zpdiduda | (no subject)

Safe in Honolulu after a very disturbing flight experience. I was among the last to board and there was limited space in the overhead compartments. One compartment had only a briefcase and two straw hats. After asking who owned the hats and getting no response, i shifted the hats over and put my bag up. A couple of minutes later, a man came down the aisle to where i sat.

(switching to present tense, it's easier)
He is redfaced and angry, hat in hand. He
tells me that i damaged his hat and he's goiing to make me pay the $100 he spent on it. I tell him fhat I'm sorry, but that I see no damage. His hands ball int fists around the hat. He goes into a rage, screaming. Calls me a stupid clumsy bitch. He's going to take me to small claims court. Says that i have to give him my ID. Adrenalin now flowing, i tell him that if he doesnt back down I will call Security. We can talk about this later in the flight and sort out what to do. He says no, we're going to talk about it NOW. He is now towering over my seat in total rage mode. I refuse to give him my ID.

Throughout all of this, the fucking United flight attendants are preparing the plane for takeoff and ignoring us completely. I am about to yell for a Flight Marshal. There is supposed to be one on every plane now, incognito. Fortunately, a couple of passengers stood up and talked the guy into returning to his seat.

Passengers came up to me throughout the flight to check in with me, to tell me what an asshole the guy had been. One told me that I'd done the guy a favor because it was such a cheap-ass fugly hat. I eventually started to breathe again.

Now I'm having a late lunch on the beach in Waikiki. Tomorrow I'll be spending the day in offices. Going to drink a stupid drink or two -- umbrelllas and fruit, preferably in a tiki mug -- and enjoy a Hawaiian sunset.

Posted via LiveJournal.app.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Shoulda identified yourself as an attorney.

That'd likely have shut him up. ;)

Sorry you had to deal with this.

You sure earned thsoe silly drinks, m'dear.

Thanks. I decided afterwards that if he came up to me again, I was going to tell him that I'm a federal law enforcement officer (which I am).

Haha! Touche! ;)

nice response to have handy :)

Dude on plane sounds like first rate whack-job.

Drink one of those silly drinks for me too, would ya? I'm currently being deluged by snow, and the thought of a fun rum drink makes my widdle heart go pitty-pat.

:o)

I will tip a Blue Hawaii in your honor. :)

*hugs* He sounds like a real asshole. Being calm and rational, while very difficult, was the best thing. I am proud of you. Just imagine how much fun he would be to have around... thank god he isn't your boss or in-law. ;)

Glad you are taking a little time to relax while there. :)

I did think about that, actually. He was sitting about six rows up with a very unhappy-looking woman.

*hugs*

How frightening! I hope your return flight is boring!

I hope your trip gives you some time to relax.

Thanks. Here's to boredom! *tips back a Mai Tai*

Spirit's feet are the color of mahogany. We had chicken, brussels sprouts, carrots, and toasted pugilese loaf with cheese on it for dinner. However, we have no fruity drinks. Last time Andy raced back inside down the hallway after going out to go pee ("I'm BACK! Did you MISS ME?"),

deyo said, "It's the charge of the White Brigade!"

That guy on the plane is transitory. This is where life is. We miss you already.

Edited 2010-02-17 04:02 (UTC)

*giggle snort*

Thanks. Those images made me grin again and again today.

I'm awfully glad that you guys are part of what I get to come home to.

i would raise a ruckus with United - they should have had a flight attendant there in a heartbeat when someone was yelling and screaming. Seriously - the security of a flight should NOT be left up to the passengers on the plane (although, all too often, it has been).

*hugs* i am so sorry you had to go through this. do take some time to take care of and be good to yourself.

much love to you.

I was shocked that the United flight attendants responded (or, more accurately, failed to respond) in the way that they did. After the incident, I called one of them over and said "I'm having trouble with that man, and I expect that he may return and cause more. I may need help." "We don't get involved in arguments between passengers," she said. She walked away before I could say more, and the flight attendants scrupulously avoided me for the rest of the flight. I took down the names of all staff in the rear cabin. I will contact United this week.

United is famous these days for the surliness of its flight attendants. On my Maui work trip last year, a flight attendant even yelled at a passenger in front of me and others for asking a basic question. The online travel forums are full of United stories. This goes beyond unpleasant crew, though.

Thanks for the hugs and love. I'm feeling better already. I'm taking a quiet night, listening to the luau on the beach from my balcony.

*sigh*

If only Air Canada flew US domestic flights...They're the best in the biz, imho

That is shocking :(

The level of assholishness he displayed is well over the legal limit.

I hope you have a nice time in Hawaii.

Thanks. I'm working on it and doing quite well so far. :)

HUGS! What a stressful scary thing. Glad it ended ok.

Wow. It sounds like he *really* needed his vacation in hawaii. REALLY REALLY needed it.
....
United is screwing over their workers so it makes sense that some of their workers are resentful and unfortunately misappropriately transfering that to how they treat passengers (why is it always easier to practice kick the dog tactics rather than confronting the ones who actually have the power to abuse you and the ones you should be subjecting to your perspective on their abuses).

Glad to know you made it out safely....