Southwest disciplines pilot for rant during flight

CNN ^ | June 22, 2011 | CNN Wire Staff

[Immerito]

(CNN) -- Southwest Airlines disciplined a pilot whose profanity-laced rant about flight attendants was heard by other airplane crews and controllers, officials said Wednesday.

The unidentified pilot bashed flight attendants as a "continuous stream of gays and grannies and grandes," according to a transcript of the March 25 flight over central Texas. The pilot on the Austin to San Diego flight was referring to the sexual orientation, age and attractiveness of flight attendants.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

And I will make on final comment as well - I don’t particulary care what this pilot said - it was stupid and rude and shows his character, but that is not my business. What I do care about is that he was supposed to be doing his job and instead, while making his rant, he put lots of people in danger. The ATC says the mike was open which caused other pilots to not be able to reach the tower. That is the issue. The stupid things the pilot said will be attacked by gay groups an the union representing the stewardess/stewards - they can all duke it out.

[ErnBatavia]

We used to take a Delta flight from LAX to Hono.....the crew did a turnaround, making for a pretty long day.

The 'flight attendants' were all very senior, because this was a coveted assignment - two days a week was all they had to work.

These stews were very close to needing walkers to work the aisles.

[EDINVA]

There used to be very tough standards to be a flight attendant, or as they were then called “stewaradesses.” Had to be a certain height, weight, age and marital status, not to mention, gender. If a stewardess gained a few extra pounds, she went ‘on leave’ till that weight was lost.

Then there was a lawsuit, age related as I recall, and that was the end of any standards at all.

It would be interesting to see what % of air travelers over the past couple of decades who would actually disagree with what the pilot said.

[ErnBatavia]

We flew Singapore to Tokyo and on to Singapore.....the "Singapore Girls" were all stunning.

Those were the only long haul flights that I wished would go on and on....

[Borax Queen]

In the 90s, I flew to and within Mexico a lot, using Mexicana and AeroMexico. Those women were beautiful too, put-together, nice hair and makeup (but not too much). It was already such a contrast to what was going on domestically. They were super nice and the free drinks for the whole plane were fun too :0)

[Mr. Jeeves]

Man, woman, or child, a person likes beauty and grace and can tell when they’re around these qualities.

Singapore Airlines will completely spoil you for any future flight on a US airline. You just have to grit your teeth even harder when subsequently boarding US Airways or United and realize that there are still places in the world that don't treat ugliness and gracelessness as a handicap deserving of preferential affirmative action.

For the ladies, Singapore Airlines has good male flight attendants, also - they are handsome, competent, professional, and display no noticeable gay behaviors. :)

[jboot]

Thanks for that link. I recall the golden days myself: my grandparents took a air trip when I was six or so and I was at the airport to see them off. I was a little weepy because I couldn't go along-and no, I am not making this up-the captain of the liner stopped on his way to the jetway, asked my grandpa what was wrong, and when he was told he took off his (real) gold wings and gave them to me! I wish I still had them, but they have vanished in the intervening decades.

It was a different world, then. One I'd kill to get back to.

[jboot]

On my last fight, I believe that at least two of the “attendants” were transvestites. Unpleasant!

[Moonman62]

Proof that women don't need to be scantily dressed to be attractive.

[smokingfrog]

Sometimes, I really miss the old days.

[sternup]

SW Airlines use to ROCK!!!!

in the real "good ole days" of Southwest, when they flew only intrastate (Texas)...SAT..DAL...HOU...., they didn't have to abide by the "wait till you get in the air, before you could drink" rules...on occasion, you could walk on the plane, and there was a washtub filled with ice and Lone Star or Pearl longnecks...help yourself..of course, I am sure some beer "afficiandos" would be insulted with that choice..

those were the days when your cash register receipt from the ticket counter, was your boarding pass...the figure $16 bucks come to mind..

[newnhdad]

I want this guy to be my pilot..

[RandallFlagg]

Hottie Ping!

[numberonepal]

Hottie Ping!
To be on or off the Hottie Ping List please FReepmail me.
RandallFlagg gets the nod for the catch.

[Vendome]

Wow!

Beautiful.

[Vendome]

LOL

[Vendome]

Smoking

[TheThirdRuffian]

“Well, since it was used in connection with “grannies”, my guess is “Grandes” are old folks like grandma’s and grandpa’s.”

Nope, I’ve heard the tape, he said “grand-e” as in “fat Hispanic.”

[Loud Mime]

The hottest attendants are on corporate jets.