United staff 'forced frail grandma, 94, out of 2,800 Business seat into Economy for 16-hour flight

[Hassin Bin Sober]

10. Bull shit.

I've been on flights where people walk up and down the isle all flight.

My last flight, some clown either stood at the end of my isle or sat on the armrest while chatting with people behind him.

I've seen parents tending to their kids seated in other rows.

Make no mistake, this was about not wanting peasants in economy up in business/first class.

Two issues are in play here: flight attendants either unable or unwilling to make compassionate exceptions to "rules." And a marked decline in civility by cabin staff that was heightened by this post 9/11 "if you don't obey me I'm landing the plane and calling the Feds" attitude.

I grew up on and around airplanes. My dad worked for American for 35 years. We flew everywhere. No long cross country trips in a car for our family. Things got bad after deregulation but were turned up to "11" after flight attendants were trained and allowed to treat every passenger dispute as an Al Queda member with a box cutter.