PLEASE, Don't yell at the airport workers.

[eliza61]

My neighbor Barb, just came home from Philly airport looking like she has been beat to heck. She works at the American Airline reservation counter.

I know passengers are frustrated but the workers behind at the ticket counter really can't control mother nature. A major snowstorm is going to screw up air travel.

Yelling, screaming and threatening them isn't going to make your plane arrive.
She thinks she is qualifies for the Guinnes book of Records, "under the number of times some one cursed at her in a 12 hour period"

Just a public service announcement from one extremely tired Customer service agent.

 

[SunFloridaDisney]

I agree.

My dd is stuck in NYC for the time being, hopes to get home Monday night.

I called the airline to find out some information, when I finally got through, I started out by saying, I'm sure you've had a rough day, I'll try to be brief, and asked my questions.....I also wished the woman on the phone a nice holiday.

It is frustrating not to get the answers you want, but acting rude or worse is never going to help matters.

 

[MM27]

Remember that show Airline? I could not believe how passengers treat airline workers. I guess when you are in that situation your temper really gets the best of you, but some of those people were downright abusive.

I always think, do you really think they are going to bend over backwards to help you when you just cursed them out? It would make me go really sloooow trying to find them a new flight.

 

[debster812]

3 years ago we scored an upgrade to 1st Class during a weather delay, because I was the "First person in 5 hours who did not yell at me" according to the agent I spoke with.

OP--I'm sure your neighbor had a HORRIFIC day today.

 

[Squirlz]

Remember that show Airline? I could not believe how passengers treat airline workers. I guess when you are in that situation your temper really gets the best of you, but some of those people were downright abusive.

I can't believe some of them gave their permission to be aired. I hope when they saw themselves on TV they realized how ridiculous they looked.

 

[minkydog]

You know, I just don't get this. I would never think of mistreating service workers. Why in the world would people think it's okay to yell and curse at airport workers or sales people or healthcare workers or...Surely they don't believe that all that yelling will help them get their way?

I witnessed a big man give a verbal thrashing to an airline gate clerk. I mean, he really let her have it and she remained as calm as she could. She asked his several times to lower his voice as he got louder and more menacing. I don't know about her but *I* felt very threatened. Finally, he was getting really out of control and started throwing cups and getting right in her face, pointing his finger right at her chest. Another collegue saw what was going on and called security. They put that guy in handcuffs and escorted him from the gate, screaming and cursing all the way that HE HAD A TICKET. Well, not when threaten airline personnel, you don't. Personally, I was glad they removed him. If he was that bad on the ground, no telling how he would act in the air.

 

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

I have never understood that attitude toward someone that can help you.

be it getting you a bag of popcorn at the movies, a seat on the next flight out, or making your bed at the hotel.

I was taught the old saying about getting more flies with honey. Maybe people need to get back to the basics and be taught that a little politeness goes a Loooonnng way?

I am just like everyone else, sure I am irritated that my flight got cancelled, but it sure as heck isn't the gate agents fault, nor the counter service person, nor the pilot, and so on..

So why compound your problems and upset possibly the ONE person that can help you?

(and I love the airline series, it does show peoples true colors when subjected to a small amount of stress!)

 

[eliza61]

I remember a few years back I was flying to Jamaica and the flight was delayed because of a Hurricane. There was a women screaming at the Agent that she had to get to Jamaic The entire time I kept thinking is why would anyone want to fly into a hurricane.

 

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

I remember a few years back I was flying to Jamaica and the flight was delayed because of a Hurricane. There was a women screaming at the Agent that she had to get to Jamaic The entire time I kept thinking is why would anyone want to fly into a hurricane.

Maybe she scheduled a surfing lesson, and wanted to catch a wave?

hehehehehehehe

 

[monkey68]

My aunt and uncle were supposed to fly home to Israel yesterday, on American Airlines, actually, from JFK in NY. All the other flights were getting cancelled, but their flight was still listed as "On time", so my dad took them to the airport. It was clear that the flight was not going to happen, every other airline had cancelled their flights except for AA. They kept getting delay messages until around midnight, when the flight was finally cancelled. They were supposed to have left at 7 pm. There was also no way for them to get out until Tuesday.

I can tell you my aunt and uncle were upset, they were tired and cranky. They had to go wait in line to try to get help to get home, but then at 1 am, the workers all started to go, since 1 am is when they stop working. Meanwhile, there are hundreds of people stranded, and now no one to help them. Luckily, my aunt and uncle were one of the last people to get helped. My dad drove back through the unplowed streets and snow to pick them up since they had nowhere else to go. Hotels were full. It's not so much that the flight was cancelled, it's the fact that they had to have known the flight wouldn't go, especially once the snow started and every other airline started cancelling flights left and right. If it had been cancelled from the get go, no big deal, they could have stayed home with plenty of other people. And then, for them to just get up at 1 am, and say their work day was done, and tell the rest of hte people to come back at 6 am, that's just bad customer service. I get that it's not their fault that it was snowing, but they should have some sort of contingency plan in place to make sure that they don't just walk out on people waiting in line.

ETA: They weren't upset with the gate agent, it's obviously not their fault. At first, they said there were no flights for them to get on until Dec. 26. My aunt explained that just really wouldn't work for them since they had to go back to work. So she was able to get them out on Tuesday, but they have to connect in a different city than they originally would have. No big deal, and the agent was nice about it. It was more of the way things were being handled from above that made people cranky.

 

[C.Ann]

So many people stranded all over the place that can't get home for the holidays - or wherever else they need or want to be.. I'm thinking not many of them were among those yelling, "Yay! We're going to have a blizzard!!"

I can imagine how frustrated and upset they are - but you're right.. Yelling at the folks at the airport isn't going to make the snow disappear into thin air or more planes materialize out of their back pockets.. What a day for your friend! Wouldn't want to be in her shoes for anything..

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

I feel bad for the service workers. I am one too. But I have also been at the other end.

Our flight was delayed so we missed our connection. The staff of USAirways were so nonchalant and unhelpful . It was very frustrating.

So while I know its not the answer to yell at the service employees but sometimes through no fault of the passenger these agents are very unhelpful and some even snotty and rude.

I'm not saying this is the case of the OP's friend and granted yes some people are just jerks. But when we were stranded the only way I got answers was to speak up and be a little pushy to put it mildly because when I tried being nice , it didn't get me anywhere.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I just got home from a weekend in New York with relatives. I had a Delta nonstop out of LGA at 6:55, which was on time and completely full. About half the Delta flights listed at that time showed "cancelled" on the board and the lines were unbelievable.

I happened to notice on the announcements board that there were about 40 names on the Standby list and, when boarding started, only three passengers with confirmed Coach seats had not yet checked in.

I happened to overhear one of the Gate Agents telling one person that the next available seat on a Delta LGA-MCO flight was on theis coming Friday (Christmas Day). (And Delta has five nonstops daily LGA-MCO.)

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

I fly MUCH for work. I've had gate agents who were extremely helpful, and have had some who clearly needed to be in another line of work. I don't "yell" at any of them, as I can't be bothered to expend that sort of energy on a stranger, but not all gate/ticket agents are helpful solely because they are in that job.

Needless to say, I'd not want to be one working the front lines when a major natural event like that which just happened is going on. Whew. Has to try the patience of everyone.

 

[mrsklamc]

3 years ago we scored an upgrade to 1st Class during a weather delay, because I was the "First person in 5 hours who did not yell at me" according to the agent I spoke with.

We had some medical bill confusion and my husband called and politely explained that there had been a misunderstanding. The dr's office ended up waiving about $1000 that we legitimately owed and were willing to pay, just because 'everyone else calls and screams' at her.

 

[MIGrandma]

That is a shame.

Do people really think that cursing at the counter service person is going to do any good? It's appalling that the workers have to put up with that. I think they should be able to completely dismiss them if they start cursing. They should be able to tell the person that security will take them away if they continue cursing. It's not right at all.

Even if there is a problem that a counter person could assist with, don't speak to them in a nasty tone. Why would they even want to help you then? I just don't get it.

Speaking nicely, saying "please" and "thank you" go a long way.

 

[DWGal210]

I agree - it's hard to sit there and watch someone being yelled at, when there is NOTHING they can do about it.

I fly out on Saturday from IL, and there is a winter storm coming our way Wednesday/Thursday. We SHOULD be OK to leave on time, but if not, we'll have to roll with the punches. Mother Nature will do what she wants to do, and there's no use fretting over what can't be changed. Whenever bad weather rolls around, I think about the airline workers...they must just dread going into work those days, knowing what's ahead of them.

 

[Mkrop]

I dont get yelling at the agents either but I think sometimes the frustration stems from the airlines not providing info timely or at all. I dont necessarily think this is the agent's fault more the upper mgmt of the airline not providing their employees with the tools to keep the passengers informed. Like the example a PP gave of her aunt and uncle flying to Israel, if the flight is going to be cancelled then give people notice so they can get hotel rooms or go back home or somewhere

They cant control Mother Nature but they can control how they communicate with thier passengers as well. As well as passengers communicating with their employees properly.

 

[BadRomance]

Delta lost our luggage on our honeymoon and I cried. Not only did they track down my luggage and get it to us.. they gave us 200$ for the inconvienence.

So sometimes yelling is not the answer but crying in the corner does the trick. Go Delta! Our customer service rep really was the best.

 

[spacemermaid]

Yes. PLEASE don't yell at the airport workers. Or the flight attendants...my sister is a flight attendant, and has had a couple of people get quite nasty with her in the past week (with all the canceled-due-to-snow flights). Not only can the crew not do a thing to reschedule flights/get you onto another flight because yours was canceled, chances are they're having to wait a long time in the airport, too, in order to get home or to their next scheduled assignments.