Alaska Airlines Stewardess Threatens to Detain Passengers Over Missing Digiplayer

Flying in from Miami to Seattle this morning on Alaska Airlines Flight #17, I was somewhat amused (and a bit horrified) when the stewardess said that the cabin doors would not be opened and that passengers would not be allowed off to catch connecting flights if the last video player (digiplayer, as she calls them) was not returned. Partly, I'm amused because of the ridiculousness of the threat vs. the magnitude of the crime but also I have to wonder if this is against FAA regulations.

I also have a brilliant tip for Alaska - when you rent a digiplayer, note down the seat #. Threatening to detain all your passengers over transgressions by other flyers is about the dumbest thing you can do for customer loyalty. And all those early morning announcements asking people to return their digiplayers are kind of annoying. Thank you Cory @ BoingBoing for linking.

Comments

[Lisa]

So did someone fess up and return the player?

[Anonymous]

Did it work?

[UKChris]

Well???? Did they get the digiplayer back or are you still on the plane?

[Dave Aubke]

So... what happened? Was the digiplayer returned? Are you still on that plane?

[nickelrocket]

Or take a credit card # down like Google did with the ChromeBook promo on VirginAmerica last year. You walk off with it, you bought it.

[Brian Blank]

What in the hell is a "digiplayer"? ;-)

[Mace Moneta]

It's a good thing that kidnapping isn't a crime.

[Darren]

So, what happened? Did the person come forward?

[Dr Nick]

So how did it end? Who held their breath for longest?

[Bobbie Egan]

Note: Ms. Egan's comment refers to a different flight than I was referring to in my post. - Reifman

Mr. Reifman,

The flight attendant's announcement to our passengers onboard this flight was inappropriate and did not follow our procedures. The video player was located before the flight landed in Miami and we should have shared this with our customers. In regards to the suggestion that we note the seat number of passengers renting these devices, our flight attendants are trained to do just that when renting the video players. This step was not followed on this flight. We are following up with the crew of this flight to make sure they understand our procedures.

I apologize for any alarm this caused you and the other passengers onboard this flight.

Sincerely,

Bobbie Egan, Alaska Airlines spokesperson

[Tom In San Jose]

First of all...Stewardess? Really? It's 2012 Jeff. I'm sure the issue was that someone helped themselves to a Digiplayer. FLIGHT ATTENDANTS do keep track of who buys and who pre reserves a Digiplayer.

[Doris]

Could this have been the same Alaska Airlines stewardess who, a few years ago, suggested I pick out the miniscule chicken bits in a chicken salad when my pre-ordered vegetarian option was unavailable because of "lazy Mexicans"? She then proceeded to yell (yes, yell) at me because I declined; I'm grateful to the kind Mexican lady behind me offered me some food she had brought with her or I'd would have been forced to go without food for the day.
Do they still have the creepy inspirational Christian Bible quotes on all the food trays?
I'm afraid to fly with them ever again, I could be accidentally Raptured against my will.