galley princess
Senior
- Nov 4, 2007
- 384
- 263
When I have rude people on the airplane I generally try to deal with them as quickly as possible and be on my way. I write it off to them not being raised properly, and frankly not being very smart, because rude people get NOTHING from airline employees. We see too many. No one will go out of their way for a jerk.
At the same time, I wouldn't be an agent for the world. Between all of the pressure for OTP, enforcing the VERY unpopular rules and having to stand behind a counter and wait for THEM to walk away, I'd go batty. At least I can go to the galley and vent.
Having said all that, I think that the previous poster who cited the uneducated traveller is correct. Every airline worker should be forced to go on vacation with two toddlers, a stroller and the requisite paraphenalia. Go through the whole process. Get everybody in the car, have tickets, passports and luggage (including diapers!!!), check in with the oh so friendly kiosks, try to get the attention of the agent because you desperately need your bags to actually get to their destination and you want them marked properly.
Then Security!! It's a METAL DETECTOR. Yes, you have to take your belt off. And your shoes. Yup, watch, no your kid can't have his binky holder on because it's a metal clip. DVD player has to come out. Oh, you walked through and forgot your cellphone. Back you go. No, you leave your toddler here. Not my problem he has separation issues and is now crying. Okay, finally through. Gather ALL your stuff, you're holding up the line. Umm, can you hurry up? I know your kid is having a meltdown, but you're holding up the line.
Reassemble.
Where's the gate? The flight's delayed? They didnt' say anything about that at the ticket counter! Oh, but no one talks to you THERE anymore. Okay. Toddlers need an apple juice. $3.50 for a six ouncer. Milk is $4 for a little carton. Sigh, it's vacation.
Set up camp at the gate. Where else? Ignore all of the people who stare at you, your stuff and your rapidly tiring children.
Five hours later you finally board. Thank God you're allowed early boarding. Push the stroller, the carseat, the diaper bag, and the roller boards down the jetway. Schlep everything and get pissed off because you don't know that flight attendants are only covered to lift their own bag and therefore studiously avoid your eyes as you heft your too heavy carryon into the overhead. Get even more pissed as you're finally getting situated and the f/a informs you that you're at a bulkhead and EVERYTHING has to go up. But you need your diaper bag. You're welcome to take it down after takeoff. But everyone else has boarded and there's no room over my seat! Too bad. We'll put it in the back of the plane where you can't get it. Sorrrrrrrrrrrrry.
Your toddlers cry 3 out of the four hours of the flight. You try to ignore the increasingly hostile stares of those around you. The f/a asks "is there something wrong?" Uh, yeah, we're nine hours past where we thought we'd be and my kids are over it.
You get to your destination and your bags aren't there.
Now you're in tears, your kids are in tears and your spouse hates you. Whose idea was it to go on vacation anyway?
And we wonder why we see airport meltdowns.
At the same time, I wouldn't be an agent for the world. Between all of the pressure for OTP, enforcing the VERY unpopular rules and having to stand behind a counter and wait for THEM to walk away, I'd go batty. At least I can go to the galley and vent.
Having said all that, I think that the previous poster who cited the uneducated traveller is correct. Every airline worker should be forced to go on vacation with two toddlers, a stroller and the requisite paraphenalia. Go through the whole process. Get everybody in the car, have tickets, passports and luggage (including diapers!!!), check in with the oh so friendly kiosks, try to get the attention of the agent because you desperately need your bags to actually get to their destination and you want them marked properly.
Then Security!! It's a METAL DETECTOR. Yes, you have to take your belt off. And your shoes. Yup, watch, no your kid can't have his binky holder on because it's a metal clip. DVD player has to come out. Oh, you walked through and forgot your cellphone. Back you go. No, you leave your toddler here. Not my problem he has separation issues and is now crying. Okay, finally through. Gather ALL your stuff, you're holding up the line. Umm, can you hurry up? I know your kid is having a meltdown, but you're holding up the line.
Reassemble.
Where's the gate? The flight's delayed? They didnt' say anything about that at the ticket counter! Oh, but no one talks to you THERE anymore. Okay. Toddlers need an apple juice. $3.50 for a six ouncer. Milk is $4 for a little carton. Sigh, it's vacation.
Set up camp at the gate. Where else? Ignore all of the people who stare at you, your stuff and your rapidly tiring children.
Five hours later you finally board. Thank God you're allowed early boarding. Push the stroller, the carseat, the diaper bag, and the roller boards down the jetway. Schlep everything and get pissed off because you don't know that flight attendants are only covered to lift their own bag and therefore studiously avoid your eyes as you heft your too heavy carryon into the overhead. Get even more pissed as you're finally getting situated and the f/a informs you that you're at a bulkhead and EVERYTHING has to go up. But you need your diaper bag. You're welcome to take it down after takeoff. But everyone else has boarded and there's no room over my seat! Too bad. We'll put it in the back of the plane where you can't get it. Sorrrrrrrrrrrrry.
Your toddlers cry 3 out of the four hours of the flight. You try to ignore the increasingly hostile stares of those around you. The f/a asks "is there something wrong?" Uh, yeah, we're nine hours past where we thought we'd be and my kids are over it.
You get to your destination and your bags aren't there.
Now you're in tears, your kids are in tears and your spouse hates you. Whose idea was it to go on vacation anyway?
And we wonder why we see airport meltdowns.
