The Times of India: 'Indians are unruly fliers'

[kurth]

'Indians are unruly fliers'
25 Aug, 2006

MUMBAI: While the debate rages on whether the 12 Indian detained by the Dutch police on Wednesday were victims of racial profiling, flight attendants feel Indian passengers habitually ignore instructions of the cabin crew while on board.

An Indian Airlines attendant who flies on the Kolkata-Bangkok sector says, "These so-called educated passengers do not switch off their cell phones when they are asked to do so, and still make calls when the plane is ready for take off or is landing. Before the plane halts, they jump up from their seats and open the baggage. They ignore the 'seat belt on' signs. It's really tiring to attend to such passengers." Referring to the North West Airlines flight in which the Indian passengers apparently refused to follow instructions of the crew, the attendant said, "If we were to follow such strict rules in India, then every flight would have to make emergency landing." ...

Crew members also complain about passengers behaving badly after a couple of drinks on sectors like Bangkok, which have a free-bar service. An NRI who travelled by North West from Amsterdam to Mumbai earlier this year, said though he thought the behaviour of the flight crew in this week's incident "smacked of racial discrimination", Indian passengers often behaved inappropriately. He recalled an earlier flight in which on landing at the Mumbai airport, even before the 'seat belt on' sign was put up, most Indian passengers had unbuckled their belts and sprung from their seats. "Their cell phones had begun to ring when they were supposed to keep them switched off. Only after the airhostess sternly told them that no one would be allowed to get down did they obey her instructions." ...

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1927219.cms

[liberalpragmatist]

1. So true

I am Indian-American, btw

[ZombieNixon]

2. Oh, yes, we are. I can attest to this.

It doesn't stop when your family leaves the motherland, either. :eyes: :D

(Also Indian-American here)

[JackintheGreen]

6. REALLY???

I fly to and from India rather frequently (and no, I'm not a hippie) and I honestly haven't noticed this phenomenon. 'course, I'm not known for my keen awareness of others, but really? Huh...interesting.

[Deja Q]

3. Anyone being arrogant and selfish should be treated the same way.

Indian, Italian, Mexican, I don't care who it is. No race cards. Only civility cards.

We all have to be aware, in this globalized world, that other cultures still need to be represented. And the most strict one is going to have the one obeyed when it comes to international dealings. Right, China? :D

[cliss]

4. This is actually rather funny.

Just goes to show ya, not everybody is 'on board' with this new War on Terror. Some people just try to stay unaffected......by God, what's wrong with them???

Seriously though, I'm planning to go to India this fall. I'll be flying to Mumbai, and then make some side trips to Bangalore & Chennai. We'll go on Air India./

.....it should be entertaining!!!

[varun]

5. Indians dont care about rules anyway...

Its amazing how the country still functions.

(I am an Indian in America)

[TahitiNut]

7. It might be interesting to know their social caste.

"Sailors on leave" syndrome or merely the habitual behavior of the privileged? It makes little difference what ethnicity is involved, I've seen the same arrogance from the 'privileged' no matter what the other demographics.

[hedgehog]

8. How comes when Americans travel to other countries, we

are expected to follow the local rules, but other travelers are given a free pass? How many Du'ers excusing these guys for causing this ruckas would insist that a woman visiting the Mioddle East wear a head scarf to avoid offending local mores?

Any American who behaved like this on a plane would likely be arrested for interfering with the cabin crew. For what it's worth, the last time I flew, the plane practically came to a stop on the taxi strip. There was a gentleman behind me who just would not shut down his electronic equipment even though the flight attendant stood over him and told him to do so. He kept arguing with her instead. I didn't turn around to study him, so all I can say is that he was from India or the Middle East. At the time I couldn't figure out if he was arrogant (the rules don't apply to me) or just plain stupid (here I am fitting everyone's stereotype of a hijacker and I'm fighting with the flight attendant.)