B737-700 first officer reported that a confrontation between the gate agent and the captain before d...

Narrative:

Before boarding; captain requested that the deadhead flight crew (captain and first officer) be boarded prior to any boarding. We had a late arriving aircraft. The agent said; 'no' and that the crew would board with the pre-boards and disregarded the captain's request. While I was making the flight deck announcement; the agent entered the flight deck; and the captain asked the agent why he disregarded his request. Things got heated afterwards; and I heard the agent tell the captain; after the captain asked numerous times for him to step off the aircraft; that the aircraft was under his command and he would remove (himself) when he was done with what he needed to do. He also told the captain that he could then return to 'pushing buttons' when he decided. I stopped my announcements for fear that the agent's confrontational words would leak through the PA. When the captain and the agent left the aircraft; upon the captain's request; the captain asked me to follow. He had called company and asked that a supervisor meet him in the jet bridge regarding the current matter at hand. The supervisor arrived and the captain tried to explain the situation but; the agent continued to interrupt. We then boarded the aircraft and backed out of the gate. It was a very uncomfortable and tense situation. The agent's lack of respect; and loud condescending comments were heard by passengers sitting in the first few rows. Because of this disturbance; it made things initially rather tense in the flight deck as we were backing out of the gate. This is not a safe environment for aircraft operation. This is not how an agent should treat passengers; and certainly not company personnel responsible for the safe operation of company property and passengers.if company personnel (the agents) cannot adhere to a captain's simple request regarding the boarding order of deadheading personnel on an aircraft; due to restrictions set forth by those in management; then that information needs to be related respectfully. I was not aware; and my guess is neither was the captain; that agents 'owned' the aircraft when it is parked at the gate. If the agent has an issue with the flight deck personnel; then it should be removed from the aircraft; out of passenger earshot; and discussed respectfully.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-700 First Officer reported that a confrontation between the Gate Agent and the Captain before departure created a tense; unsafe atmosphere for the flight.

Narrative: Before boarding; Captain requested that the deadhead Flight Crew (Captain and F/O) be boarded prior to any boarding. We had a late arriving aircraft. The Agent said; 'No' and that the Crew would board with the pre-boards and disregarded the Captain's request. While I was making the flight deck announcement; the Agent entered the flight deck; and the Captain asked the Agent why he disregarded his request. Things got heated afterwards; and I heard the Agent tell the Captain; after the Captain asked numerous times for him to step off the aircraft; that the aircraft was under his command and he would remove (himself) when he was done with what he needed to do. He also told the Captain that he could then return to 'pushing buttons' when he decided. I stopped my announcements for fear that the Agent's confrontational words would leak through the PA. When the Captain and the Agent left the aircraft; upon the Captain's request; the Captain asked me to follow. He had called Company and asked that a Supervisor meet him in the jet bridge regarding the current matter at hand. The Supervisor arrived and the Captain tried to explain the situation but; the Agent continued to interrupt. We then boarded the aircraft and backed out of the gate. It was a very uncomfortable and tense situation. The Agent's lack of respect; and loud condescending comments were heard by passengers sitting in the first few rows. Because of this disturbance; it made things initially rather tense in the flight deck as we were backing out of the gate. This is not a safe environment for aircraft operation. This is not how an Agent should treat passengers; and certainly not company personnel responsible for the safe operation of company property and passengers.If Company personnel (the Agents) cannot adhere to a Captain's simple request regarding the boarding order of deadheading personnel on an aircraft; due to restrictions set forth by those in Management; then that information needs to be related respectfully. I was not aware; and my guess is neither was the Captain; that Agents 'owned' the aircraft when it is parked at the gate. If the Agent has an issue with the flight deck personnel; then it should be removed from the aircraft; out of passenger earshot; and discussed respectfully.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

Attributes
ACN	1350415
Time
Date	201604
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ATL.Airport
State Reference	GA
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Parked
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	First Officer
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 87 Flight Crew Type 500
Events
Anomaly	Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown

B737-700 first officer reported that a confrontation between the gate agent and the captain before departure created a tense; unsafe atmosphere for the flight.