Flight attendants and passengers share flying frustrations

Everyone's talking about JetBlue flight attendant Steven Slater's great escape so why not this column?

There are multiple claims and counterclaims but it appears Slater went on an intercom tirade, grabbed a beer and vamoosed via the emergency chute from a Monday flight that landed at New York's Kennedy Airport.

Different stories have him losing it after a defiant passenger refused to stay seated or Slater being rude to fliers for no reason. He now faces charges for criminal mischief and reckless endangerment.

It's not the passengers' fault, said Mary Garton, a 16-year flight attendant and spokeswoman for the Rosemont-based Association of Flight Attendants, which represents United Airlines employees.

"I'm surprised it took this long for something of this nature to happen," Garton said, adding the meltdown is a byproduct of difficult working conditions and "not having the tools to do our job."

With wages at 1994 levels and staffing at Federal Aviation Administration minimums, flight attendants are maxed out between helping passengers and dealing with safety and security issues, she said.

And travelers have reason for angst, too, Barton believes. "We see the frustration they go through. You book a ticket. You think you're paying one price, then you go to the airport and realize you have to pay extra to check a bag or for a sandwich. Passengers are being nickled and dimed."

Garton added that her association doesn't condone Slater's behavior or the passenger's if that person refused to follow regulations.

Still, "every day you go to work and deal with situations that could potentially escalate - but we're also professionals - and everyone does their best to remain professional."

Personally, I get enraged by people who sneak on massive suitcases disguised as carry-ons that suck up the space in the overhead bins. And then there always the self-absorbed guy ahead of you who tilts his seat back right into your knees.

Garton admits she's encountered folks who balk at turning off electronic devices, jump up when the seat belt sign is on, or yell at her, but hard-core scofflaws are usually few and far between.

"You can't take it personally," she said. "If you don't have a lot of tolerance - you're not in the right job."

Got any related air horror stories? Drop me a line at mpyke@dailyherald.com.

Tight times at MetraMetra officials are anticipating a $17 million deficit in their 2011 budget. The shortfall is mostly caused by decreased ridership linked to unemployment, Acting Executive Director Bill Tupper said Friday.For example, although there was an uptick in June ridership compared to June 2009, year to date trends are 1.4 percent lower.The Metra board will have to explore options ranging from obtaining more revenue to reducing costs, Tupper said.Metra Chairman Carole Doris said it was "preliminary to put out worst-case scenarios."Asked whether the agency would need to consider raising fares or cutting services, Doris said, "it's way too early to say. (Fare increases) would be a difficult thing for the riders at a time when everyone is challenged by the economy. And, we don't like cutting services, either."$CLASS=breakhead$Flotsam and jetsambull; The Regional Transportation Authority will hold hearings on its budget and upcoming projects this month. Dates include: 6 p.m. Aug. 23 at the Centre of Elgin, 100 Symphony Way; 6 p.m. Aug. 25 at the DuPage County Administrative Building, 421 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton; and 6 p.m. Aug. 26 at University Center of Lake County, 1200 University Center Drive, Grayslake.bull; Schaumburg resident Donald Totten was reappointed to the RTA board last month after a stint in the 1990s. He is a former state senator and former assistant to the director of IDOT. He also belonged to the National Tax Limitation Committee. His stipend as an RTA director will be $25,000.