In flight service - mild over reaction!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-30375004

Omg that is ridiculous!!!

I think that could be the ultimate "Don't You Know Who I Am".

I think that could be the ultimate "Don't You Know Who I Am".

Reminds me of one of those "Airport" type programs on TV that was filmed in China. A senior Communist Party / Military official just arrived at the gate for an internal flight with his family [no reservation] and demanded to be let onboard. The flight was full and there was a full scale punch-up in the gate area.

oh wow!!!
there are NO words lol except maybe......perspective? no? lol wow

I know that is her "day job" but she was a passenger in this case!!

I could also add - at least Korean serve nuts onboard (I'd much prefer a bowl of nuts with the G&T as opposed to a bowl with about 4 crisps in).

Yes, I know there is the whole nut allergy argument - but Virgin do state on their website that whilst nuts are not served onboard, nut free flights cannot be guaranteed as anyone can bring a bag onboard. Also, how do you know that the last person in your seat was not eating nuts and wiping their hands on the seat?

I bet the pilot only backed her because they wanted to keep their jobs.

Am all for checking on service standards etc but that was not the way to do it.

do you think she did the 'my dad owns the airline' thing?

I bet the pilot only backed her because they wanted to keep their jobs.

Am all for checking on service standards etc but that was not the way to do it.

do you think she did the 'my dad owns the airline' thing?

she definitely did!!!

Suspect there's a cultural thing with Korean society here which we're not aware of in the western world.

I suspect there was a lot of "do you know who my dad is.." going on...but I suspect she did it simply because she could, and probably felt all the more powerful for it.

There is a degree to which one needs to bare in mind potential cultural factors at play...

But still, what a .....!

All sounds a bit strange as nuts etc usually served after take off not while taxiing and could they take off with the crew a person short.

Eat your heart out Leona Helmsley ):

Put it this way:

If you owned your own business where you were responsible for carting 400 people in a metal tube around the world, and you became aware that one of the people that you entrusted to manage and maintain the standards of your, premium and high paying guests was not able to adequately discharge that role, would you allow him to continue on that flight?

What if his lack of knowledge about the service standards pointed to a deeper lack of understanding on safety concerns possibly even filtering down to his crew?

My take on the situation was that she was probably right to set an example!!

Put it this way:

If you owned your own business where you were responsible for carting 400 people in a metal tube around the world, and you became aware that one of the people that you entrusted to manage and maintain the standards of your, premium and high paying guests was not able to adequately discharge that role, would you allow him to continue on that flight?

What if his lack of knowledge about the service standards pointed to a deeper lack of understanding on safety concerns possibly even filtering down to his crew?

My take on the situation was that she was probably right to set an example!!

I think you're over reacting. A more appropriate response, if it really was that serious in not serving nuts on a plate, would be to ensure the FA had training and mentoring.

That said, why was she demanding nuts on a plate as the plane was taxiing?

I don't know about the crew member receiving mentoring slinky, I think the lady needs to see her analyst!

The article does state that it was the Senior FA she ordered off the plane, not the junior who served the nuts (Dare I call this thread Nutgate alas I fear I might incite the rage of people from the Annoyances thread ) but I read it that she was not impressed at the Seniors ability to manage the standards?

The article does state that it was the Senior FA she ordered off the plane, not the junior who served the nuts (Dare I call this thread Nutgate alas I fear I might incite the rage of people from the Annoyances thread ) but I read it that she was not impressed at the Seniors ability to manage the standards?

I'm with Slinky on this ColOrd, and whilst I can see your point, I can't agree that her response was an appropriate reaction, regardless even of cultural values or differences highlighted up thread. As a business owner with employees providing a service, albeit not in the same league, not even in travel, but a service provision that involves peoples' welfare, it's a completely inappropriate reaction. I note that Korean aviation authorities are investigating the legality of her actions too given that she was a PAX, and there's also the fact that it was the senior CC she ordered off the plane for the junior's mistake - from any point of view getting rid of the (ones assumes) more highly trained and experienced staff member isn't good, and potentially exposes the company to risk if there is later a problem in flight and inadequate leadership / skilled staff. I think we can reasonably assume that whilst she's fully au fait with service standards she's not gone through the training that CC have, but I'm open to being pleasantly surprised!

It's also what makes me think she was having a power trip hissy fit, and were I a PAX on that flight and aware of what happened I'd lose confidence in the company based on her actions not the CC.

Maybe she took over as Purser?

I see your points, it will be very interesting to see what the outcome of the investigation will be if anything is ever published on it.

Given that JFK is known for long take-off queues (an hour can be quite normal when it's busy) maybe Korean offer pre-takeoff nuts to premium pax to go with their champagne?

That would certainly explain why this pax threw a hissy-fit on taxi over the presentation of the nuts. Crazy. And this plane is from South Korea, which is relatively moderate. Had it been North Korea the crew member would have been kept onboard and "disappeared" on arrival in North Korea [under military escort no doubt].

http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/busines ... 1320F.html

This article gives a tiny bit more depth to the story and yes it does seem like a hissy fit on her part!!

That's nuts!

Sorry

That's nuts!

Sorry

I've been waiting for that one haha! y)

#Nutgate

She has resigned (but no doubt daddy will find her another job)

#Nutgate

She has resigned (but no doubt daddy will find her another job)

I'd say that was a good result!

Nah, not really, but obviously very embarrassing for her family and the company. Of course, it makes one wonder how many other misdemeanours she's gotten away with and whether this is the proverbial straw...

She's resigned her portfolio as head of in-flight service, but is still a senior vice-president.

KAL is part of Hanjin, a family-controlled chaebol; it's virtually impossible to actually resign from the firm if you're in the family.

#nutgate: love it!

Also, I think the subeditor in that Reuters link, above, was having some fun with the headline: "First class macadamia nut case..."