Comments on: You remind me of a terrorist http://www.elliott.org/blog/you-remind-me-of-a-terrorist/ Consumer advocate Christopher Elliott's site. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:25:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Ed Kummel http://www.elliott.org/blog/you-remind-me-of-a-terrorist/comment-page-1/#comment-2048 Ed Kummel Thu, 20 Apr 2006 00:06:30 +0000 http://beta.elliott.org/photos/you-remind-me-of-a-terrorist/#comment-2048 Years ago, my father worked to Pan Am Airways. One day, during the Iran Hostage problem, there was a person of obvious middle-eastern decent on the airplane. Withoug warning, he gets up during the taxiing, unfolds a towel, kneels down and starts to pray. The passengers, thinking that this person was praying because he was going to die while blowing up the plane (there were hi-jack issues during this time period as well and people were on edge) Jumped on this man and subdued him until the plane could get back to the terminal. The middle-eastern man could speak little english, and it wasn't until a translator arrived that they discovered that he was a devout muslim and he prayed at specific times during the day. The taxiing happened to coinside with one of his praying times.... Best of intentions, but I say better safe than sorry... Ed Years ago, my father worked to Pan Am Airways. One day, during the Iran Hostage problem, there was a person of obvious middle-eastern decent on the airplane. Withoug warning, he gets up during the taxiing, unfolds a towel, kneels down and starts to pray.
The passengers, thinking that this person was praying because he was going to die while blowing up the plane (there were hi-jack issues during this time period as well and people were on edge) Jumped on this man and subdued him until the plane could get back to the terminal. The middle-eastern man could speak little english, and it wasn’t until a translator arrived that they discovered that he was a devout muslim and he prayed at specific times during the day. The taxiing happened to coinside with one of his praying times….
Best of intentions, but I say better safe than sorry…
Ed

]]> By: Stuart P. "Stu" Needel http://www.elliott.org/blog/you-remind-me-of-a-terrorist/comment-page-1/#comment-2047 Stuart P. "Stu" Needel Thu, 20 Apr 2006 00:06:16 +0000 http://beta.elliott.org/photos/you-remind-me-of-a-terrorist/#comment-2047 Hey Chris, No surprises here. Even though I mostly fly Delta, I watch Southwest with interest. They ARE known for their great customer service, but it exists at the level of patronizing passengers. Their TLC and comedy seem to be intended remedies to keep the masses that travel with them content and calm. The "Airline" show on A&E (or is it Bravo?) that in one sense "showcases" them, also doesn't hide the MANY incidious situations that they put themselves in with gateside "procedures" for denying boarding, compensation for overbooking, not rebooking on other airlines. In addition, they seem particular obsessed with policing the blood-alcohol content of every passenger. They seem to savor the opportunity of delaying or denying boarding to anyone who even remotely seems under the alcofluence of incohol. :) Stay tuned for Part 2: "You Look Like a Drunk Terrorist. Keep up the great work, my boy!! Stu Needel Hey Chris,

No surprises here. Even though I mostly fly Delta, I watch Southwest with interest. They ARE known for their great customer service, but it exists at the level of patronizing passengers. Their TLC and comedy seem to be intended remedies to keep the masses that travel with them content and calm.

The “Airline” show on A&E (or is it Bravo?) that in one sense “showcases” them, also doesn’t hide the MANY incidious situations that they put themselves in with gateside “procedures” for denying boarding, compensation for overbooking, not rebooking on other airlines. In addition, they seem particular obsessed with policing the blood-alcohol content of every passenger. They seem to savor the opportunity of delaying or denying boarding to anyone who even remotely seems under the alcofluence of incohol. :)

Stay tuned for Part 2: “You Look Like a Drunk Terrorist.

Keep up the great work, my boy!!
Stu Needel

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