Do you mind if I borrow your pen?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 63
Do you mind if I borrow your pen?
Okay, I am sure this has been brought up on here before and I know many people will give me a lot of stick but here goes.
On a domestic economy flight in the US we were asked to fill it an arrivals form, cannot remember the exact flight but it was a 3 hour flight. Me and my wife had a pen in a bag (as we all do) but the plane was so full our bags were taken from overhead and placed a few seats ahead to accommodate people with larger bags.
I asked the gentleman next to me ''Do you mind if I borrow your pen please?". He abruptly said "Yes I do" in a harsh tone. I literally chuckled out loud as I couldnt believe someone would not do a simple favour to borrow a pen. Its not like I would not return it as he was window seat and I suppose my sentence shouldnt have started with "Do you mind...". But I just looked at my wife in disbelief and loud enough for him to hear said ''Who wouldnt let someone a pen!".
I know we as humans are not all the same, I get that, but I have gone out of my way to store heavy luggage for pregnant, elderly, disabled. Lent pens, paper, newspapers during my travels, its no skin off my nose just that scenario ended up being my most awkward moment for remaining journey and felt like I was sat next to someone with measles/cholera.
Maybe someone here will label me as acting 'entitled' but I can assure I maybe many things but not that.
On a domestic economy flight in the US we were asked to fill it an arrivals form, cannot remember the exact flight but it was a 3 hour flight. Me and my wife had a pen in a bag (as we all do) but the plane was so full our bags were taken from overhead and placed a few seats ahead to accommodate people with larger bags.
I asked the gentleman next to me ''Do you mind if I borrow your pen please?". He abruptly said "Yes I do" in a harsh tone. I literally chuckled out loud as I couldnt believe someone would not do a simple favour to borrow a pen. Its not like I would not return it as he was window seat and I suppose my sentence shouldnt have started with "Do you mind...". But I just looked at my wife in disbelief and loud enough for him to hear said ''Who wouldnt let someone a pen!".
I know we as humans are not all the same, I get that, but I have gone out of my way to store heavy luggage for pregnant, elderly, disabled. Lent pens, paper, newspapers during my travels, its no skin off my nose just that scenario ended up being my most awkward moment for remaining journey and felt like I was sat next to someone with measles/cholera.
Maybe someone here will label me as acting 'entitled' but I can assure I maybe many things but not that.
#2
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Join Date: Jun 2001
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There are no "arrivals" form(s) to fill out on a domestic US flight.
Your post doesn't make a lot of sense.
Are you sure you're not confusing it with an international one - when you need to complete a customs declaration?
Your post doesn't make a lot of sense.
Are you sure you're not confusing it with an international one - when you need to complete a customs declaration?
#3
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: K+K
Programs: *G
Posts: 4,867
to tack on that, some carriers are omitting pens from their J amenity kits. the 0.10c or whatever unit cost it is for a pen, i'd imagine is far more useful to most people than the 0.15c miniature tube of hand cream and lip balm (or maybe theyre even free as part of co-marketing exercise)
#4
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHL
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Posts: 1,075
Some people are just selfish, but I can see reasonable reasons behind the refusal.
I personally wash my hands at the first chance I get after getting off an airplane because the surfaces are so contaminated by dirt, grime, DNA, and micro-organisms. Airplanes, and the people on them, are generally gross.
I don't want a stranger handling my pen - I don't know where your hands have been! It isn't your seat neighbor's responsibility to have a pen for you. Even though it would have been nice of him to loan the pen, he is within his rights to be selfish and I'm sure you found plenty of pens in the CBP area at your arrival airport and went about your day with minimal delay anyway.
I personally wash my hands at the first chance I get after getting off an airplane because the surfaces are so contaminated by dirt, grime, DNA, and micro-organisms. Airplanes, and the people on them, are generally gross.
I don't want a stranger handling my pen - I don't know where your hands have been! It isn't your seat neighbor's responsibility to have a pen for you. Even though it would have been nice of him to loan the pen, he is within his rights to be selfish and I'm sure you found plenty of pens in the CBP area at your arrival airport and went about your day with minimal delay anyway.
#5
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 6
Sounds strange he wouldn't lend someone a pen, although the staff on the plane would presumably have one.
Still, there are certain way to go about things - this wasn't one of them!
Still, there are certain way to go about things - this wasn't one of them!
#6
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Spring, TX
Programs: UA Amex
Posts: 51
Please consider that he may have only been carrying a “nice” and valuable pen. In my pocket I usually have a Mont Blanc pen I have used for 29 years. Once at a trade show I lent it to another agents’ customer, who walked off with it after writing her order. After my associate’s urgent cellphone call I got it back, but I don’t hand it out anymore.
#7
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Do enough international flying and you get tired of Kettles who don't remember they are forms be to filled out and pester you for a pen. On an LHR-YYZ flight I loaned a pen to a fellow passenger only to have it passed down the middle row of a widebody for their entire group to use and then had to get up to to retrieve it from the final user who dropped it in her purse. I will still lend a pen to another passenger but can certainly see why someone would decide to refuse all requests.
You were way out of line with the remark to your wife. It's his property. He has every right not to lend it to you. You are fortunate he didn't say something equally ignorant in return. I would have.
You were way out of line with the remark to your wife. It's his property. He has every right not to lend it to you. You are fortunate he didn't say something equally ignorant in return. I would have.
Last edited by Badenoch; Sep 7, 2018 at 4:36 am Reason: Corrected for accuracy
#8
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Don't be too presumptuous about the staff. You may well get the same response from an FA. I've seen them turn down requests to "borrow a pen" from people too dumb to bring their own.
#9
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Nevada Ohio Florida
Programs: WN A+, CP, HH Diamond, National EE
Posts: 44
Some people are just selfish, but I can see reasonable reasons behind the refusal.
I personally wash my hands at the first chance I get after getting off an airplane because the surfaces are so contaminated by dirt, grime, DNA, and micro-organisms. Airplanes, and the people on them, are generally gross.
I don't want a stranger handling my pen - I don't know where your hands have been! It isn't your seat neighbor's responsibility to have a pen for you. Even though it would have been nice of him to loan the pen, he is within his rights to be selfish and I'm sure you found plenty of pens in the CBP area at your arrival airport and went about your day with minimal delay anyway.
I personally wash my hands at the first chance I get after getting off an airplane because the surfaces are so contaminated by dirt, grime, DNA, and micro-organisms. Airplanes, and the people on them, are generally gross.
I don't want a stranger handling my pen - I don't know where your hands have been! It isn't your seat neighbor's responsibility to have a pen for you. Even though it would have been nice of him to loan the pen, he is within his rights to be selfish and I'm sure you found plenty of pens in the CBP area at your arrival airport and went about your day with minimal delay anyway.
Me: May I borrow your pen? You: Um, er, where have your hands been? Me: Well, I just got done in the Loo – didn’t have time to wash my hands. I grabbed a liverwurst sandwich from the cart and had to keep pushing the meat back in because it was falling out from between the bread. But I wiped them on my pants. Why? You: Eeeeew. No, you can’t borrow my pen.
Me: May I borrow your pen? You: Um, er, where have your hands been? Me: Nowhere, in fact I just rubbed some of that Purel on them, so they are clean as a whistle. You: Sure, here you go. Me: No way – I don’t know where YOUR hands have been…
:-)
#11
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 343
Pfft. Good luck with this. I have been on international flights in the last year in which FAs added "We do not have pens available for you" during announcements about immigration forms.
#12
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Roswell, GA
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I always carry at least 6 pens in my bag, (crosswords) you can borrow on and keep it if you like
(but be aware they are hotel pens)
(but be aware they are hotel pens)
#13
Join Date: Jul 2009
Programs: none
Posts: 1,668
This not a serious issue that needs to be discussed ad nauseum on FT. Either let someone borrow your stuff, or don't. Your choice. Either way, get on with your life
#14
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Perhaps we should stick to important, enlightening posts such as "Reading this thread is better than gossip! " 90 posts and 5 years into a thread about taking a blanket)
Last edited by CPRich; Sep 6, 2018 at 9:55 am
#15
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