I think language is very relevant since regardless of any other factors it is self evident that the woman clearly was not familiar with standard airport procedures. In that case an English speaking person may have been more likely to hopefully ask a relevant question or two whereas someone who does not speak the language might feel they do not know how to ask and thus be more apt to just make their best guess instead. (Even though it’s not that hard to find Spanish speaker just about anyplace at LAX) In this case, it was obviously not a good guess. While nothing even close to this magnitude, I have certainly pulled a few bonehead moves myself in foreign airports, bus stations, ferry terminals and the like based on not understanding the local language, not knowing how to ask a relevant question and making a wrong guess.