Cheers for flight attendant

I read the Fly Guy column about the man who threw a fit when he couldn’t get the chicken entrée [“The Last Jerk Wasn’t Chicken,” by Elliott Hester, July 22]. He prefaced his remarks by stating that he was not proud of his response and that he should have taken the high road. I would suggest that his response was the high road and that he handled it professionally and appropriately.

I believe that the phrase “The customer is always right” is poisonous, because people believe it gives them the right to act rudely. The man was given multiple opportunities to handle the situation like an adult.

Hester’s telling the man to grow up was what he needed to hear, because from then on he behaved himself.

I think people act rudely because they know that most people will not stand up to them. Because Hester stood up to the man, I hope he will think twice before he tries that stunt on his next flight.

I wish more employees were empowered by their employers to stand up to customers who act like this man. Instead, most of the

time these rude people are rewarded for their misdeeds by being given what they want, which only reinforces the behavior. I think what Hester said was what every other passenger sitting around him secretly wanted to say. Jonathan Peske Redlands

Official airline policy did not condone Hester’s action, and were I to find myself in the same situation and taking the same action, I too would have felt ashamed of myself for losing my cool.

Yet this passenger was disruptive, uncooperative and perhaps even willing to cause the sort of trouble that would have required Hester to take dramatic action. It seems to me he did just that.

I don’t fly often; I did enough of that when I traveled for business. There were a few times when I was tired, frustrated, angry, annoyed, whatever, that I was not polite to the flight attendants.

In my rare travels today, I try to make it a point to be pleasant, courteous and to ask for or require as little of the flight crew’s attention as possible.

They have better things to do than be my waiter or waitress. Walt Craig Kingman, Ariz.

This message is for Hester: You may not be proud of yourself for putting that man in his place, but I am. It’s about time. Your response to him was restrained and accurate. He earned it. Sue Guilford Orange