same flight.

When the flight was finally called a man (or idiot, moron, tool) who had clearly had one beer to many abused the QP staffer behind the counter, about the flight being delayed. He swore at her and left. (I did not see this, but my wife did) The staffer clearly did not deserve to treated in such a manner and picked up the phone as we left the lounge.

I did not know what the bloke, or idiot looked like but when we got on the bus to take us to the plane my wife made me move to the back to be away from him, which I couldnt really. I figured out who he was very quickly as he was loud, rude and clearly drunk. Several people asked him to be quiet, including myself, I had some temporary luck with him, but it was short lived. Anyway after being told to shut it by at least 5 people the federal police turned up, asked him to get off the bus, took down my wife's details and also those of the other man from the QP. The QF gate staff informed us that he would not be travelling, but that we would now be delayed as they had to get his bags off the plane.
Finally departed a bit after 21:00 two hours late.

We all had a laugh about it, particularly the passenger who would have been seated next to him and myself as I was seated in front of him.

I was wondering what would happen to the passenger. Would he be locked up for the night, charged with an offence or even not be allowed to fly with QF agaim???
 
Just had a chat to an AFP mate of mine and he tells me that it is most likely that the gentleman in question would have spent some time on a bench in the police station then sent on his way. He would have only been arrested if he refused to accompany the officers.

It appears he committed no arrestable offence though was deemed by QF to be a risk. The QP attendant called the AFP and they intercepted the gentleman on the bus. Good move from her (and QF's) point of view as a blue uniform complete with baton and CS spray tends to sober most people up pretty quickly.

The AFP have a very good relationship with the airlines and the AFP will always back up the airlines in refusal of carriage. If you are really interested see the Aviation Transport Security Act. Airside event provisions.

From my point of view QF and AFP did the correct thing. I have no desire to be in a small metal tube with someone that I would cross the street to avoid on a Sat. night. Why he was allowed to get that drunk in the QP is another question.
 
Presumably he was not loud and rude and attracting peoples attention in the QP and hence could get drunk without anybody taking any notice.

Oh well i guess it happens and good move by the staff member.

E
 
I don't think anyone would want to be on a flight with a person behaving that way especially seated next to them.

Was he a member of the Qantas Lounge or a status passenger? It would be interesting to find out if he will have his Qantas Lounge membership suspended or cancelled....
 
JohnK said:
I don't think anyone would want to be on a flight with a person behaving that way especially seated next to them.

Was he a member of the Qantas Lounge or a status passenger? It would be interesting to find out if he will have his Qantas Lounge membership suspended or cancelled....

I dont know what gave him access, I certainly did not see his boarding pass.
 
JohnK said:
I don't think anyone would want to be on a flight with a person behaving that way especially seated next to them.
Agree completely.

JohnK said:
Was he a member of the Qantas Lounge or a status passenger? It would be interesting to find out if he will have his Qantas Lounge membership suspended or cancelled....
We have only heard one side of the story here so we probably should not judge without knowing the other. Haven't we all made mistakes at one time or the other. (well I have anyway!)
 
Straitman,

I agree with you, i am not sure what the issue was but everybody can have an off day, atleast there was nothing physical. I only was saying that at this time the staff member made the correct decision.

I am just waiting for somebody here to post to say it was them.... :eek:

E
 
sr81 said:
It appears he committed no arrestable offence though was deemed by QF to be a risk. The QP attendant called the AFP and they intercepted the gentleman on the bus. Good move from her (and QF's) point of view as a blue uniform complete with baton and CS spray tends to sober most people up pretty quickly.

Gee, you're quick to judge. I suppose you might also condone the routine use of Mace on prisoners at the Canberra lockup (check the ABC/Canberra Times for details). Doesn't matter if they're guilty, or anything.

Hopefully it won't happen to you at some stage in the future (you can never be sure though). Maybe not in Oz with your connections, but watch out when travelling overseas.

Just a friendly thought...
 
clifford said:
Gee, you're quick to judge. I suppose you might also condone the routine use of Mace on prisoners at the Canberra lockup (check the ABC/Canberra Times for details). Doesn't matter if they're guilty, or anything.

Hopefully it won't happen to you at some stage in the future (you can never be sure though). Maybe not in Oz with your connections, but watch out when travelling overseas.

Just a friendly thought...

I read an article/thread somewhere, where a guy on AA claimed to have placed an empty can on a trolley as it was wheeled past, and the FA's had the cops waiting at arrival to arrest him for assaulting her because she believed he threw the can at her.
 
I would have interpreted that comment as suggesting that the deterrent effect of the uniform AND accoutrements was the key...
 
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clifford said:
Gee, you're quick to judge. I suppose you might also condone the routine use of Mace on prisoners at the Canberra lockup (check the ABC/Canberra Times for details). Doesn't matter if they're guilty, or anything.

Hopefully it won't happen to you at some stage in the future (you can never be sure though). Maybe not in Oz with your connections, but watch out when travelling overseas.

Just a friendly thought...

Easy there! Not condoning any such action just making the point that a blue uniform tends to change the dynamic of any situation be it a car accident or domestic violence case.

Also, please don't assume that my 'connections' are not anything but honest and upstanding. You have no right to do anything of the sort.

I have had a weapon pulled on me by a policeman in New Mexico (got out of the car after being pulled over for speeding) so I know the feeling. It is not fun though does make a cracking travel story once home.

Back on topic. I think it is fair to assume that we all have off days but if you can't keep your mouth shut after fellow passengers on the bus ask you to quiet down then you are in no fit state to fly.
 
sr81 said:
Easy there! Not condoning any such action just making the point that a blue uniform tends to change the dynamic of any situation be it a car accident or domestic violence case.

Also, please don't assume that my 'connections' are not anything but honest and upstanding. You have no right to do anything of the sort.

I have had a weapon pulled on me by a policeman in New Mexico (got out of the car after being pulled over for speeding) so I know the feeling. It is not fun though does make a cracking travel story once home.

Back on topic. I think it is fair to assume that we all have off days but if you can't keep your mouth shut after fellow passengers on the bus ask you to quiet down then you are in no fit state to fly.

The appearance of "the Feds" certainly did make him react in a more contrite manner. Once I pointed out to him that they were the police and not just security guards he promptly stepped off the bus. His mouthing off was complete. The main reason I started this thread was to find out what might happen to the refused passenger as we were all talking about this on the plane in our short flight to Albury.
 
Batesy said:
Once I pointed out to him that they were the police and not just security guards he promptly stepped off the bus. His mouthing off was complete.

What a hero, huh? Good on the QF staffer for calling the Feds - as far as I am concerned, if you wanna be a drunk, arrogant dikhead, then someone SHOULD call the police. People who indulge in intimidating and antisocial behaviour often get away with it because the target of their abuse is happy to let it go, just to have it over with. On this occasion the target thought "scr3w you, mate," and did the right thing. There should be more of it.
 
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