Delta flight diverts on champagne request

[DieselDragRacer]

A Delta Air Lines flight from Atlanta to Costa Rica diverted to Tampa last night because of an unruly German couple, The Associated Press reports.The incident came on Delta Flight 413, which departed Atlanta at 6 p.m. ET before making the unscheduled stop in Tampa around 7:34 p.m.

ET. Delta spokeswoman Chris Kelly Singley tells AP that the "unruly" husband and wife were removed from the Delta 757 at that time.
ALSO ONLINE: Unruly Japanese flier pleads guilty in attendant assault
AP says the couple apparently was upset at meal service on the flight, writing:

Tampa International Airport spokeswoman Janet Zink identified the passengers as Peter and Gabriele Strohmaier of Dusseldorf, Germany. She said they were seated in first class and demanding food and champagne and refused to sit down.
Zink said no charges had been filled. The FBI and Transportation Security Administration were investigating.
​

The Strohmaiers, however, insist they were not being unruly. When reached by AP at a Tampa hotel, the couple said the attendant on the flight "exaggerated" the situation.

Peter Strohmaier says he "did nothing except to say I would like to have the meal and so on ... all normal things."

Then he asked for champagne, only to be told by attendant that there was no champagne left on the flight. That, according to Strohmaier, is when the trouble began.

He apparently voiced his displeasure about the absence of champagne, alleging the attendant responded by saying she did not like his attitude.

"I am not prepared to accept such behavior," he is quoted as saying by AP.
As for as the charge that they refused to sit down, Gabriele Strohmaier tells AP "we were not standing."

Another side of the story comes from Patch.com, which writes:

Jamaica Plain Patch local editor Chris Helms was on the flight. Helms corresponded via e-mail, "We've landed in Tampa for a person to be taken from the plane." Helms wrote that, according to a witness, the man was chastising a flight attendant and was warned they would land the plane if he didn't calm down.
​

As for the Strohmaiers, they tell the AP that they'll be taking another airline -- "naturally not Delta" -- to complete their trip to Costa Rica.
And, in a separate story involving an unruly flier on Delta, The Associated Press reports:

A 65-year-old Japanese man pleaded guilty Friday to assaulting a flight attendant aboard a Delta Air Lines flight from Tokyo to Honolulu, a federal prosecutor said.

Sohei Yamanouchi was expected to return to Tokyo on a Japan Airlines flight Friday. His passport would be returned after paying the $2,500 fine the judge ordered him to pay, Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Song said.

Yamanouchi hit the flight attendant once with an open hand and once with a closed fist after drinking four glasses of wine in business class during the Monday flight, according to a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court. A crew member also noted that Yamanouchi had a glass of champagne before the plane departed.

FULL STORY: Guilty plea in Delta flight assault; $2,500 fine
After the meal service, the flight attendant was speaking to a passenger sitting behind Yamanouchi about a media player that wasn't working. He then rose from his seat and struck the flight attendant on her left shoulder with an open palm, then punched the same shoulder, shook his fist at her in a "threatening manner," and told her to "shut up" in English, the complaint said.

He was escorted back to his seat and there were no other confrontations during the remainder of the flight.
​

 

[sat74]

Cabin crew in the US are out of control these days, trumping their perceived authority over simple customer service, especially in first class. I was on a UA flight to DXB and was shocked at the lack of service in biz class. After a horrendous meal service, the cat rachers were never seen again for the rest of the flight. Do that on an Asian or ME carrier and you will be fired.

 

[LearLove]

A Delta Air Lines flight from Atlanta to Costa Rica diverted to Tampa last night because of an unruly German couple

Damn Germans. First they bomb Pearl Harbor now this. Can't take them anywhere.

 

[labbats]

Cabin crew in the US are out of control these days, trumping their perceived authority over simple customer service, especially in first class. I was on a UA flight to DXB and was shocked at the lack of service in biz class. After a horrendous meal service, the cat rachers were never seen again for the rest of the flight. Do that on an Asian or ME carrier and you will be fired.

I agree. You can hear some of them verbally assault half the people boarding then those same FAs come up and tell you they are having trouble with a passenger. Of course you are. You're freaking rude to them. Meanwhile you never have a passenger issue with the nice FAs on board.

 

[shon7]

Cabin crew in the US are out of control these days, trumping their perceived authority over simple customer service, especially in first class. I was on a UA flight to DXB and was shocked at the lack of service in biz class. After a horrendous meal service, the cat rachers were never seen again for the rest of the flight. Do that on an Asian or ME carrier and you will be fired.

And then they wonder why the US industry is not competitive and blame everything but service!

 

[zonejumper]

Same old song and dance with you guys. It's ALWAYS the FAs fault....

 

[waveflyer]

Does the shoe fit zone? At least sometimes?
And I'm not antiFA- I've seen time and again the personal skill good FAs use to decompress altercations a bit, and how many times grumpy pax leave happy when the FAs really serve them and work hard to turn them around -
But you have to admit, we've all seen a whole lot of the opposite. Diffusion is a skill all FAs should have in droves- but many are way more into drama and escalation, taking cover under their union and the "primarily for your safety" card.

 

[labbats]

Same old song and dance with you guys. It's ALWAYS the FAs fault....

That's one way to see what we're saying. Another is to recognize what we're saying and see it as truth. I'm sure the view in the back for an entire flight would only underline our point.

 

[B727FA]

That's one way to see what we're saying. Another is to recognize what we're saying and see it as truth. I'm sure the view in the back for an entire flight would only underline our point.

But that's like saying "TBX is ALWAYS the pilots fault." A good one could slow down, request alt altitude, etc. (Point being: there are always people willing to judge the situation b/c they can "fly the plane better" or "handle the pax better" than the schmuck who is being criticized.)

Both statements are ridiculous. No matter the skill set displayed by either crew member, there are sometimes that the ride just sucks and there are sometimes that the pax suck.

Does that mean there aren't nasty a$$ crew out there on BOTH sides of the door? No--there are plenty.

In this case (TPA) however, I can believe the crews were spot on. DL isn't going to divert b/c of the innocent poor misunderstood pax not getting champagne. There is FAR more to this than that.

Don't turn this into an incompetent FA issue. The CA made the call in the end.

 

[outerlimits]

Same old song and dance with you guys. It's ALWAYS the FAs fault....

I agree, I think the pilots over reacted . It is not what I would have done.

 

[whymeworry?]

I agree, I think the pilots over reacted . It is not what I would have done.

Me either. I would've, at the most, passed word to the passenger that Costa Rican security detail will meet the aircraft on arrival if they don't pipe down. Unless and until someone gets physically assaulted, I see no reason to divert the aircraft and create more attention. But that's just me. And I wasn't there. Maybe there was more going on, like threats to the aircraft, etc.

 

[say again]

Same old song and dance with you guys. It's ALWAYS the FAs fault....

9/10 times it is!!!

 

[zonejumper]

But that's like saying "TBX is ALWAYS the pilots fault." A good one could slow down, request alt altitude, etc. (Point being: there are always people willing to judge the situation b/c they can "fly the plane better" or "handle the pax better" than the schmuck who is being criticized.)

Both statements are ridiculous. No matter the skill set displayed by either crew member, there are sometimes that the ride just sucks and there are sometimes that the pax suck.

Does that mean there aren't nasty a$$ crew out there on BOTH sides of the door? No--there are plenty.

In this case (TPA) however, I can believe the crews were spot on. DL isn't going to divert b/c of the innocent poor misunderstood pax not getting champagne. There is FAR more to this than that.

Don't turn this into an incompetent FA issue. The CA made the call in the end.

I wonder if YOU often wonder as I do, what would the reaction be if a pilot is assaulted by a disgruntled passenger as appears to be the case with the Japanese passenger?
Oh wait, there was a thread on here months back about an AA pilot, I believe, who was punched out by some miscreant. If memory serves me, ALL the dudes on here were calling for his head and "prosecution to the fullest extent of the law" AND deportation. Hmmmm. Double standard, much?
Also, as I continue to muse, why do all the dudes "assume" the offending FA is always a "cat rancher?" Oh I see, young FAs are incapable of rudeness, laziness and/or incompetence. Got it......
I realize there are miserable FAs. but more often than not, it's a passenger who starts the cycle. It really isn't that difficult to board a plane, sit down, listen to the instructions given by the FA, say "please and thank you," etc. I'm not excusing bad behavior by any FA, but this stupid talk about "power tripping" is waaay off. Most FAs are only doing their job, enforcing the FARs and trying not to lose their FAA certificate. When a passenger who thinks he/she is "special" for whatever reason starts the bad behavior, they then start crying about being "mistreated." Sorry, if you turn off your electronic devices the first or second time you're told OR buckle up your kid during turbulence and not tell a FA, "it's my child and I can't get him/her to sit down" maybe, just maybe things wouldn't turn south.

And, no, Wave I know you'd like to think I'm a nasty cat-rancher, as that fits your agenda, but I'm not.

 

[Flyer1015]

I would venture to say that 95% of the time a FA-passenger situation escalates, it's the FA who does it.

 

[waveflyer]

Zone, you assume too much about what I think.

I don't assume anything at all about you- but in 6 airlines; I certainly do believe you lack credibility when you automatically defend the FAs initial actions.

As for the 2nd half of the story- there is absolutely no double standard- im very protective of all my FAs, male & female, young & old- and it truly is irrelevant who escalated what once someone puts their hands on a crew. Full prosecution and hopefully a deserved beat down by a DHer, nonrev, or regular passenger.

I fully admit that many of my peers are flawed and lack respect towards FAs.
But you still dodged the question- I'm not talking about "cat-scratchers" (I'm not entirely sure I know what that means)
In talking about FAs who are lazy w/ bad attitudes who make the customer experience pretty bad- there are young, old, gay, straight, male and female who fit that description- - it IS rampant in legacy airlines, and as a professional FA you ought to recognize it and do something about it- bc I'll tell you what- I like that Swa fa's get paid well - they are the face of the airline and 4 out of 5 times pax leave happier than when they got on- even in less than ideal circumstances.
Legacy ceo's often get the FAs they earned by their treatment of them- it's a two way street that begins w/ mgmt. but to not admit that FAs often are rude and escalate things is burying your head in the sand. And no haters, Swa isn't immune we got our 10% that are bad and at least another 20% that are pretty apathetic and average

 

[zonejumper]

I would venture to say that 95% of the time a FA-passenger situation escalates, it's the FA who does it.

I'd venture to say you are wrong, and are one of those guys who avoids backing up a crew member at all costs. God forbid you should stick your neck out. I'm not surprised though, as you are a young regional guy.

Zone, you assume too much about what I think.

,

No, I'm just very perceptive and can read between the lines.



Oh, and I'm still waiting for the answer on how you feel about a fellow pilot being assaulted?
My original post forgot one major point. Do any of you actually think physically assaulting ANYONE for whatever reason (unless physically assaulted first) is okey-dokey? If so, I am speechless. That lesson was taught in the first day of pre-school, if not by your parents. NEVER touch anyone, EVER.
If you feel you've been mistreated by a FA, just do the mature thing and the thing that won't get you diverted, arrested, and/or prosecuted. Write an email or call the airline. Pretty simple if you ask me, but many of you have another agenda. I still wonder if you show your disdain and vitriol towards YOUR FAs. If not, I will again call you cowards and hypocrites. Pretty sad and pathetic, boys.

 

[waveflyer]

I answered Zone- iPhone Mis- touch posted my first sentence too soon-

 

[zonejumper]

I answered Zone- iPhone Mis- touch posted my first sentence too soon-

Just read it. I don't defend bad FAs, and I've been a passenger on some flights where I was mistreated or ignored. I've also worked with FAs with attitudes. However, you can't deny that waaaay too many guys (on FI, at least) are way off and automatically throw FAs under the bus., especially the older ones. It's another one of the age discrimination issues rearing its ugly head. You also have to agree that EVERY industry, especially customer-service ones, has bad apples.

For those of you geniuses who think ALL foreign airlines FAs are heads and shoulder above the rest haven't traveled the globe too much. I fly LH several times a month and they aren't the warm and fuzzy type. They are professional and are there to enforce FARs, plain and simple. That's not to say they don't go above and beyond. It's just not an automatic thing. You can't be a jackass passenger and expect to get anything more than the minimum. If you're polite and do what they request, they will show their appreciation. If you act the fool, you'll be dealt with..harshly!
I'm also tired of the "Asian and Middle-East airlines" argument. I'm sure you all realize (and shame on you if you don't) that Middle eastern countries don't respect females and they have to be subservient to men. Any of you want your women working for them? Asian FAs are always smiling and that's great, BUT guess what. Asian PASSENGERS know how to behave. You really can't compare airlines that are from countries that have very different cultural norms and values. Again, it's more of a "I like foreign airlines because they don't have FAs who are ollllddd and unpleasant to ogle."

 

[waveflyer]

I think you make excuses for your peers, zone. Most of us fly all over the world and have a whole lot of experience on many airlines. We aren't ignorant.
Bottom line, none of us were on either plane- and all are making gross generalizations

 

[zonejumper]

I think you make excuses for your peers, zone. Most of us fly all over the world and have a whole lot of experience on many airlines. We aren't ignorant.
Bottom line, none of us were on either plane- and all are making gross generalizations

True, but didn't the Japanese guy plead guilty? And, what exactly was it HIS business that the FA was talking to the passenger BEHIND him? Article said he had 4 drinks, PLUS champagne. Alcohol is at the root of much of passenger bad behavior, just like at sporting events. Call me crazy, but I'm willing to bet most of us didn't sign on to be a FA to be a bouncer and be abused and physically assaulted by drunks. This is a big reason why I'd be hard-pressed to go back to working with "regular" pax again. I love me my charter pax!