Jet Blue Flight Attendant Steven Slater: Is he a Hero to Airline Workers

By The Flying Pinto

Aug 15, 2010 Filed Under: flight attendants

I know, I know you’re probably all Steven Slatered out by now. But, there’s bigger news! I was published by the Wall Street Journal:

I headed to the airport on Monday having just heard about JetBlue flight attendant Steven Slater’s now famous jump to freedom. I expected a reaction, but not the phenomena that has followed. In the crew room, I could hear everyone sharing the news. The story was still unbelievable to me, and to everyone else. One fellow flight attendant didn’t believe me when I told her, another heard it and thought there must be more to the story — and, indeed, investigators are questioning the account.

But, mostly the reaction was the same: “I love this!” “Good for him!” “He’s my Hero!”

So, why do flight attendants feel this way? Do we really think that Steven Slater is a hero?

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9 comments

  1. graham.flannigan @ 2010-08-15 14:13

    Having just retired from 40 years working at International airports I can understand and applaud Steve. He did what we all wanted to do from time to time when confronted by 'The Beast'. The fact is that the real problem is not the passengers or the staff. Both parties have to manage the same problem which is the nonsense that air travel and airports have created in the last twenty years or so.

    Someone somewhere would have to get back some of the glamour of the old days into present day travel. To do that of course we would have to bring the fares out of the 1980's to pay for realistic quality travel and that is the real problem.

    Both staff and passengers know that they are getting what they pay for so either put up or shut up. Sad to say!

  2. Anonymous @ 2010-08-15 15:49

    You were also mentioned in the Sunday Times

  3. lisleman @ 2010-08-15 19:33

    Wow congrats on the WSJ piece.
    You'll have the PX's asking for autographs soon.

  4. Joanna Jenkins @ 2010-08-16 01:02

    The Sunday Times? Which one? NY or LA? I have both and want to see it!
    Good for you.
    jj

  5. christina @ 2010-08-16 16:17

    While I understand what he did, I am a little confused about the whole story. I am a 13 year flight attendant and actually get a kick out of the A88hole passengers. I have more fun either trying to make them happy or telling them in a not always PC manner how they are being such, with a smile of course.

    What I did hear is how he is an alcoholic. Is this true and why was he still a flight attendant? I am really sick of flying with people that hate their job or blame "the company" with their unhappiness. Leave. Please. Go out on medical or something until you regain your sanity. My airline sucks. They treat the passengers like crap, they treat the employees like crap. BUT, when that door closes, it's all about me and the passengers and how I can make all of our day better. They don't pay me enough to have a bad time and I refuse to anyone do so.

    It's not the glamorous olden days, it's the thank goodness you have a job days. It's the up in the sky away from the rain and the heat and the snow and the office politics days.

    Is this whole Slater thing all about the fact that a passenger dropped a bag on his head? Did the pax do it on purpose? Slater could have used that gash on his head to call a medical, go home and have a nice day off instead he freaked out causing himself to be fired/quit when he could have just personally told the pax off and still kept his job, if he wanted it that is.

  6. Mark Lawrence @ 2010-08-17 00:53

    I understand the "snapping" part, but in some other discussions that I have had with some people in the industry, there have been some cool reactions – and I can understand why: the one stand is – he deserted the other members of his crew – my understanding is that a crew consists of cabin and flight crew – that makes the total crew for a flight – well – by doing what he did, he deserted the rest of the crew and left them in a situation where they were left unprotected by one member. The other is, the length for which the aircraft was left out of service – in this case, it was 3 days – to repack the slide, reset the systems and test – that is taking (albeit a small part) of the profitability of the airline – which ultimately pays the salaries.

    Just another point of view….

  7. Skywaitress @ 2010-08-17 04:37

    I don't understand why so many flight attendants consider him a hero. I consider it part of my job to handle difficult passengers. My problem solving skills are actually something I'm very proud of.

    Yeah, the passenger was way out of line. She should have been reported and something should have been done. Jumping out of the airplane did nothing but punish the crew and other innocent passengers.

    A lot of people feel differently but to me, throwing a diva temper tantrum doesn't make anyone my hero.

  8. Kathi @ 2010-08-22 03:42

    Hi! I am new to your blog, but I love hearing flight attendant stories. I secretly always wanted to be one. 🙂
    Im following, so I will be back!
    Kathi 🙂

  9. Muso @ 2010-09-21 07:05

    Thanks for all the good work you and your colleagues do. Just returned from a round the world trip. Good people helped me on the flights.Have now completed the blog at http://www.myamazingpeople.com