Jan 9, 2016, 2:50 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
A thread making {gentle} fun of the anonymous "Don't You Know Who I Am" (DYKWIAs) we run across in our travels.
Previous thread DYKWIA stories (Traveling on United Airlines) (Archive)
Previous thread DYKWIA stories (Traveling on United Airlines) (Archive)
DYKWIA stories (Traveling on United Airlines)
Dec 1, 2023, 7:57 am
#196
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: Does Non Rev count?
Posts: 588
Safe travels
Dec 4, 2023, 8:24 am
#197
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 139
Dec 4, 2023, 11:31 am
#198
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: Does Non Rev count?
Posts: 588
Here's one I forgot to share from the summer. DYKWIA's come in many forms, sometimes even as kids...
Flight delay because there is a line of thunderstorms between us and the destination with no good options around it. I make a PA in the gate area explaining why we haven’t boarded yet. A young kid (maybe 16) and his mom walk up to me afterward, mom says “he’s a pilot and he wants to have a word with you.” I turn to him, he has Foreflight open (Foreflight is an app that primarily general aviation pilots use for weather, navigation, etc) and says “Weather at the destination is VFR….” I ask to see his iPad, turn on the radar feature, and slide to the left. “If you see a way around this line of weather you come get me.”
His mom said I was dismissive, and that his son was going to the Naval Academy to fly F-18s and I should take him more seriously. I explained that at 16 he was not a licensed pilot, but a student, and still had much more to learn. Upon landing, he made a point of telling me my landing was firm! (I mean it was, but still....)
Flight delay because there is a line of thunderstorms between us and the destination with no good options around it. I make a PA in the gate area explaining why we haven’t boarded yet. A young kid (maybe 16) and his mom walk up to me afterward, mom says “he’s a pilot and he wants to have a word with you.” I turn to him, he has Foreflight open (Foreflight is an app that primarily general aviation pilots use for weather, navigation, etc) and says “Weather at the destination is VFR….” I ask to see his iPad, turn on the radar feature, and slide to the left. “If you see a way around this line of weather you come get me.”
His mom said I was dismissive, and that his son was going to the Naval Academy to fly F-18s and I should take him more seriously. I explained that at 16 he was not a licensed pilot, but a student, and still had much more to learn. Upon landing, he made a point of telling me my landing was firm! (I mean it was, but still....)
Dec 4, 2023, 11:42 am
#199
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 690
Here's one I forgot to share from the summer. DYKWIA's come in many forms, sometimes even as kids...
Flight delay because there is a line of thunderstorms between us and the destination with no good options around it. I make a PA in the gate area explaining why we haven’t boarded yet. A young kid (maybe 16) and his mom walk up to me afterward, mom says “he’s a pilot and he wants to have a word with you.” I turn to him, he has Foreflight open (Foreflight is an app that primarily general aviation pilots use for weather, navigation, etc) and says “Weather at the destination is VFR….” I ask to see his iPad, turn on the radar feature, and slide to the left. “If you see a way around this line of weather you come get me.”
His mom said I was dismissive, and that his son was going to the Naval Academy to fly F-18s and I should take him more seriously. I explained that at 16 he was not a licensed pilot, but a student, and still had much more to learn. Upon landing, he made a point of telling me my landing was firm! (I mean it was, but still....)
Flight delay because there is a line of thunderstorms between us and the destination with no good options around it. I make a PA in the gate area explaining why we haven’t boarded yet. A young kid (maybe 16) and his mom walk up to me afterward, mom says “he’s a pilot and he wants to have a word with you.” I turn to him, he has Foreflight open (Foreflight is an app that primarily general aviation pilots use for weather, navigation, etc) and says “Weather at the destination is VFR….” I ask to see his iPad, turn on the radar feature, and slide to the left. “If you see a way around this line of weather you come get me.”
His mom said I was dismissive, and that his son was going to the Naval Academy to fly F-18s and I should take him more seriously. I explained that at 16 he was not a licensed pilot, but a student, and still had much more to learn. Upon landing, he made a point of telling me my landing was firm! (I mean it was, but still....)
Dec 4, 2023, 11:54 am
#200
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: Does Non Rev count?
Posts: 588
I can imagine an encounter like that might have followed a far more pleasant path with the appropriate attitude. There's a big difference between telling an expert they're doing it wrong and asking about something that seems confusing. That old saying about vinegar and honey comes to mind.
Dec 4, 2023, 11:57 am
#201
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,470
Here's one I forgot to share from the summer. DYKWIA's come in many forms, sometimes even as kids...
Flight delay because there is a line of thunderstorms between us and the destination with no good options around it. I make a PA in the gate area explaining why we haven’t boarded yet. A young kid (maybe 16) and his mom walk up to me afterward, mom says “he’s a pilot and he wants to have a word with you.” I turn to him, he has Foreflight open (Foreflight is an app that primarily general aviation pilots use for weather, navigation, etc) and says “Weather at the destination is VFR….” I ask to see his iPad, turn on the radar feature, and slide to the left. “If you see a way around this line of weather you come get me.”
His mom said I was dismissive, and that his son was going to the Naval Academy to fly F-18s and I should take him more seriously. I explained that at 16 he was not a licensed pilot, but a student, and still had much more to learn. Upon landing, he made a point of telling me my landing was firm! (I mean it was, but still....)
Flight delay because there is a line of thunderstorms between us and the destination with no good options around it. I make a PA in the gate area explaining why we haven’t boarded yet. A young kid (maybe 16) and his mom walk up to me afterward, mom says “he’s a pilot and he wants to have a word with you.” I turn to him, he has Foreflight open (Foreflight is an app that primarily general aviation pilots use for weather, navigation, etc) and says “Weather at the destination is VFR….” I ask to see his iPad, turn on the radar feature, and slide to the left. “If you see a way around this line of weather you come get me.”
His mom said I was dismissive, and that his son was going to the Naval Academy to fly F-18s and I should take him more seriously. I explained that at 16 he was not a licensed pilot, but a student, and still had much more to learn. Upon landing, he made a point of telling me my landing was firm! (I mean it was, but still....)
Dec 4, 2023, 12:24 pm
#202
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: Does Non Rev count?
Posts: 588
Anyway, these stories aren't in the true spirit of the thread, so I apologize for the divergence. Now back to your regular programing....
Last edited by 757FO; Dec 4, 2023 at 12:37 pm Reason: Typo
Dec 4, 2023, 12:43 pm
#203
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: SW Michigan, ex SF Bay Area
Posts: 833
Dec 4, 2023, 3:22 pm
#204
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,417
I've got sooo many stories. Way back when I was flying DC-9's (yeah, I'm that old, but I was only an FO then) I had an irate passenger take me aside and show me an altimeter he had on board with him. He demanded to know why I flew the entire flight at 8,000 feet, and how unsafe that was. It was all I could do to not wet myself with laughter. I was able to compose myself and explain how cabin pressurization works.
”I demand to know why you flew us through that mountain!”
Jan 3, 2024, 3:45 pm
#205
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: NYC / MIA / AMS
Programs: UA 1k
Posts: 500
EWR Polaris lounge today.
New one for me. Family of 7 in Polaris lounge, 4/7 wearing socks walking around the lounge. One also decided to take socks off and pick at their feet while sitting in one of the chairs.
Boarded my flight, different person walking around barefoot on the plane (Row 7)
Fun start to the year. (Though maybe passenger hygiene deserves its own thread)
New one for me. Family of 7 in Polaris lounge, 4/7 wearing socks walking around the lounge. One also decided to take socks off and pick at their feet while sitting in one of the chairs.
Boarded my flight, different person walking around barefoot on the plane (Row 7)
Fun start to the year. (Though maybe passenger hygiene deserves its own thread)
Jan 3, 2024, 5:54 pm
#206
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SAN
Programs: 1K (since 2008), *G (since 1990), 1MM
Posts: 3,219
EWR Polaris lounge today.
New one for me. Family of 7 in Polaris lounge, 4/7 wearing socks walking around the lounge. One also decided to take socks off and pick at their feet while sitting in one of the chairs.
Boarded my flight, different person walking around barefoot on the plane (Row 7)
Fun start to the year. (Though maybe passenger hygiene deserves its own thread)
New one for me. Family of 7 in Polaris lounge, 4/7 wearing socks walking around the lounge. One also decided to take socks off and pick at their feet while sitting in one of the chairs.
Boarded my flight, different person walking around barefoot on the plane (Row 7)
Fun start to the year. (Though maybe passenger hygiene deserves its own thread)
I wear the slippers on the plane (and shoes in the lounge and for takeoff and landing). I took my best friend on a trip and we were upstairs on the 747 (miss that plane) and she knew I would periodically get up and walk down the stairs and round the plane and back again. She decided to do the same thing (and I was asleep) and she went in socks - not the socks they give you in the amenity bag as she wanted to "save" them but her own socks. Also, wanted to "save" the slippers. I wake to her shaking me awake as she has trodden in someone's vomit when walking round the plane. She did not have a spare change of clothes. I did and lent her my socks telling her to wear the slippers next time. I mean the bathrooms are disgusting enough and sticky underfoot. I have no faith in the cleanliness of the carpets on planes. I request the mattress pads because the seats are not cleaned well.
Reverting to my original comment, ick, ick, ick.
Jan 4, 2024, 7:23 am
#207
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: PHX
Programs: UA *Alliance
Posts: 5,624
Here's one I forgot to share from the summer. DYKWIA's come in many forms, sometimes even as kids...
Flight delay because there is a line of thunderstorms between us and the destination with no good options around it. I make a PA in the gate area explaining why we haven’t boarded yet. A young kid (maybe 16) and his mom walk up to me afterward, mom says “he’s a pilot and he wants to have a word with you.” I turn to him, he has Foreflight open (Foreflight is an app that primarily general aviation pilots use for weather, navigation, etc) and says “Weather at the destination is VFR….” I ask to see his iPad, turn on the radar feature, and slide to the left. “If you see a way around this line of weather you come get me.”
His mom said I was dismissive, and that his son was going to the Naval Academy to fly F-18s and I should take him more seriously. I explained that at 16 he was not a licensed pilot, but a student, and still had much more to learn. Upon landing, he made a point of telling me my landing was firm! (I mean it was, but still....)
Flight delay because there is a line of thunderstorms between us and the destination with no good options around it. I make a PA in the gate area explaining why we haven’t boarded yet. A young kid (maybe 16) and his mom walk up to me afterward, mom says “he’s a pilot and he wants to have a word with you.” I turn to him, he has Foreflight open (Foreflight is an app that primarily general aviation pilots use for weather, navigation, etc) and says “Weather at the destination is VFR….” I ask to see his iPad, turn on the radar feature, and slide to the left. “If you see a way around this line of weather you come get me.”
His mom said I was dismissive, and that his son was going to the Naval Academy to fly F-18s and I should take him more seriously. I explained that at 16 he was not a licensed pilot, but a student, and still had much more to learn. Upon landing, he made a point of telling me my landing was firm! (I mean it was, but still....)
Jan 4, 2024, 9:12 am
#208
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Washington, D.C.
Programs: AA, but I play the field
Posts: 1,440
Mar 12, 2024, 9:42 am
#209
Join Date: May 2002
Location: ATW
Posts: 7
In the interest of bumping the thread, I'll share a YDKWIA (you don't know who I am) story...
This was on a CRJ-200, MKE–ORD. I'm seated in 4C. A lady boards and sits next to me in 4D. Two other passengers, business types in suits, sit in 4A and 4B. (I may be a business type too but I usually wear jeans on the plane.)
The FA comes down the aisle with snack boxes to hand to 1K/GS. Looks at the lady next to me for a half second, then back to me, and quietly and a bit apprehensively asks, "Mr. Nakamoto?" Now I am a 6-foot-tall, fairly Germanic looking man. I gently shake my head and say "um, no." She says, "I didn't think so."
FA then looks across the aisle and sees that a man who is much more apparently Mr. Nakamoto is in 4A. It turns out Mr. Nakamoto was supposed to be in 4D, but the lady next to me had taken the wrong side of the plane, so he just took 4A rather than ask her to move. (And after all, it's a 19-minute flight and the window seats are all equally unpleasant. Even more to 4A's credit, passenger in 4B was a large man on a small plane.)
No big deal and we all had a good laugh over it.
This was on a CRJ-200, MKE–ORD. I'm seated in 4C. A lady boards and sits next to me in 4D. Two other passengers, business types in suits, sit in 4A and 4B. (I may be a business type too but I usually wear jeans on the plane.)
The FA comes down the aisle with snack boxes to hand to 1K/GS. Looks at the lady next to me for a half second, then back to me, and quietly and a bit apprehensively asks, "Mr. Nakamoto?" Now I am a 6-foot-tall, fairly Germanic looking man. I gently shake my head and say "um, no." She says, "I didn't think so."
FA then looks across the aisle and sees that a man who is much more apparently Mr. Nakamoto is in 4A. It turns out Mr. Nakamoto was supposed to be in 4D, but the lady next to me had taken the wrong side of the plane, so he just took 4A rather than ask her to move. (And after all, it's a 19-minute flight and the window seats are all equally unpleasant. Even more to 4A's credit, passenger in 4B was a large man on a small plane.)
No big deal and we all had a good laugh over it.
Mar 12, 2024, 11:05 am
#210
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Los Angeles / Basel
Programs: UA 1K MM, AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 26,930
Devil's Chariot...
In the interest of bumping the thread, I'll share a YDKWIA (you don't know who I am) story...
This was on a CRJ-200, MKE–ORD. I'm seated in 4C. A lady boards and sits next to me in 4D. Two other passengers, business types in suits, sit in 4A and 4B. (I may be a business type too but I usually wear jeans on the plane.)
The FA comes down the aisle with snack boxes to hand to 1K/GS. Looks at the lady next to me for a half second, then back to me, and quietly and a bit apprehensively asks, "Mr. Nakamoto?" Now I am a 6-foot-tall, fairly Germanic looking man. I gently shake my head and say "um, no." She says, "I didn't think so."
FA then looks across the aisle and sees that a man who is much more apparently Mr. Nakamoto is in 4A. It turns out Mr. Nakamoto was supposed to be in 4D, but the lady next to me had taken the wrong side of the plane, so he just took 4A rather than ask her to move. (And after all, it's a 19-minute flight and the window seats are all equally unpleasant. Even more to 4A's credit, passenger in 4B was a large man on a small plane.)
No big deal and we all had a good laugh over it.
This was on a CRJ-200, MKE–ORD. I'm seated in 4C. A lady boards and sits next to me in 4D. Two other passengers, business types in suits, sit in 4A and 4B. (I may be a business type too but I usually wear jeans on the plane.)
The FA comes down the aisle with snack boxes to hand to 1K/GS. Looks at the lady next to me for a half second, then back to me, and quietly and a bit apprehensively asks, "Mr. Nakamoto?" Now I am a 6-foot-tall, fairly Germanic looking man. I gently shake my head and say "um, no." She says, "I didn't think so."
FA then looks across the aisle and sees that a man who is much more apparently Mr. Nakamoto is in 4A. It turns out Mr. Nakamoto was supposed to be in 4D, but the lady next to me had taken the wrong side of the plane, so he just took 4A rather than ask her to move. (And after all, it's a 19-minute flight and the window seats are all equally unpleasant. Even more to 4A's credit, passenger in 4B was a large man on a small plane.)
No big deal and we all had a good laugh over it.