Allow me to share my recent experience on a major airline carrier, (Jetblue) which resulted in my being
expelled from my flight. First let me preface this tale by saying that I have had a life long terror
of airplane travel. This despite the fact that I have traversed the globe since I was two years old.
However as age and dementia have started their vicious crawl, it has only worsened. One of the
manifestations of this horrific and paralyzing fear, is I always feel compelled to stop at the
cockpit as I am boarding and check my drivers. I have done this for well over thirty years and
never had an issue. I smile as I enter and ask is everyone okay today? Everyone sober and no hangovers?
Ready to fly? The answers to this oft repeated query of mine, from the many pilots and co-pilots
has always been very friendly and good humored, as they reassure me all is well and we expect smooth flying.
This makes me feel better, enough so I am able to take my seat and endure the event in its entirety.
 
All of that took a frightening turn last Friday April the 30th at JFK, as I was preparing to leave NY
and come home to the Bahamas.
 
I walked onto the plane and stopped at the cockpit and asked my questions. No sooner had the words
left my mouth, than the pilot was shrieking that I was ruining his career! What? I don't even know
you mister, how can I do that? He is escalating wildly, screaming this is his career and not some joke!
He grabs the microphone and calls for security. I am apologizing profusely, trying to explain I meant
 no harm and it is just because I am frightened! He orders me off the plane to wait on the bridge for
security to come! I am stunned.
 
Then, barreling down the ramp comes 'Tim' from Corporate Security, who also comes at me like gang
busters, screaming about this mans career! The career thing again! I am still mystified as to exactly
why I am being taken off the plane? Big bad Tim, clearly an Irishman with an NYPD background, could
not have been any nastier to me as he explained that now, because of my 'joke', the entire crew would
have to be tested before they could pull out! Okay. I now am beginning to comprehend. Sort of.
 
So what exactly was my crime I still want to know? Was it asking a stupid question because I was afraid?
Or, was it putting the pilot at risk of giving a dirty urine? If he is clean, how can that ruin his career?
Furthermore, do I not have the right as a paying customer to know the fitness of my driver? I would with
someone driving me in a car right? Now all of this is not to say that he appeared under the influence to me,
because that is not why I asked the question.
 
Post 9/11 hyper-vigilance has taken a dangerous turn. I feel my rights slowly seeping away like the tides.
I am an educated and attractive middle aged woman. I was not giving them any trouble. Other than a few tears
of powerlessness. Never mind the cheap prices and fancy new terminal folks, this airline will behave badly
and have no remorse. I got my 'sorry' letter and a copy of the Customers Bill of Rights. Which I read and
still cannot identify exactly what this most heinous crime was?
 
It took me an additional 12 hours and $500 dollars to finally get home on other airlines.
 
Where did the laughter go? Where is the humanity? There were 20 other crisis resolutions they could've
employed quite effectively, sparing me the public embarrassment and humiliation. They over-reacted and
to what end? What purpose was served? Is this what we have to look forward to as citizens of the
supposed land of liberties? Perhaps (Jetblue) ought to put a disclaimer on all tickets: No jokes,
no questions and whatever you do, don't smile or try and comfort anyone.