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.

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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 :(