United Airlines popcorn controversy: What sayeth the Dis?

[Dan Murphy]

@fly girl, where are you?

I agree with airline. A little something on the, maybe the cleaning crew. A mess, from a kid or whomever, clean up your mess.

 

[sam_gordon]

I *LEAN* toward the airline. I think the more appropriate "parent" thing to do would have been to notice the child making the mess (were they missing their mouth? Just throwing the kernels on the floor) and stop them at the time, mitigating part of the mess.

However, I do think a vacuum or a broom is a more appropriate tool to clean that mess up than someone getting on their hands/knees to do so (whether FA, Cleaning Crew, or mom).

On the other hand, I don't think the cleaning crews I've seen on Delta have had a vacuum or broom with them, and yes, they're working on the rows as they empty out.

I wish I would have gotten a picture from my last flight, I don't know if there were kids in the row or not, but the floor was a MESS when I walked by on my way off the plane. I thought at the time "who does that?"

 

[mousefan73]

Where do you stand on this “outrage”? With the parents, or with the airline?

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/...Airlines-making-pregnant-wife-clean-kids.html

Poll coming…

I was reading this on Twitter all day.. here are my comments.
1. People have no idea how flight operations work- not all flights are cleaned inbetween and flight attendents are only paid when doors are shut.. so having to do touch up between flights is unpaid work.
2. some peope are saying " oh that's just a little bit of popcorn, not a huge mess" well for me it looks very trashy. if I were to board that next flight
3. 22 weeks pregnant is not handicap. and sorry but if you can travel alone with two little kids and be pregnant you are physcially able to pick up after your kids.
4. Why didn't the kids pick up the popcorn..I recall when my kids were little and that age, i would have them pick stuff that fell to the floor for me all the time.. for them it's super easy. So maybe get your kids off the ipads and have them pick up their own mess??
5. I loooooove how 99% of the people were defending this FA and telling UA ( responding to their response) if you fire this FA we will no longer fly with you. and to leave him/her alone.
6. Why tweet about this.. was this really so offensive of ALL the things that could have happened in life.. you tweet about this???

 

[sam_gordon]

Also, Mr. fancy baseball player - maybe pay for them to fly in business and not coach?

Can you explain this comment? If it would have been business class then it's acceptable to make that mess?

For others... where did the popcorn come from? I didn't see it mentioned in the article, and don't feel like doing research.

ETA: According to the player, United provided the popcorn.

 

[mousefan73]

On a side note - since when does United offer popcorn on it's flights?

From what I have gathered, you can buy popcorn and gummi bears as an inflight snack..

 

[soccerdad72]

Also, Mr. fancy baseball player - maybe pay for them to fly in business and not coach?

The picture in the article looks like UA first class (for short haul flights).

 

[LuvOrlando]

Staff should be ashamed of themselves. It lacks common decency, the workers should be reprimanded for making the brand look bad. If I was on the flight and saw this pregnant mom struggling with little kids I totally would have cleaned for the mom, embarrassed the attendants with sarcastic comments, complained to the captain and crushed the attendants with complaints everywhere I could find after the fact. What is wrong with people? Just yuck, how are they not embarrassed?

 

[sam_gordon]

The picture in the article looks like UA first class (for short haul flights).

Wow. Aside from the seat pitch, looks like Delta Main Cabin.

 

[sam_gordon]

Staff should be ashamed of themselves. It lacks common decency, the workers should be reprimanded for making the brand look bad. If I was on the flight and saw this pregnant mom struggling with little kids I totally would have cleaned for the mom, embarrassed the attendants with sarcastic comments, complained to the captain and crushed the attendants with complaints everywhere I could find after the fact. What is wrong with people? Just yuck, how are they not embarrassed?

Regarding the bolded... did they though? I think most are "backing" the FA.

In your opinion, do parents have ANY responsibility for the mess their kids cause?

 

[mousefan73]

Staff should be ashamed of themselves. It lacks common decency, the workers should be reprimanded for making the brand look bad. If I was on the flight and saw this pregnant mom struggling with little kids I totally would have cleaned for the mom, embarrassed the attendants with sarcastic comments, complained to the captain and crushed the attendants with complaints everywhere I could find after the fact. What is wrong with people? Just yuck, how are they not embarrassed?

well the kids sure dont look like they are struggling.. maybe the 5 year old should have helped mom out and cleaned up the mess?? get the kids off the devices and have them bend over a minute

 

[hopemax]

I'm in the camp that there are always costs of doing business. Sometimes people are messier than others, and judging the person who made the mess, doesn't eliminate the costs of doing business. If the FA's feel they don't have enough time to turn the plane, then that is something to be taken up with the union and their employer. Not by being unprofessional to paying customers. If the airline finds that people are too messy on their flights, they can adjust their flight costs to compensate for additional cleaning staff / longer turnover times.

 

[soccerdad72]

Wow. Aside from the seat pitch, looks like Delta Main Cabin.

Maybe a short flight / smaller aircraft - I would expect to see a 3 x 3 configuration, not 2 x 2.

 

[jo-jo]

Torn on the right answer….

Take popcorn away if they start to make a mess, but is it better to have a little spill, than a screaming kid. The plane may not be the place for a teachable moment.

Clean up after your kid, but did they maybe have a Dustbuster on board?

I would be one to clean up after kid at restaurant , we’d do the best we could , but not crawling under table/ booth. We usually left an extra large tip.

Not sure if the popcorn ended up a few pieces at a time or was it one time bag tipped over. Once I spilled an entire cup of soda on tray. Fortunately, my fluffy size jeans got most of it so next person wasn’t sitting in a puddle.

 

[Marrila]

well the kids sure dont look like they are struggling.. maybe the 5 year old should have helped mom out and cleaned up the mess?? get the kids off the devices and have them bend over a minute

Exactly. It would never occur to me to expect others to clean up a big popcorn mess my kids made.
The kids can use a bag to help tidy up.

 

[sam_gordon]

Maybe a short flight / smaller aircraft - I would expect to see a 3 x 3 configuration, not 2 x 2.

I was guessing short flight/smaller aircraft.

 

[sam_gordon]

Another question... how did so much of the popcorn get BEHIND the seat?

 

[LuvOrlando]

Regarding the bolded... did they though? I think most are "backing" the FA.

In your opinion, do parents have ANY responsibility for the mess their kids cause?

They do, but this is a pregnant mom with 2 little kids. This isn't like a grown man by himself who made a mess but then again, judging by the state of things in the world I shouldn't be shocked no-one feels compelled to help anyone do anything.

 

[soccerdad72]

but then again, judging by the state of things in the world I shouldn't be shocked no-one feels compelled to help anyone do anything.

...like the mom?

 

[GAN]

From what I have gathered, you can buy popcorn and gummi bears as an inflight snack..

Ohhhh ...UA provided it?!?! Then too bad on them ...clean the mess or don't serve popcorn to 3-year olds. United's choice....

 

[LuvOrlando]

...like the mom?

I would help others would not, the end