I know the attitude you describe very well...gritting my teeth!!...it is one that was common at IAD and a number of other UA stations...but so far this year, I have not experienced it in over a dozen trips through Dulles...I can't say the same for ORD (the RCC staff there drives me crazy with their lack of customer service...GAs too!) or SFO. Maybe I have been lucky, or maybe there has been a change...or as Muckus said, they treat LA people better!!