An award should go to the United Airlines gate agent
in New York for being smart and funny, while making her point, when confronted with a passenger who
probably deserved to fly as cargo.
For all of you out there who have had to deal with
an irate customer, this one is for you.
A crowded United Airlines flight was cancelled.
A single agent was rebooking a long line of
inconvenienced travellers.
Suddenly, an angry passenger pushed his way to the
desk. He slapped his ticket on the counter and said, "I HAVE to be on this
flight and it has to be FIRST CLASS."
The agent replied, "I'm sorry, sir. I'll be
happy to try to help you, but I've got to help these folks first; and then
I'm sure we'll be able to work something out."
The passenger was unimpressed.
He asked loudly, so that the passengers behind him
could hear, "DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHO I AM?"
Without hesitating, the agent smiled and grabbed her
public address microphone.
"May I have your attention, please?" she
began, her voice heard clearly throughout the terminal.
"We have a passenger here at Gate 14 who does
not know who he is. If anyone
can help him with his identity, please come to Gate 14."
With the folks behind him in line
laughing hysterically, the man glared at the United Airlines agent,
gritted his teeth, and said, "F*** You!" Without flinching,
she smiled and said, "I'm sorry sir, you'll have to get in line for
that, too."
If that had been British airways they would have let the First Class customer push in and get special treatment however rude he was. They are so desperate for his money.
ReplyDeleteValerie, thanks for providing me with a laugh - - I needed it. That United Airlines gate agent should definitely be given an award. She's an inspiration.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I ever met anyway with a sense of humour on the gates, lol.
DeleteJust the way to treat such an entitled person! Thanks for making me laugh too!
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome to the laugh, Jenny. Glad I found it, although I forget how I found it.
DeleteOh, brilliant. That lady had some quick thinking genes.
ReplyDeleteDidn't she just, Susan. A quick wit is definitely needed in that job.
DeleteOh PLEASE, tell me that is on YouTube!!
ReplyDeleteI don't know, Joeh. I just got a printed version.
DeleteBwhahahahahahahahahahaha! OMG Valerie, that last line made me LOL! What a BRILLIANT retort! And I also love her response to "Do you know who I am?"
ReplyDeleteBeing in the customer service industry myself, I can't tell you how many times I've had to deal with customers such as the one in this story. Only, I didn't handle them with as much control and humor as she did.
Thanks for the laughs, my friend!
X
Glad you enjoyed it, Ron. I suggest you file it away for a possible future encounter.
DeleteVery funny. A little bit of politeness gets you a long way.
ReplyDeleteI am pleased you enjoyed a laugh, Dave.
DeleteGood one.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
DeleteThank you, and thanks for visiting.
As my dear mother-in-law used to say to those who would listen, you can catch more bees with honey than you can with vinegar :) Great post and admired the gate agent and her cool and witty comeback.
ReplyDeleteYour mother-in-law got it absolutely right, Denise.
DeleteWell that is awesome. Thanks for sharing, Val.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Matt.
ReplyDeleteThis was a fun story and a quick thinking agent who cleverly dealt with a quite rude individual.
ReplyDeleteIt certainly made me smile.
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