Originally Posted by best
Our experience is that when you are more pleasant with them, the majority will reciprocate.
I have to agree. As they say, it's easier to attract flies with honey than vinegar.
On a recent trip where my bag was lost, I was patiently waiting in the lost bag line for the couple in front of me to finish filing their claim. Without acknowledging my presence, a man pushed in right after the couple and started to complain about his lost bag. (I later determined that this guy was from a country where there is much commentary on the question of women's rights) The attendant, who had seen me waiting, explained that there were some other issues she had to attend to first based on previous customer requests. She then went away for a few minutes to take care of some issues in the back, then came back and immediately asked me if there was something she could help me with.
I thought this was an outstanding show of diplomacy on her part. She avoided pointing out to this guy that I was already standing there in front of him while still doing the right thing.