The Flight Of His Wife Is The Fright Of His Life
(I am closing the ticket counter for the night. Our airline believes very strongly on flights leaving on time, and as such have a strict thirty-minute cutoff policy. Anyone arriving at less than 30 minutes to departure will not be allowed to check-in. It is 27 minutes to the last flight’s departure, and a man comes running to the counter, where my coworker and her trainee are still at an open computer.)
Passenger: “I need to check-in for this flight!”
Coworker: “I am really sorry, sir, but unfortunately you are too late to make your flight. I will be glad to rebook you for a flight tomorrow. May I see your ID?”
Passenger: “What do you mean I’m too late? The flight doesn’t leave until 9 pm!”
Trainee: “Yes sir, but we have a 30 minute cutoff for check-in, and it’s 8:33 pm.”
Passenger: “It’s only three minutes!”
Trainee: “Yes, sir, but you still have to get through security. We want the other 131 passengers on the plane to leave on time.”
Coworker: “I’m very sorry, sir, but it is too late. As I said, I would be glad to book you on a different flight tomorrow.”
Passenger: “Your airline is stupid! I got your stupid credit card because I thought you would respect loyalty! It’s the last flight of the night and I’m going to be f****** stuck here until tomorrow!”
(The passenger continues to get increasingly angry and starts yelling obscenities. Everyone around, including the employees of airlines next to us, are staring. He is waving the credit card around.)
Passenger: “Fine! Rebook me for tomorrow! And give me that stapler!”
(My coworker hands him the stapler. The passenger uses the stapler to split the credit card in half, then throws the pieces at my coworker.)
Passenger: “I will never fly your airline again!”
Coworker: “Sir, I have been trying to help you, but I won’t take this kind of abuse. Now, if you want me to continue, I will need you to stop. Also, I would like to inform you that your flight was actually for tomorrow.”
Passenger: *suddenly quiet* “Oh. My wife was supposed to call and change that.”
Coworker: “Well, she didn’t. Do you still want me to rebook you?”
Passenger: “Never mind. I’ll just call.” *leaves*
Trainee: “Wow.”
Did you find this story using our Airline Staff roundup?
Question of the Week
Tell us your story about a customer who couldn't understand the most simple concept.
