The other night at SFO, as I was boarding the plane, a gate agent was strictly enforcing the new baggage policy, and asked me to put my roll-aboard in the luggage sizer. This is the first time I've been called out for this, so I was a bit surprised.
On this occasion, I'd stuffed it a little too much, and it didn't quite fit in the sizer. One of the other agents nicely told me to try just taking something out. So, I did. Still didn't fit. At this point, I was ready to gate check it, but I stepped out of line and tried taking out one more thing. (After all, having to wait 30 mins for your bag later on is a pain, and worth avoiding if you can.) The agent who'd originally called me out was getting angry, and told me with an attitude to just check it already. Still didn't fit.
So, as the nicer agent was helping me gate check it, I took out my phone, and took a picture of the guy with the attitude pointing people to the bag sizer. I'm not one to file complaints about people (he was just doing his job, albeit with an attitude), but figured I'd post something along the lines of "United's checking all carry-on sizes--better stop packing so much crap."
He saw me take the photo, and immediately stopped what he was doing, and came over to demand that I delete it. He claimed it was illegal to photograph him without him being aware and giving permission. I disagreed. He persisted, saying that he was not a public figure, so I couldn't take his photo, and if I didn't delete it immediately, he would let the pilot know that I was causing a disturbance and have me banned from the flight. He then said into his radio, "we're gonna need the SFPD here momentarily". (Note: that I hadn't even raised my voice).
I told him again that it was perfectly legal. Then, he pointed at the camera on the ceiling and told me that this was being monitored, and he was gonna have this disturbance added to my "record". At this point, despite being nearly 100% certain that I was in the right, I decided it wasn't worth the hassle, and deleted the photo. He demanded to look at my phone to see that it was gone. I told him there was nothing to see, and asked him why he was being so mean.
A bit worried that my bag would get "lost", I asked to see them put the tag on it, and then boarded the plane a bit frazzled and upset.
(Know your rights |
http://lifehacker.com/5912250/know-y...phy-in-public: "For the most part, your right to take photographs and video in public places in the United States is protected under the First Amendment under free speech. ... Your basic right is actually pretty simple: if you're in a public place and you can see it, you can shoot it.")
He wasn't wearing a badge visibly, and I didn't want to anger him further by asking for his name -- though in retrospect, I should have. I've since filed a customer care case with United to let them know. What would you have done in this situation?