calrick

While I lurk more than post, I do read the DYKWIA posts regularly. Perhaps it is from my childhood memories of reading Highlights magazine and the exploits of Goofus and Galant - always trying to teach me how to behave in polite society... from those who do not.

On occasion, I though it might be interesting (feel good) to have a contrasting thread of do gooders and heroes who fly.

So I'll start one... A-DYKWIA (A for anti or the antithesis of the rude, clueless, and aloof DYKWIA)

One Christmas a dear friend was volunteering by leading a tour group in Chile only to receive a call that his 20 something son had been killed. Father and son were as close as any relations I've ever seen. He called me from Chile seeking my help to return on Delta... use my miles, my super secret phone number, my charm of the agents... or lots of cash. He didn't care how.

I found him a convoluted return itinerary that wound get him back in 28 hours (his choice) I could have gotten him back a little later... with only three connections and while I counseled him to take fewer flights which would arrive later than his desire time, he ended up with six or seven legs by the time weather and cancelations played in.

Calling me at each station and sharing news about a full flight or a delayed flight that would domino his other flights and could I help rerout him. On his second leg he left his phone turned on at the gate while politely asking the GA their standby policy. Also overhearing the exchange was a gate lurker, and when the story was finished the lurker said he could get home a day late, IF the GA would guarantee that his seat would go to my friend. The gate agent said sure and made it so. A couple hugs between strangers and my friend was on board.

However weather delayed this flight and he saw his next flight take off before he could catch it. Again, he was waitlisted. And again, an ease dropping lurker heard the simple story... the story of a father trying to see his son and then bury him... And how did the waitlist look? And he too offered up his seat...

This now happened twice during the busy crazy holidays... These were selfless acts of human kindness never to be forgotten.

What are your Anti DYKWIA stories?

Flame throwers please wander on to another post... plenty kindling to burn there... please and thank you.