An Air New Zealand flight attendant fired for bad behaviour has lost her appeal to get her job back.
Jennifer Kilpatrick was let go by her former employer after a string of incidents during a return flight to Rarotonga in 2012.
She faced several allegations including being aggressive to staff and passengers, eating food meant for passengers, failing to perform duties properly, and insubordination.
In one incident, a staff member recalled Ms Kilpatrick threatening to leave the flight and go home if she was referred to as "Jenny or "Jen".
She neglected to program customers' screens so they could order pre-paid food, and was then seen by a customer eating a pie meant to be available on the flight menu.
When the man challenged her, she loudly accused him of watching her eat.
Ms Kilpatrick went to the Employment Relations Authority over the airline's decision to get rid of her, but when it ruled against her, she appealed the decision.
However, Judge Mark Perkins has released his decision dismissing Ms Kilpatrick's appeal.
He found Air New Zealand was justified in taking disciplinary procedures against Ms Kilpatrick.
After the troublesome Rarotonga flights, she took prolonged sick leave and once her paid leave ran out, she claimed being placed on leave without pay equated to being suspended.
However, during that time she bypassed medical procedures and returned to work for a flight to San Francisco, despite not being cleared to fly.
Once disciplinary procedures commenced, Ms Kilpatrick frustrated the efforts of Air New Zealand by postponing meeting dates and demanding meetings were conducted on her timetable.
"Throughout this process the only impression to be gained was that Ms Kilpatrick was using stonewalling tactics," Judge Perkins said.
Her refusal to engage in the disciplinary process left the airline no choice but to dismiss her, he said.
Costs are reserved.
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