Hating on flight attendants is universal at this point, correct? Unless you’re Gerard Depardieu and you need to pee. But doesn’t everyone have a “this flight attendant was the worst” story? Or am I about to be regaled with stories of your BFF, the stewardess, who would never say one harsh thing against a passenger? Whatever, I’ll say it: flight attendants are power-crazed jagoffs. And one of them just had a beef with Alec Baldwin. Apparently, Alec was on an American Airlines flight yesterday. And when I say “on a flight” I mean “sitting at the gate, waiting to take off.” The flight attendant told Alec to stop playing Words With Friends, and then Alec was escorted off the flight. Dramz?
American Airlines encourages its customers to “be themselves, nonstop” — unless that customer is Alec Baldwin.
The 53-year-old 30 Rock actor was kicked off his flight from L.A. Tuesday afternoon. Several passengers confirmed the news via Twitter moments as Baldwin was removed from the plane.
Said Activate founder and managing director Michael J. Wolf: “On an AA flight at LAX. Alec Baldwin removed from the plane We had to go back to the gate. Terrible that everyone had to wait.”
Baldwin’s early exit may have been due to his use of electronics. “The flight attendant on American reamed me out for playing Words With Friends while we sat at the gate, not moving,” Baldwin tweeted. “No wonder American Air is bankrupt.”
“But, oddly, 30 Rock plays inflight on American,” Baldwin added. “The real way is United.”
Baldwin’s rep explained the ordeal to Us Weekly, saying: “Alec was asked to leave the flight for playing Words with Friends while parked at the gate. He loves WWF so much that he was willing to leave a plane for it, but he has already boarded another AA flight.”
[From Us Weekly]
TMZ reports that there was an additional confrontation after the flight attendant “reamed” him for playing a game on his phone:
The last straw in the Alec Baldwin/American Airlines incident came when he “slammed” the bathroom door so loudly the captain of Flight 4 had to get involved … according to people on the plane.
We’re told Baldwin’s tweets about the incident are on point — flight attendants wanted him to shut off his cell phone in the middle of a game of “Words with Friends” … after the cabin door closed, but the plane remained at the gate.
But according to passengers … after the confrontation over his phone, Alec got up to go to the bathroom and angrily slammed the lavatory door. We’re told it was so loud the captain called back to flight attendants to find out what was happening.
That’s when the captain himself made the call to have Baldwin removed.
Sources close to Alec claim he did not slam the door, and only got up to get the flight attendant’s name so he could file a complaint — but because the fasten seat belt sign was on he was asked to leave the plane.
Alec boarded the next LAX-JFK flight — and we’re guessing he’s enjoying an intense match of ‘Words’ right now … at 40,000 feet.
[From TMZ]
Meh. It sounds everyone, from Alec to the flight attendant to the captain, were all asses, honestly. I’ll always believe that Alec Baldwin is an ass in real life, just like I’ll always believe that most flight attendants are power-crazed jagoffs. I don’t have a stereotype about plane captains, though. Mostly I just hope they aren’t drunk or asleep.
Photos courtesy of WENN & Fame.
He’s a pompous ass…hope the flight attendant got a raise.
What’s with his kindergarten hair don’t?
I agree totally. He is disgusting on many levels. And again a celebrity who thinks themself above a non celebrity for God knows what reason. Good job attendant for kicking him off.
If anything, Words with Friends is going to get some traffic. I never heard of it before.
I looked at http://www.wordswithfriends.com/rules.html to see how to play this. It looks like a decent game, but I didn’t realize it was “wildly popular”…my bad lol
They got free publicity thanks to Alec Baldwin!
I like word games myself but WWF is just another Scrabble game – I want something different. I also don’t get the hype over it, like Angry Birds. Sure, Angry Birds is fun, but I don’t understand why people are going crazy over it.
I play Words With Friends all the time! It’s really popular, Daniel Radcliffe even gave it a shout out.
It is! My sister got me hooked on it. I think I have 50 people who I play with now. It’s that addictive. lol
I am addicted to WWF! My family is ready to set up an intervention…
I’m a WWF addict, too. And now all I can think about is trying to get Alec Baldwin to play WWF with me… I bet he’s a fierce competitor, lol!
I wanna know what kind of phones ya’ll have, cuz I emptied all the juice out of my iPhone on my last flight just playing Tiny Wings for 20 minutes and screwed myself from making any nonemergency calls due to low battery. Not only that, but there was no service on the flight (United).
Isn’t this just basic Scrabble?
That’s what I’ve always thought when I’ve seen someone playing it. But I remember everyone I know being really into Facebook scrabble when FB first got big, so maybe it’s the same situation all over again?
Sounds like everyone over-reacted, and let a minor issue balloon into a big headache for all the other passengers.
Seems like he probably glossed over his temper here. When I hear the full story, I will decide if the stewadess overreacted.
What ‘full story’ does one need to hear? He was a passenger on an airline…just like anyone else..so why should he be treated differently?
The ‘full story’ is that is the rule when you board a plane. Just cuz you’re a dbag celebrity doesn’t make you exempt.
so sick of celebrities being so self-absorbed! wtf?! asshat!
I love Words With Friends. Maybe I’ve been playing Alec. Awesome!
The flight attendant doesn’t give a crap what game you’re playing, they just want the phone off. The part I find appalling is how much time his shenanigans wasted for everyone else.
Despite that, I still enjoy him, just for the insane behavior.
this guy would blow his stack over anything. his girlfriend needs to run for the hills. anyone woman who gets involved with this guy must have a screw loose.
although, i do like his tv and movie performances.
If EVERYONE is required to turn their phones off after the cabin door closes, EVERYONE should do it. Alec Baldwin shouldn’t feel exempted or special, even if he personally thinks that this is a stupid rule and he’d like to continue playing with his friends (is he 4?). Turn your phone off, shut your trap and don’t delay everyone else by making an already-unpleasant experience (flying) even worse. 🙂
ditto
Thirded.
And you’re supposed to turn off the stuff when the door closes. They announce that when the door is closed on every flight. Who doesn’t know that?
That said, it does sound like everyone overreacted. But I’m sure Joe Schmoe would have been kicked off the plane to.
‘Zactly. And besides, he could have just waited what, 20-30 minutes tops and he could be playing again. Maybe the flight attendant was being a snot but once you slam the door on an airplane, your kind of asking to be thrown off. Totally at the captain’s discretion.
Amen!
This is what I wanted to say. The rule about using electronic devices is intended as “erring on the side of safety”. Eventually it may be removed. But for now, it is in place, and I for one have no sympathy with people who cannot obey a simple rule for a short time. It only holds up the flight for everyone.
True. I have family who work in the airline industry. It is precautionary and may be lifted at some point.
Agreed.
I have family who is a pilot for AA. Yes it is a precaution and EVERYONE has to do it. He can’t pull out his Iphone or tablet just because auto-pilot is on either. It may be lifted later as newer planes make it to commercial use. Frequency interference is better mitigated now than it was even 10 years ago. However better safe than plummeting to your death because some dickhead had to play a video game that was created incorrectly and caused interference with the computers on the plane.
Alec is being a diva. WWF is NOT worth having to inconvenience yourself and ALL THE OTHER people waiting to get where they are headed.
My biggest nightmare is that the FAA will allow cell phone use on planes! I fly a lot and am always amazed at how damn rude most people are about jabbering away on their phones- the reception is crappy and they all talk louder so they can be heard over the passenger next to them, and God forbid they should put their phone down while they’re trying to hoist their 500 lb. bag into the overhead. Nope, I’m sorry but 250 people all talking on their phones at once is a nightmare waiting to happen.
I support the flight attendant and what a stupid article. Same rules apply to any celeb or wealthy arrogant moron as anyone else. Kudos to the flight attendant!!!!
Who is his date/girlfriend/wife ?
Ok. Seriously. Flight attendants.THE WORST.
If the plane is NOT moving, or sitting on the runway being deiced, or sitting at the gate – then you can still have your devices on… on private flights and planes, you can have them on the whole freaking time.. so…..
I don’t blame him for freaking out.
You can’t even use an ereader or an iPod/MP3 player during take off and landing anymore. It’s ridiculous.
As if the flight attendants make up these rules just to annoy you. They woke up one morning and thought collectively, let’s make everybody turn of there phones just to irritate the passengers. Jeez. They are just doing there job.
Leigh, you can guess my job by my name. The worst? That’s so hostile and unfair.
Do you honestly think cabin crew make up these rules? They are laid down by the FAA/IAA/CAA. Non compliance by crew can lead to our flying licenses being revoked.
I am surprised you can’t appreciate the reason why these safety regulations exist. Taxi, takeoff and landing can be the most dangerous times when flying. Listening to music means you are not alert, vigilant and can’t hear important safety announcements.
I have been crew for 15 years. Do you think I enjoy having to deal with arrogant, self entitled and obnoxious passengers who feel the rules don’t apply to them? If you fly you are obliged to follow the rules of carriage and that means adhering to safety procedures laid down by the global aviation authorities.
Hire a private jet if following safety regulations on commercial flights is too difficult for you.
I am also a flight attendant, and you said pretty much what I was thinking. Thanks.
I understand your angst, Leigh, but, seriously, you can’t just hold off a few minutes of gaming while an entire crew prepares to shoot a long metal tube 15,000 feet into the sky with 200 passengers? Please. Put yourself in their position. It really isn’t worth “freaking out” over, is it? Buy a book!
Leigh,
Have you ever seen how many times the attendants have to tell passengers to put on their seat belts and to turn off their electronics, if they waited until the time of actual take-off you would need an extra 10-15 minutes just so the flight attendants could check to make sure everyone had their electronics turned off.
If you cannot handle living without your phone for that amount of time please don’t fly.
Thoughtless pig.
I was waiting for that, you get the prize!
B-but… he’s a super special little prince who should be able to do what he wants!
No matter how stupid you think the rules are, as a courtesy to your fellow passengers you should stick by them so as not to cause any further delays. I guess he’s just a rude, thoughtless little pig…
I just saw some interviews with other people on the flight and they all said he was a complete asshole. This is kind of a pattern for this self entitled pig, isn’t it?
I haven’t been on a flight in recent years where *someone* hasn’t kept their phone on during taxiing! There are tons of self entitled people out there.
why is it that the dumb fucks we call celebs cannot respect the rules of airplanes. god damn you are risking the lives of others too. and even if you saw no harm in it it wouldn’t kill you to act like a clivilized human like the rest of us every once in a while.
Aww…but he is special – I love him, he’s so funny. Anyone who makes me laugh as much as him can be forgiven for the odd temper tantrum:)
“Airlines generally consider the ‘prohibited’ period to begin when the cabin door closes for pushback.” One big reason is lawyers. The FAA’s regulation makes the airlines responsible for governing the use of portable electronic devices on their airplanes, ensuring that carriers err on the side of non-litigious caution.
The ban on cellular phones is fairly easy to understand. Not only do they transmit signals, they might interfere with cellular signals on the ground. For that reason, it isn’t just the FAA that limits their use on airplanes. The Federal Communications Commission has recently supported the FAA’s decision to keep cell phones turned off during the entire flight, not just during takeoff and landing.”
That said, Alec is a diva.
Is that his wife? She’s very pretty and “normal-person” looking.
She’s a yoga instructor. And he has fallen madly in love. He even mentions her in interviews. I hope it lasts because he seems much happier these days.
and he looks healthier…slimmed down..yoga fits him.
I love all the tweets that came out immediately following this. I guess he wasn’t the only one using his phone after the door closed lol.
lol so true!
seriously. A.B was being a d*ck but if everyone was tweeting immediately they should’ve been punished too — not hard to see people using their phones in their seats.
He is supposed to be a complete jack-off. We had friends who lived in his building in NYC and he is a crusty a-hole (although he was nice to their little girls, so points there, I guess.) I’m going to go with him flipping out on the flight attendants-not exactly out of character considering his tantrums are legendary. And while I agree that sometimes the rules are irritating, the flight attendants are just enforcing them, not making them up-and we ALL have to abide by them, movie star or not.
hahaha.
male DIVA.
I agree that Alec should have been following the rules. Sounds like he’s as much of a WWF addict as I am! (Celebitchy, if you ever wanna play with me, my username is valleymiss!) Lol I have the maximum number of games going, and like 9 of those are with one particular friend. We harrass each other daily (“Play the game! Playyy!” Lol)
I think if you are preparing to take off, even it the plane is at the gate, if they ask you to turn off your electronics listen! Alec or anyone else is not above following flight instructions.
How pathetic that he is so addicted to this game that he can’t turn it off when asked? How about using the enforced non-electronics time to chill out, read a magazine or book maybe? Sheesh.
If told to turn your cell phone off an a plane, do it! There is no exception for entitled divas!
The world was a different place without these fackin cell phones – If Alec really did slam the door no wonder he wasn’t wanted on that plane – imagine having to listen to that for the whole flight if he felt entitled by his star status to do so. Also if you haven’t watched Mile High it is an excellent show.
His ugly behavior is reflected in his appearance. He used to be so cute and hot. I had such a major crush on him. There is a scene in Ghosts of Mississippi where he is interviewing an alderman and he just has the most heart-stopping, knee-shaking dimpled smile…sigh. Now he is just a bloated man. A bloated thoughtless big pig.
agreed. he use to be so handsome. the way he lives his life is reflected in his face…he looks like a mean bastard now.
I love Alec. He can do no wrong in my book. And he might be pompous but I do think sometimes these flight attendants must want to deliberatly pick on celebs because they can. Every time I fly no one ever yells at me for reading my nook even after they tell everyone it is time to turn off all electronic devices.
So the rules don’t apply to you either? How did you get so special?
It may come as a surprise to you to learn that not all cabin crew want to “Pick” on famous people. Professionalism and compliance with Safety Legislation are paramount. No matter who you are you must comply.
This is why so many people dislike cabin crew. Noone likes to be told what to do, alot of people resent it bitterly and try to circumvent the rules because it makes them feel important again and in control.
That’s the difference between maturity and immaturity. The ability to understand that the crew member in front of you is legally obliged to enforce safety rules, not “picking” on you. Just trying to do their job properly.
Noone wants to argue and “pick” on over phones,reclining, seatbelts, cabin baggage, wrong meals, not enough meals, delays and other shite all day, every day. NOONE! It’s so draining and dreadful, that’s why so many crew are very stressed and overworked and exhausted.
I agree with you TG. But I think many air travel employees do this. I mean, how many celebs to you hear talking about being frisked almost EVERY TIME they fly commercial?
It has been my experience that flight attendants are often punitive and rude with passengers when it is just as easy to be nice or even neutral. A smile goes a long way.
I’ve dealt with my fair share of passive aggressive and snotty flight attendants in my day, so nothing anyone says here is going to change my mind.
What an ass. Isn’t the electronics off rule to make sure there’s no
interference with the freakin takeoff
— it is a plane that has to fly through the air safely and all.
Turn the flippin electronics off for a few minutes.
How does he not get it? “I’ve played a pilot in the movies” and “I do your commercials, you worthless little peon” doesn’t keep passengers safe.
And if an irate passenger won’t turn off their electronics, and slams a door on a plane what else can staff do? Whacko.
I cannot stand people who think they are so entitled that they don’t have to follow the rules that everyone does, it just irks me to no end. According to the other passengers, he was told several times by the flight attendant to shut his phone off and he refused and then became beligerent, thus holding up the flight and inconveniencing everyone else on the plane. Dumb@$$!
I love this man! Always have, always will. He’s a hoot.
Who is that little girl he’s holding hands with?
God, he really thinks he’s above everyone else doesn’t he ? Above following the rules ? It’s amusing how the journalist from US Weekly sucks up to him, not realizing how utterly ridiculous his actions are. He can’t stop playing a game for half an hour ? How pathetic and immature.
It’s also very selfish as he’s delaying everyone else. I don’t blame the flight attendant, dealing with these entitled brats can’t be very easy. I wouldn’t have the patience.
Those rules apply to absolutely everyone, and they are for safety, as taxi, takeoff and landing are actually the most dangerous times on a plane. It’s idiotic to disregard them.
We’ve already seen how Alec has a foul temper in his dealings with his daughter. No need to look any further.
When he called his daughter Ireland, a filthy little pig, I’ve hated him ever since. I would never call my kids derogatory names like that when a kid is going through the toughest time of their life. And then he came up with a bunch of excuses and instead of him getting reprimanded, his ex wife did. What f@#ckn justice. And Whoopie saying “we all do that” Uh, no! Bitch, we don’t. Any way, I like his political views but he’s still a pr@ck.
The worst of his offenses was getting up from his seat after the plane door was closed. Although his refusal to obey a flight crew’s instruction is bad enough, according to other passenger’s tweets, they had already started push back and he got up and headed up the aisle — he’s toast.
If a passenger in the front cabin gets up while the plane is moving back and heads in the direction of the cockpit, whether his destination is the toilet, galley or cockpit, the FA’s are going to go into total defensive mode.
As an American Airlines frequent flyer, I hope he does move to United Airlines. Let them deal with him.
Words with friends IS awesome….
It says the passengers corroborate his story, but the passenger quoted said they had to *go back* to the gate whereas he said they were still at the gate. Regardless, I’m sure there’s a big piece missing. He didn’t just sit there quietly, get “reamed” and then get kicked off the plane without doing anything else to escalate it. And I agree the thing should’ve been off. Flight attendants need to prep the passengers, *then* the plane takes off. It’s not up to the passengers to decide when they should be ready.
Update from AA:
American Airlines
Since an extremely vocal customer has publicly identified himself as being removed from an American Airlines flight on Tuesday, Dec. 6, we have elected to provide the actual facts of the matter as well as the FAA regulations which American, and all airlines, must enforce. Cell phones and electronic devices are allowed to be used while the aircraft is at the gate and the door is open for boarding. When the door is closed for departure and the seat belt light is turned on, all cell phones and electronic devices must be turned off for taxi-out and take-off. This passenger declined to turn off his cell phone when asked to do so at the appropriate time. The passenger ultimately stood up (with the seat belt light still on for departure) and took his phone into the plane’s lavatory. He slammed the lavatory door so hard, the cockpit crew heard it and became alarmed, even with the cockpit door closed and locked. They immediately contacted the cabin crew to check on the situation. The passenger was extremely rude to the crew, calling them inappropriate names and using offensive language. Given the facts above, the passenger was removed from the flight and denied boarding.
Thanks Daisy.
Well, apparently he deleted his twitter account, so if he is innocent as he says, why do that? Yes, flight attendants can be a pain, but he is not special and they did not make up the rules.
If he wants to play so much, he should spend some of his money and fly private.
He’s always been a first class douchebag. Interesting that his brothers come across as really nice guys.
I hate flying nowadays & Kaiser is right, the flight attendants are all on a power trip. Still, this story warmed the cockles of my cold, cold heart. After working at trendy gold course where I was regularly subjected celebrity shenanigans such being screeched & cursed at for every little thing, being hit on (asked for BJ’s in the locker room), and always by the married ones (the single ones were gay), having major temper tantrums in front of me such as breaking golf clubs, throwing golf clubs, driving carts into the “lakes” or across tees & greens out of spite; I must say seeing the douchiest of celebs get their comeuppance at the hands of lowly flight attendants is nothing but sheer delight.
Alec very well may have been acting like a Dbag. After all, he is one for most of the time. That said, it’s also true that the airlines and the crew have been on power rampage for years now.
Ever since 9/11, it has become justification for everyone (in general term) involved in air travel to act like grade A d-bags and get away with it, just cos “oh noes terrurizm!!!!” From TSA to strip search a 83 year old handicapped grandma to flight attendents being complete d-cks to passengers, the pendalum has swung wide from unruly passengers being the norm to dickish air travel employees being our current norm.
“flight attendants are power-crazed jagoffs”
I don’t work for an airline and I don’t know anyone who works for an airline, but I totally disagree with your assertion.
I have no patience with assholes like Baldwin who think the flight crew are bubble-headed waitresses. If you have ever had a flight that’s been in distress you know that they are the first line for passenger safety. I take a great deal of comfort when I see flight attendants stand up to rule-flouting pigs who are too addicted to their games & phones to follow the rules. Because I know that man or woman is decisive & tough and will be able to deploy the slides and administer first aid if necessary.
As much as I love 30 Rock, I can’t stand Baldwin. Full props to the American Airline publicity department for not kowtowing to his shit.
Agreed! I’ve been on many flights and never had any problems with flight attendants because I follow the rules. If you want to fly you have to abide by the regulations-it’s not that hard, folks. What’s the big deal about being asked to turn off your phone or Ipad? It’s pathetic. Alec Baldwin isn’t the only jerk-it’s very disturbing how many people out there (celebrities and non-celebrities) are big, bratty babies. Any adult who throws a hissy fit about being asked to turn off a game needs to grow up.
oh Kaiser, I am so disappointed in you. I don’t know what makes you think that ‘flight attendants are power crazed jagoffs.’ Really!? I’ve been a flight attendant for 20 years and I remember right after 9/11 people actually gave us a bit of respect and listened to instructions, now I have to deal with a lot of people who are complete assholes.I’ve had to remove people who were not compliant with my instructions after giving them several opportunities to put their shit away and then they get abusive towards me. They lose it because you asked them 3 times to turn off and stow their electronics. You wouldn’t believe how nasty people get-over nothing. Some people think that they don’t have to listen to you because they have this incredible sense of entitlement. The fact is that the electronics regulations, and any other regulations for that matter are law,mandatory, non negotiable and that’s just how it is. The flight attendants are just delivering the message, we don’t make the rules, OK, and if people would just be more co-operative, flying wouldn’t be so unpleasant. I realise that there are Flight Attendants that might not be very nice, but the vast majority are just trying to do their jobs properly.
I’m confused. Baldwin sitting at gate playing WWF gets in trouble, but we hear about this while it’s happening by passengers live tweeting???… I know actors can be total asshats, but when one known for his politics gets hassled I can’t help that it’s sometimes just someone with an opposite political stance giving them a ration of crap. Tough call IMO.
Oh Alec. The guy you love to hate. He’s an awesome jerky boy who entertains but thankfully I’ll never meet.
Alec is very talented, but what a jerk off. I usually like him, but not this time. Turn your effing gd phone off when you are told to. And keep your seat belt fastened. No exceptions. AA was absolutely correct to throw his ass off the flight.
He’s looking better, though. Looks like he’s lost some weight. Guess having a yoga girlfriend has helped. Not his temper, however.
Alec Baldwin is truly a pompus a$$ that feels he is entitled to special treatment! Quit giving this Fu$* any air time!! go hide under a rock you DIC#!!
POLITICAL!! Give me a break….this J-off has been sh9^ing on repulicans his whole life! Hope he is getting some back! Seriously, grow the F up you jerk!