This is why if I see the pilots when I get off the plane I always thank them. Sometimes they don't have the cockpit door open, but when they do....I thank them and say "nice flying."

Particularly if they had to do a trickier landing maneuver such as the memorable occasion when the pilot had to hard land at DCA so hard he scared the flight attendants!

You can't risk a major bounce at DCA or you will end up in the Potomac. It's happened. So they tend to bring them in a little hard. In this case there was some unexpected wind gusting and the pilot *really* slammed her down.

All the people complaining did not understand that he did the absolute right thing.

Which is the other thing. Passengers who bitch because they don't get it. Everyone should read up on the basics of aviation before getting on a plane ;).