Pure speculation of course, but it is possible a Japanese passenger, particularly without good language skills and "local knowledge" (cultural awareness) would be less likely to assert herself in this kind of situation. Some other passengers might be more likely to call out "my flight is scheduled for xx:yy" and be assertive enough to get some assistance, or to say "I would like to speak with your
hancho, er, supervisor, please."
I've seen many in Japan who will queue up, follow authority, become mired in groupthink, etc. to extents that would not be tolerated in the US. Especially in Brooklyn, USA.
Originally Posted by
gemac
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I agree with emma dog's appraisal of Chris Elliott. One obvious question that Chris didn't ask was about the English skills of the passenger he was reporting on, who was visiting from Japan. If this passenger had difficulty with spoken/heard English, it is possible that they were misunderstood. We have all experienced the situation (many times) where someone is getting close to departure and is moved to the front of the line for check-in or TSA screening. When I see this, it is not because the lines are incredibly long, it is because the passenger did not allow enough time at the airport, so their failure to plan properly becomes a reason to inconvenience other passengers.