The thing is - you should, as an unsatisfied customer, have the right to complain about poor service. That doesn't mean being unruly. However, flight attendants shouldn't be telling the captain they need to remove someone just because they voiced their dissatisfaction over the service.

It's interesting to me that they didn't try and track down some of the other passengers for this story. That's where we would have gotten the real story behind what happend..................

The thing is ... there are are two sides to every story. I doubt that unless someone produces a recording of the incident, that we shall ever know the truth of the matter. One thing we do know is that airlines don't divert flights on a whim, so something transpired that they were unable to resolve and that triggered their procedures.

Expecting champagne in first class is not unruly. Expecting not to be treated as a common criminal on any airline based in America however, is.

I have to say the 99% of the time, these issues are caused by drunken fools. In this case, however, these people some off as reasonable, and the airline as not reasonable. It sounds like they exhibited extremely poor customer service, and abused their power

This couple are used to Lufthansa: fabulous, the flight crews fantastic, the food and service great for every level passenger - not just those ponying up for 1st class. What they found on Delta was typical U.S. corporate cultural of the lowest order. In the late 1990s, I had to do a lot of international flying for work - literally, always kept a bag packed. I've flown with them all but, hands down, the worst and most justifiably mocked airline was Aeroflot. Just as among the best then were the major U.S. carriers. Fast forward little more than a decade and I try to never fly; if I must, my turn to is ANY major non-U.S. carrier, otherwise it's likely my bags would be lost, the plane filthy and the flight crew rude/surly. My worst flying experience of the 1990s on Aeroflot would be considered 1st class 14k gold service on Delta or American Airlines today. And yes, I got champagne and a nice meal on the former Soviet airline.

Damn! For the cost of those airline tickets from Germany (the fatherland) to Central America, they should have gotten a full case. Instead of that nasty welcome to America treatment by Delta.

Should have flown on Lufthunsia (the best airline in the world).

this story is very fishy. As an individual that has spent more than a small amount of time in a Delta first class cabin I can tell you that the flight attendants cannot do enough. Nearly no request is deemed too trivial, too petty, too difficult or too insignificant.

I am the first person to slam the way US airlines treat people but it's not the same 'upfront'. When I read this article I have to wonder how belligerent, unruly and obnoxious these people were to tweak a first class flight attendant. The airlines are very aware they make a ton of money on first class passengers. It's not uncommon at all on a delta flight to have a fight attendant come to you and thank you personally by name for flying Delta.

So...

Don't be so quick to slam Delta on this one. First Class is an entirely different experience than flying in coach and it's typically only the lead flight attendants in First Class. They've worked to get to that position.

I was hoping to read that the flight attendant grabbed the bottle of champagne, deployed the emergency exit chute and waved Auf Wiedersehen to the Germans with the middle finger.

The truth usually lies somewhere in the middle of the two stories.

I'm sure the passengers account is 100% accurate *coughs*

The cost to Delta Airlines for having to divert to Florida and having these people removed had to be in the thousands. This couple had to be nearly out of control. I don't care what country you are from, if you act like an A## Hole, you need to be treated as such and have you, your bag and baggage thrown off. Period, end of story.

In the eyes of US airline companies any passenger who objects, demands, and protests is an UNRULY passenger, just short of a 'possible terrorist'. And the moronic TSA just plays along...

Absolutely Delta's readiness to suffer the cost and trouble for the diversion and extra landing/takeoff should tell you that the situation needed to be dealt with that way.

The funny part of this story is the comments people make. I haven't read them all. Can you tell me how far down is the "blame Obama" post?

Too many of these flight attendants are getting heavy handed and acting like prima donas. If no charges were filed I'm wondering how justified the "unruly" claims really are.

Worried about raucous first class passengers? At the beginning of the flight.. (obviously after take-off)? I find it peculiar that one of the flight crew did not go back and check out the situation himself before telling the pilot the passengers were... hmmm obnoxious?

There is an element growing among service people in the United States, and that is an unfortunate trend to bad manners at the least, and refusal to do their job... which is service .... at the worst because, simply, of an Attitude. This is not restricted to airline stewards. It is evident anywhere. (And, in fairness, thank goodness not ubiquitous.) Nonetheless, it is increasing significantly.

Take the trend of some who post here, calling others idiots or morons... showing themselves to be rude, crude, and not too shrewd. It surprises me. I had a better opinion of the American public.

Personally, I think the gang-up on first class passengers by the aircraft employees from pilot down to the steward, was uncalled for even if one doesn't believe the passenger's account. Their requests have not been refuted by the airline crew which is significant.

There is only the steward to describe the situation from his viewpoint. I agree with others posting here... what do the other passengers say (although it is extremely likely they do not want to get involved). We Americans are becoming ostriches with our heads sunk into the proverbial sandy holes in the ground. And that includes the numerous "Demanders" like the Occupiers. Their heads are drowning in ignorance.

Personally, I think the pilot was wrong to decide to interrupt the flight without first sending one of his flight crew, or even go back himself, to see what the sam hill was going on. And, btw, these folks had to leave the plane ... now, was there a crime? Doesn't there have to be a charge of some kind? Was there a test for alcohol consumption taken by them? Surely at the time when they were dumped, the pilot was required to tell the authorities why. Or were there even any authorities present?

The whole thing is a very peculiar situation... on both sides.

Obama, being a Muslim

You lost all credibility after your first four words.

My daughter was a flight attendant with PanAm, then Delta for several years. She used diplomatic skills 100% of the time on 5% of those who felt they were privileged because they flew first class., and let everyone know just how important they thought they were.

Good for the flight attendant and good for the captain who chose to divert the plane to unload the rude and thoughtless passengers.

if you fly in America today ,first you get stripped searched, then robbed for the right to bring a bag on board, and if you fly coach you will be lucky to get a glass of water for free, the seats are built for midgets, and you better not make a complaint or you will be labeled a troublemaker, your name goes to Homeland security, so every time you fly after that you will be searched over every inch of your body. I have no idea why it is called a pleasure trip to fly today.

patty- yeah, good for them, wasting everyone's time and money...

hooray for your daughter...

good call, saxon. and airlines complain about customers nowadays not treating air travel like a luxury, customers not dressing up, etc. maybe customers wouldn't dress in sweatpants and or pajamas if the seats were actually anywhere near comfortable...

That must be some damn fine Champagne.......if it's worth getting kicked off a plane for.

I doubt that unless someone produces a recording of the incident, that we shall ever know the truth of the matter.

Pilots and crew members have the last word, regardless whether it is truthful, or, whether they have to divert the flight.

American crew members are typically paranoid of anyone who doesn't "look like them," foreign, or black flyers, thanks to the "Patriot Act!"

Sam Adams, I think Dick was responding in jest to Flobert.

My goodness, so much support for this couple.... I can only imagine the paperwork and scrutiny that any flight attendant must have to go through if they actually divert a flight away from its intended path to land at another field to take care of something like this. It's something that they CAN'T take lightly. I suspect that the account from the German passenger was not as accurate as many on here seem to be assuming. Many in first class seem accustomed to having their butts kissed in everything that they do, and if they don't get enough of it, they fly off the handle. Get over yourselves, first class passengers. The rest of us know that most of you didn't actually pay more to be there, but are there because you fly enough to get the free upgrades.

Hinsetzen und Schnauze halten! Du bist jetzt in Amerika und Service ist da nicht dabei.

@jm.................We also have flown First Class on Delta many times. I have found them to be rude, unkempt and uncaring. The lead flight attendant on our last flight scuffed around in house slippers, had unkempt hair and barely addressed the needs of anyone. The food was about what you would expect at a McDonald's and probably as bad or worse than what wa offered in coach. In coach, of course, there was a charge for it. We didn't pay for it in First Class?????

We would never set foot on Delta. Never.

I have traveled with groups from Germany. There is a big cultural difference between Americans and Germans when it comes to polite behavior. My suspicion is that these passengers were indeed rude, argumentative, and unruly, by U.S. standards. Just sayin'.

If diverting the plane, landing it and getting this couple kicked off isn't the epitome of absolute power I don't know what is.......................

Little perks to get folks to hire on as a flight attendant..............in that isle you are God, it is your way or the highway..............

Talk about terrorism in flight.............held captive for hours and hours, denied food and water and then deported..................

If this is the kind of "security" those pricey airline tickets buys you, you can have it.

Next time I suggest the passenger pull out their iphone and record the incident...........smile you are on youtube!..bi#ch!

Flobert, It's just below the twelfth "blame Bush" post.

If diverting the plane, landing it and getting this couple kicked off isn't the epitome of absolute power I don't know what is.......................

Do you REALLY think a flight attendant just walks away from something like this with no questions asked of their employer? They ARE given the power to make the decisions, but they also are held accountable for them (unless their union protects them no matter what, which is a real possibility). I can't imaging a flight attendant lasting very long who has a penchant for diverting flights without cause. I am guessing that the vast majority of flight attendants have NEVER had to divert a flight.

If we are to believe this woman, they politely asked for champaign, were told there was no more, then said they were unhappy about it before the flight attendant wheeled around, ran to the cockpit, and told the pilot to land in Florida. Flight attendants put up with a LOT of crap and the vast majority of them have a pretty high tolerance for boorish passenger behavior. I am finding it hard to believe this couple didn't get exactly what they deserved.

I'd like to know more before I jump on either side of the argument. It is entirely possible that this couple was in the wrong. It could also be an abuse of power on the part of the flight crew. But what we have at the moment is a case of "they said/ they said." So we can't know for sure yet.

I've never noticed or thought to look, but are there any cameras on planes? The only reason I can think of for NOT having them is because the airlines don't want their employees being outed as the problem. It's not like anyone still willing to fly is going to have any more of an objection to a camera in the cabin than they do with walking through an x-rated-ray in the terminal.

Delta? Delta was once my airline of choice, but that was 25 years ago. Service? You bet. That is part of what my money is paying for.

Unlike our electric provider and our water provider, when it comes to air travel we do have choices. May the best company win.

However, with the introduction of the TSA personnel and the dehumanizing process of boarding I have been considering my other options. It may take longer and perhaps cost a little more but with planning there are trains and ships.

"Can I have some more Champagne?" "I am Sorry Sir we have run out. There is no more. Can I get you something else?" Why did it have to go any farther than that? What was the flight attendant suppose to do at 40K feet in the air? Go get some more? If they were unhappy with the service a letter to the airline would have been the proper way to go. Most likely hammered before they left European airspace.

Perhaps they should stay in Germany where service is up to their discriminating standards.

I can't imagine a flight attendant picking a fight with the first class customers. With the extortion-like prices for first class, I am sure Delta would fire him/her on the spot.

I flew home from a Business Trip last Friday on a CRJ 200, A College Basketball Team was also on the flight. Naturally I'm sitting next to a 280 pound 6'9" guy who is taking up both seats, I was spilling into the Isle. When we pushed back both me and the Player asked if I could move seats (plenty of empty seats) and the Flight Attendant told us No. I asked to speak with The First Officer if Possible and she told me No that's not possible, but I guess you can move?

This Lady was just flat rude on this Flight and the Coach of the Team expressed this to the Captain as we were deplaning. The Captain said and I quote "I apologize sir, I can promise you her days of being rude are over". Sounded like it wasn't a first complaint..

mj-1451595 The first class is delta would be comparable to the flying in the toilet on Lufthansa. You have no clue as to what service is like on other international carriers, the service in economy in Lufthansa is better than the service in first on Delta. The seat is bigger but they don't even recline fully even in first

I don't usually join these discussions, but I HAD to leave a comment on this one. I had a similar experience on Delta last year. I now avoid Delta at all costs - even if I have to pay a premium to fly another airline.

If this couple was a danger to themselves, the flightcrew or other passengers, then fine...divert the plane and kick them off.

As an American currently stationed in Germany, I can honestly say that our Ameri-centric point of view on the rest of the world doesn't help us in the least. Germany has different customs than America and most American's neither know about the cultural differences or care about them.

Now BEFORE some butthead on here points out that THIS couple is IN America and should be the ones responsible for knowing cultural differences...please consider a couple of things:

1. This couple was most certainly speaking ENGLISH to the American crew (because most Germans are bilingual)...which is a sign of respect by offering up the language of the Country you are in.

2. When German's SPEAK english, it can sound gruff and rude at first...until you learn a little German and realize that not only is the syntex completely different, but most of the German language seeks to eliminate overly emotional statements.

3. Culturally, Germans have a deep appreciation for their own standing in a business community. To allow emotional responses into a business transaction is frowned upon and considered a sign of lack of knowledge of one's job.

4. How rude can WE AMERICANS get to expect a couple who had just entered America to understand OUR rules and customs perfectly...immediately. Instead of showing a little compassion, the obviously overworked first class crew became terse and flitted off to ask the pilot to land. Situations like this one can be easily diffused simply by sitting next to them for a moment and hearing their concerns.

5. I've flown on Lufthansa repeatedly. As in all other aspects of German business, the crews are exceptionally professional, willing to listen to ANY complaint, offer to help whenever they can, feed the ever-lovin' crap out of you while you're on their plane and even give every passenger who wants it...a FREE glass of wine when they are seated.

Compare THAT to this herded cattle crap by an American airline and then ask this couple to sit the hell down and shut the hell up.

Delta was the first airline I ever flew. (In my mothers arms at 3 months). This was my airline of choice. They were always very good. I remember being given playng cards on one trip and "wings"on another. On a rocky flight travelling with my father, a flight attendant (stewardess then), spilled coffee on my dad. You would have thought he was POTUS. They could'nt do enough. What happened? Asking for champagne in first class creates a problem? Fo what they CHARGE for first class, they should have anything they want. I almost got arrested in coach for asking for something other than peanuts or pringles (which is all they had left). This is ridiculous. BOYCOTT DELTA.

unless you are an (_!_)hole who likes to number your points!

COH violation...personal attack on another member of Newsvine.

reported.

bubye!

I have read about 50 of the posts about this story. What I find most fascinating is that no-one really knows what happened. Yet they will argue their point to the death....

I think we have found the problem....everyone wants to be right!!! Doesn't even matter what the truth is...

I am not pointing to anyone in-particular....just pointing out an observation.

Keels1

I have flown Delta many times. The quality of service is constantly on a downward spiral. I think they are now training their flight attendants to act like TSA officers. They act and respond to anything and everything as if it is a threat. They are severely unqualified to make the decision that they make regarding aircraft safety and Delta seems to have a few FAs that revel in the power trip. I think the preponderance of evidence points to an overzealous flight attendant that relishes exercising her new found powers. or perhaps she wanted to show her friends how cool she was. I find Delta to be a pit of an airline and only fly them when I absolutely have to.

Hey Navy...I understand your point...but I must tell you, I am in the travel business....no I don't work for Delta...I actually do corporate travel...these guys are travelling 200days per yr....so i get it. But let me tell you....delta is not the worst by far....United is way worse then delta. I also travel alot....again, the worst is United,,,their flight attendents are bitchy and old....sucks.

TSA and US airlines act like they got a free pass to label anything and everything as unruly and/or dangerous.

Amen!! These TSA people are wanna-be cops that have total control over passengers and nit-pick to show how 'in control' they are. I am a frequent flier and have seen many stupid situations masked in the show of 'safety'

TSA and US airlines act like they got a free pass to label anything and everything as unruly and/or dangerous

They do, it's called the "Patriot Act," and it's easy to label you a terrorist, once you challenge "their" authority!

They couldn't have picked a better name than "Patriot Act" - isn't it?

Long live GOP and neocons (although i never understood what is conservative about spending trillions of dollars in unnecessary wars or printing away money and subsidizing or rescuing too big to fail corporations).

"They couldn't have picked a better name than "Patriot Act" - isn't it?

Long live GOP and neocons (although i never understood what is conservative about spending trillions of dollars in unnecessary wars or printing away money and subsidizing or rescuing too big to fail corporations)."

LOL - You do realize that the PATRIOT Act was voted for by a lot of Democrats every time it has come up, right? Even when the Democrats controlled both the House and the Senate, they passed it again and Obama signed it. Furthermore, with Dems still in control of the Senate, they just passed the NDAA, which Obama promptly signed. Maybe you should get your facts straight before making ridiculous comments in the future.

What facts you want me to get right Mr. Facts? May be you should stop worshipping those @!$%#s for a change. Some wise guys has noted that "Patriotism" is the last resort of a scoundrel. That's what I was implying with my comment above. While Dems deserve to be condemned for beign spineless, GOP/neocons are far more guilty of inciting wars on innocent human beings outside the country, and war on american liberties - all in the name of "patriotism - with us or against us - support our troops" and all other BS. So take it easy. The facts are aligned very heavily against where you think they are.

Business must be bad. Lawyer looking for easy settlement.

American airlines cannot match internation ones because American airlines are required to retain flight attentdants evr after they get older and surly. Both the government and the unions think life time flight attendants are a good idea. Admittedly there are some very good experienced FAs but too many get burned out but can't quit as they can't hold down a real job. Therefore they just take it out on the passengers. Maybe this was one of those maybe not.

Whether or not he is a Lawyer doesn't matter. He sounds like an Jerk that cannot behave appropriately on an airplane.

Anyone that has worked in a service based industry has ran into customers that think you are there to take their abuse. Being unruly on a flight can cause significant problems for EVERYONE on board. Kicking them off only happens in extreme situations since it costs the airlines thousands of dollars to divert a filght.

That means they were not just politely asking for food and champagne.

Of course, at this point it is possible that they did act as the airlines claim. But I somehow doubt it. The staff of most American airlines are now dictatorial and just plain nasty.

While it's possible that these people are guilty of what the airline claims - I find it highly unlikely. The few times I've flown the last couple of years, flight attendants have gotten very rude and act as if they're doing you a great service if they just give you something to drink. Flight attendants appear to be on a power trip these days. Tell them you're unhappy with the service or that you find them to be rude and bam! They'll have your ass removed from the flight so you better just sit down, shut up and be happy the carrier is even taking you anywhere.

Based on the assumption that the flight attendent didn't over-react. Similarly, the other knee jerk resposnes are based on the idea that the passengers weren't at fault.

Anyone want to bet that reality was somewhere in between the two points? A decent article would include some eye-witness reporting beyond the official statement from the airline and comments from an involved party.

Of course I still hate to fly - and that boils down to horrid service and treatment by airline pesonnel, TSA, etc.

"Fly the Miserable Skys"

Hypocrite, how can you whine about one percenters, and then side with a major airline against the customers whom have been charged the highest fare. Your application of logic eludes me.

Herr One Percent and his hausfrau

Stay classy, my friend.

@Robin Steele: No hypocrisy or whining here, just plain old logic. It just doesn't make sense that the airline would randomly pick out two first class passengers willy nilly to harass for no reason. Landing early, throwing the self-entitled whiners off the plane, then taking off again makes them late, costs them money and inconveniences every other passenger aboard. I completely believe the airlines' side of this story because I've seen the same thing happen several times (and have been delayed trying to conduct my own business as a result). Particularly if they've had a few belts and a few shekels in the old bank account, some people just can't handle it when their ass isn't kissed to their satisfaction.

If you really feel that you can't understand or recognize logic, then I would suggest that you take some college courses or read up on the subject yourself. Educating you is beyond the scope of what I do here on Newsvine.

Stay classy, my friend.

I do try, @Alan Pugh. Classier than two self-entitled jerks who divert a plane full of people because they didn't get their champagne, anyway.

Anyone want to bet that reality was somewhere in between the two points? A decent article would include some eye-witness reporting beyond the official statement from the airline and comments from an involved party.

That would have been desirable, @Battsman. I feel somewhat lucky that not too many words were misspelled and not too many sentences were grammatically mangled in the article. Baby steps ...

You got that right [ Stop the Hypo] Having read a lot of the comments, I can see that many of the people who added their two cents worth to this story are just plain jealous that they can't ride in first class. They are the ones that automatically attack the airlines first chance they get because they are used to bitching about coach seats and not getting the champagne treatment.

And your addition is only worth one cent! You deserve the golden shower treatment!

For the probably 4 thousand bucks they shelled out for their seats, they should have gotten whatever they wanted. They probably just had a stewardess who was either lazy or overwhelmed, so she wanted them gone. If there were no charges filed on the ground, they couldn't have been creating such a disturbance that required diverting the plane. When all is said and done delta will be giving them money.

Hypocrisy... It seems that you live and breath your own nic. You claim to be the be all and end all of logic. Sorry to have to point out that, in fact, you are an example of a loser of any argument from the beginning. Why? Because name-calling, no matter how clever, virtually stops the debate (insofar as you are concerned).

Since I teach debate, and coach the school's Debate Team (they win top awards in the annual tri-counties competitions each year), I can, at least, spot poorly phrased argument on most issues.

Check out the ad hominem fallacy, the flawed generalization, the false analogies I detect in your posts... to start with. You are, I grant you, articulate and seem to have a hold on your grammar and word usage. However, that said, your exercises in general damnation of your opponents do you no service.

I'd have to give you a "D" and give you relevant reading and writing assignments to help you improve.

Hypocrisy... It seems that you live and breath your own nic. You claim to be the be all and end all of logic.

Where did I ever claim to be the "be all and end all of logic"? Cite, please.

Sorry to have to point out that, in fact, you are an example of a loser of any argument from the beginning.

You can't refute my arguments so you call me a "loser". Ah well, we all need bad examples of how to behave on the Internet, and you've done a spectacular job doing just that.

Why? Because name-calling, no matter how clever, virtually stops the debate (insofar as you are concerned).

Says the poster who calls strangers "losers". Remember the first rule of holes: when you're in one, stop digging.

Since I teach debate, and coach the school's Debate Team (they win top awards in the annual tri-counties competitions each year), I can, at least, spot poorly phrased argument on most issues.

You're certainly putting on a clinic here when it comes to bad and specious arguments. I'm impressed - usually I have to put in at least a little bit of effort to smack down people who just don't know what the hell they're talking about. Thanks for letting me coast on this one.

Check out the ad hominem fallacy, the flawed generalization, the false analogies I detect in your posts... to start with.

The same argumentum ad hominem you utilized above when you called me a "loser"? That one?

You are, I grant you, articulate and seem to have a hold on your grammar and word usage.

"a hold" - what odd phraseology. Be that as it may ...

However, that said, your exercises in general damnation of your opponents do you no service.

"damnation" of my opponents? Cite, please.

I'd have to give you a "D" and give you relevant reading and writing assignments to help you improve.

A "D" for having Destroyed your pathetic arguments? Yes, I'll take that.

You are dismissed.

yo hypocrisy-

when you are consistently having to argue with everyone in the chat room, maybe, just maybe, it's not "the rest of the world is wrong about this". maybe you're wrong...

Looks to me like the posts here are running about 50/50, between the Kochsuckers who assert that rich folks' poo doesn't stink and others who think the couple should have been frogmarched off the aircraft straight to the stocks and bastinado.

Don't hate because I'm right.

journaljournal: I am pretty sure THAT IS the passenger brief on military aircraft.

Hypo... Thank you for proving my points! I do regret, in a way, that you show the points I made are irrefutable. Wish you would go back to school. Perhaps start with high school level and work your way up. You have a commendable potential.

And choose a school where logic and debate is taught... you will love it. And I really think you will learn enough to win sometimes. You have a very good vocabulary (though word usage needs improvement). I think you may be a reader of well-written books and if so, it's the right way to absorb word meanings. But, remember, that is only a head start.

So, it takes quite a bit more than reading a good book. It takes an instinct for logic, and that is a primal gift... learnable, but takes a lot of experience and problem-solving to get on top of that challenge. Not one of your cute attempts got beyond nonsense, and that itself is a pity.

I also suggest that you acquaint yourself with American English usage. I don't demean slang when my students use it. We talk about how the words apply, though, to the meanings they really want. Some slang simply doesn't pass their purview. Other slang is well founded and becomes part of the language.

So, Hypo, find a good rapport with a knowledgeable English teacher. It will help you, no end. And, I meant to tell you... thank you for your compliments. I got to you more than I intended! And just maybe, because I did get to you, you will take my suggestions in this post seriously.

I was not, in any respect, being sarcastic.

My only question is in the reporting and writing area. Was the couple on flight 413 or flight 414???

@ heartsquest- exactly what does your criticism of stops debating skills have to do with this article? Nit picking the manner of someones argument only shows that you don't have a good rebuttal for it. Pompous much?

Stop the hypocrisy; stop the hypocrisy!

STH... Will you marry me?

@HeartsQuest

Nobody believes you teach debate (or anything else) so quit now while you are behind.

Also it appears that you don't have any comments for the article. Are you just trolling to attack someone on their debate and grammar skills?

Yeah, punished him and all the rest of the passengers, too. There is a reason I flew Delta only once and never, ever again.

It is amazing... I fly several times a month and seem to never have a problem, on any airline. I smile and act civil to the pilots and flight attendants. They are just doing their job. What I have seen are angry passengers, unruly children and business duchebags who think the rules do not apply to them. When you are asked to turn off your cell phones, do it! You are not so important that you need to stay on the phone. I think the turn off electronic devices requirement is unnecessary, but it is the current rule. If everyone on a plane would act civil these kinds of situations would not happen. Just cut everyone a little slack, realize that you can be pleasant and have a much better experience.

I fly several times a month and seem to never have a problem, on any airline. I smile and act civil to the pilots and flight attendants. They are just doing their job. What I have seen are angry passengers, unruly children and business duchebags who think the rules do not apply to them.

This.

I too fly a lot and it goes both ways. I've seen bitchy passengers, and I've seen bitchy airline employees. To any of you who act like the airlines are never in the wrong, you're wrong.

Maybe if the airlines had to refund ticket prices to the other passengers when they do a bullsh*t move like land a plane because of a personality conflict, these incidents might start happening less.

What's truly amazing is that none of you were there but you automatically blame the airlines and flight attendants. Here's a suggestion...GROW UP. As other posters have mentioned, the truth is somewhere in the middle.

scales, I've got something in the middle for you! A finger!

I smile and act civil to the pilots and flight attendants.

Actually, that's called "bending-over, being receptive of a screwing, and being docile!"

Delta? huh , they were lucky the plane landed in the correct state on the same day. ABSOLUTE worst airline in the world. Flying Delta is LAST CLASS

@doyourhomework: now *that's* the first truly constructive comment I've seen, here, yet! Perhaps if the airlines did have to refund all of the other fares when they divert a flight for an "unruly" passenger they wouldn't be so quick to label everyone who questions the service, or lack thereof. It is a truism that the real story probably does lie somewhere in between but it is also an indisputable fact that airline crews work fastidiously to groom passengers to accept - and even feign happiness with - the increasingly poor level of service US airlines provide. A real passengers' rights contract with some kind of compensation available to us, the passengers, and a real dispute mediation process independent of the airline corporations would go a long way toward regaining the customer satisfaction that most passengers used to feel about flying with US carriers.

To all concerned with the level of service airlines provide travelers today, it simply doesn't care. That's because most of us travel on the airline that gets us there the cheapest...... You can't anticipate good service if you are not willing to pay the price. I've never stayed at a discount chain hotel and received the level of service you expect to pay at a 4 to 5 star hotel. You get what you pay for.

Good point. Maybe there should be cameras on the plane... activated by stewardess when someone becomes unruly?

Good point LG; then watch someone sue because they were videotaped without permission.

LMAO. Maybe THIS is actually why the U.S. airlines do everything to force passengers not to use smartphones onboard, especially now that most of them have high res cameras.

littlechanges-

your camera works when your phone is in airplane mode. try again...

In this world where terrorist come in all persuasions, I applaud the decision to kick them off the plane. I have met a few Germans who still think in the Aryan concept. Every one else is beneath them. When you get on a plane today you should expect to not make a fuss about anything. This only makes other passengers uncomfortable. Pushy people always feel they have been wronged when they don't get their way. Perhaps if they had allowed the flight to proceed before demanding champaign and food they might have received them in due course. They chose to inconvience all of the other passengers in an unneccessary stop with their childish demands. They got what they deserved. If I were Delta I would sue them for the fuel and cost of an unneccessary delay.

Why would any foriegner in their right mind come to this police state for vactaion? so they can have their privacy violated at the airport? treated like an"illegal alien" (I thought they only existed on the scifi channel) in Alabama? watch the Tea Party claim patriotism while publically humiliating the President of the United States? To see the grand Canyon and then learn we think its only 5000 years old? To be pulled over for a traffic ticket and treated as if you are "guilty until proven innocent" while they search your car without a warrant? To be shot by one of our macho NRA memebers who is so afraid of his own shadow that he has to carry a loaded gun in Ace Hardware (just in case come crazy with a gun comes in)?

Or perhaps we were just a layover on their way to paradise and now they are stranded here, simply because they wanted more champagne. Well Peter and Gabriele Strohmier, did you ever see the movie Midnight Express? Yes thats what we do with unruly passengers and pot smokers, we through them in prison with murderers, rapists and child molesters to be anally raped repeatedly day after day until they are rehabilitated and turned into good republicans.

You are my hero, powerfull words from a clear thinking person.

LOL, no, most people in Europe, Australia, Japan, and South Korea are not better off than most Americans. Last time I checked, the only country on the planet with a cost-of-living-adjusted median household income higher than that of the U.S. was Luxembourg, a small banking center with a population significantly smaller than the U.S. city of Nashville, TN. The real truth is that Europe's economy is going down the toilet faster than ours (and was doing so even before the recession.) France had unemployment levels similar to those of the U.S. right now back in '05-'06. The exceptions are Germany and the U.K., which have generally managed to keep their economies more stable than the remainder of the continent.

Hey Doug, if you are interested, I hear Canada is nice this time of year!

Ah - guilty until proven innocent in your eyes I see.

I don't think he is an American citizen thus running for Congress would not be possible.

Doc... You mean well I feel, but on a broader spectrum and on too many levels, I am viewing a steady deterioration of what we call qualified service employees. Examples are wait-persons in restaurants, wait-clerks in stores, wait-persons in offices... including medical offices. We in the United States hold fast to our "rights" under law... but more and more I believe our education there is lacking.

What a sad abortion the words, "Freedom of Speech..." has become. Out of context too often, losing the meaning that is inextricably part of that word... (Responsible Freedom of Speech)

Part of the job description for service personnel is courtesy... and, yes, real courtesy remains beyond most provocation which is confined to arrogance and demands, even verbal insults. It never retaliates verbally or physically.

The steward in this case is a service employee. It is his job to remain courteous. This one didn't. We've heard nothing from Delta's side except to say the lawyer and his wife were "obnoxious." And for this they get put off the plane? From First Class?

Bottom line, I think that steward in the situation... and the pilot, both need some stronger training in good sense... and, courtesy. Delta is at fault here based on all we have been told, so far. In my opinion.

I would have thought that to be put off a plane should require a higher standard than "being obnoxious." Being a fat smelly person overlapping into your neighbor's seat is being "obnoxious" and they don't get kicked off (though I wish they were not allowed on board). In order to justify the plane being diverted the couple should have created enough of a problem that charges were pressed on landing. If delta cannot do that, then they should not have diverted the flight. Delta was a crap airline 20+ years ago and it doesn't look as if they have changed.

Stephen by the same reasoning the airline is guilty until proven innocent. In any he said she said contest who knows who is guilty until more evidence is uncovered. Up to the point of there being removed I haven't heard of one other passenger complaining about their fate. This to me is a partial indication that they were making some of the other passengers uncomfortable by their actions. In the past we have heard of a number of incidents of passengers acting improperly while on flights, threatening crew, trying to open doors and any number of acts which could be viewed as test scenarios for a planned terror action. In my opinion it is better to be safe than sorry. A lot of terrorist have been found to have planned their actions in Germany. Why didn't these people act up on the German Airline they took to get to America? I side with Delta on this one.

You are being naive. A flight attendant can structure a situation to her/his advantage and punish a traveler easily. The pilots are segregated from passengers and take the attendants word. Flying in the US is like being in jail with the attendants as the jailers one false move and bang you are off the plane. False moves can be anything from a request to a complaint.

Not with an entire flight, you can't have one flight attendant with a problem. If an air marshal gets involved, then yes, there's clearly a problem. Believing that one employee going to the captain, "Wah, they won't sit down!" is being naive.

if they were being such a problem, why were they not charged with any crime once they got on the ground?

the stewardess overreacted, and delta is going to have to monetarily reimburse this couple.

Maybe that was their purpose all along, you know like confronting a celebrity in a restaurant and provoking a scene so that you can sue for the harassment value. I don't know all of the circumstances, but what better way to have the entire cost of your flight paid for by an airline. What puzzles me is why didn't they get some drinks and eats between the time they got off the flight from Germany and the boarding of the flight to wherever. Sounds contrived to me. But then I'm prejudiced against Aryans no matter what they call themselves. I was stationed in Germany after the war, and I never met one German who had fought the Allies so I know these people don't lie. If they say the stewardess was impolite or disrespectful that must be the case. And we all know that lawyers never ever lie in or out of Court. There you have it, Delta must be lying. Next time maybe they'll take a direct flight fom Germany to the jungle, no pesky American flight attendants to be bothered by or picking on those nice upstanding Aryan passengers.

you can complain all you want after the fact and you won't get sh*t except for maybe some worthless miles that will expire before you can ever use them. airlines have you by the balls and they know it.

and since when does having enough money to sit in first class make you a "better" person? that is a stupid comment.

I agree with you, doyourhomework,America and I agree very much with your nic ;) StandUp... is not correct in this issue. In my opinion.

The problem is common sense is lacking in every incident of people being supposedly mistreated. I take this from a personal experience that happened to me on a trip to both Germany and England. I am black and I ordered a beer in a German Guestube, the waitress served several people after I had ordered and I took this as a slight and left before the beer was served. Arriving in Britain I ordered a beer in a pub and the same thing happened, I was again miffed and thinking prejudice pure and simple and again left before the beer arrived. Later I was talking to cabbie in London and he said no chap, they can't serve the beer until the foam has subsided and they can top off the pint. The beers they were serving ahead of yours were beers that had been topped off. Did I feel stupid. I hadn't used an ounce of commonsense and was ready to label two waitresses as being prejudiced, when it was I who was biased. It was too late to apologize to the German waitress but I went back to the English pub and apologized to that waitress. Some times we need to stop and apply commonsense before we judge someones actions it may not always be due to prejudice, only custom.

Common sense is totally mis named, as it is one of the least common of things in the world.

spending my money is a privilege? I think you're confused with "Driving is a privilege, not a right"...

It sounds to me that it is the steward who provoked any alleged bad manners and that his own (the steward's) were in violation of his job requirements.

Fire the steward. Refund the cost to the people who paid for first class service and didn't get a smidgen of it. Fire the pilot for making a really inappropriate judgment call when he pushed those paid customers off the plane simply for asking for what they had paid for.

Flying in America today is not a right nor a privilge, it is a convience and the terrorist introduced new rules of conduct in using this convience. No flyer has the right to upset your fellow passengers, a stewardess or the pilot. Flying means using a special decorum while in a tube hurtling along at five hundred fifty miles an hour six miles above the ground. You either respect your fellow passengers in all manner or expect to be dropped off at the nearest airport. I admit flying can be a hassle, and in some cases the airlines are grossly at fault in their treatment of passengers. Up to three years ago I made two trips a year to Vegas by plane. Now I rent a car and drive. It takes longer, but I get to see the countryside, I can take all the luggage I want, I don't stand in any lines waiting to be undressed, pawed, waned and Xrayed, I can stop when I want to and buy dollar and a half coffee, instead of four dollar four ounce plastic cups. There is generally no lines to go to the bath room wherever I stop. I prefer my two and a half day trip over a four hour convient trip by plane. Ninety nine percent of the people I meet are or at least give the appearance of being glad to see me. I've been approached by police when I made roadside unscheduled stops, but they were always courteous when I told them I was just taking a short break to stretch my legs, or to take a snack. Flying is not a right nor a privilige anylonger if it ever was. It is only a time saving convience with new rules and procedures.

Which is why the pilot and the steward should be fired.

Neither gave legal cause (and should have immediately) for bumping paid passengers to whom the steward himself was discourteous and the pilot showed foolish judgment.

@HQ - How do you know? The article doesn't give enough information to make a statement like that. Where you there?

@ Steve and you know all of this behavior is true because you were on the plane???? NO??? Oh I see you're just specualting based on what the airline spokemen said, and we all know they never lie. (8 hours on a tarmac anyone) You sir are the one who's a$$ is showing with that comment.

steven- no, when you fly that airline, it means you won't get sh*t in coach or first class. your flight is as meaningless to them as the "rich bastards".

LOL i do like your post biter.....

Instant a$$hole, just add alcohol.

then why didn't they get charged with public intoxication?

hard drugs? wtf?

king ronald reagan f*cked us...

I like custard-filled charges, myself.

Some people who are rich are used to getting what they want and a sense of self entitlement, always getting their way, with the "it's all about me, me, ME" attitude. Well guess what, it's not all about what you want, other people are around you, stop and think about their plans, itineraries and appointments. This couple messed up a lot of other folks plans just because they have a little bit of money and wanted everything their way, gimme, gimme, gimme attitude. Stop and think about others, be kind, be respectful and show a bit of class. If you can't do these simple things then don't fly!

no, some people who paid thousands of dollars to sit on a plane for a few hours are used to getting what they want. when you're spending that kind of dough, it better be all about me.

That's part of what's wrong with the generation today, ME ME ME, no one else matters, no one else counts. That's a wonderful example and way of life to teach our children. Bottom line is you can have a lot of money and expect the finer things in life, I get that, but you don't have to be an ass about it!!

Of course you are so dumb that you don't even know what Mouton Rothschild is. No one who knew the first thing about wine would chill a claret. Cool it if the room temperature is over 20C perhaps, but not chill. And since they were flying first class, they should have the expectation that there would be sufficient champagne - part of what they had paid for. I bet you complain when they leave the toy out of your Happy Meal.