An Interesting Exchange in Polaris
Apr 27, 2021, 12:14 pm
#61
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: ORD
Programs: United Plat 2MM, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,727
I agree.
What you said was "I've seen all manner of ridiculous behavior over the years, and if I had to guess, a decent percentage of that behavior has come from 1K members" and I said "It is wrong of your to judge a category of your customers based on a guess." I stand by the statement that you said you are judging 1K's based on bad behaviors of those you guess are 1K's and that you are wrong to do that. That may not be what you meant but it is what you said.
What you said was "I've seen all manner of ridiculous behavior over the years, and if I had to guess, a decent percentage of that behavior has come from 1K members" and I said "It is wrong of your to judge a category of your customers based on a guess." I stand by the statement that you said you are judging 1K's based on bad behaviors of those you guess are 1K's and that you are wrong to do that. That may not be what you meant but it is what you said.
Apr 27, 2021, 12:19 pm
#62
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: Does Non Rev count?
Posts: 587
Ok, we can agree to disagree. My apologies if my comment offended you.
Apr 27, 2021, 12:39 pm
#63
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: ORD | LGA | 2E
Programs: UA GS 1.6MM UC | AA CK 0.7MM AC | Bonvoy Ambassador | Hyatt Globalist | Hertz PC
Posts: 1,052
Thank you for your service and your decency. As many have said, you handled it substantially better than I would have.
With a similarly combative 1K berating a perfectly diligent FA once I called him on his "I'm a 1K and I spend XX THOUSANDS ON THIS AIRLINE!" with a "You must be bad at math because you'd be Global Services if that were even remotely true." Got him to at least shut up for the rest of the flight. That's how fragile the egos of these bozos are. They need to be made to feel important because they absolutely know they have nothing to offer of importance.
With a similarly combative 1K berating a perfectly diligent FA once I called him on his "I'm a 1K and I spend XX THOUSANDS ON THIS AIRLINE!" with a "You must be bad at math because you'd be Global Services if that were even remotely true." Got him to at least shut up for the rest of the flight. That's how fragile the egos of these bozos are. They need to be made to feel important because they absolutely know they have nothing to offer of importance.
Apr 27, 2021, 12:41 pm
#64
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Denver, CO
Programs: UA Silver, Bonvoy Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 21,526
Is anyone else refreshing the forum constantly hoping for a thread to appear with a title like, "UA pilot was rude to me!!"
Apr 27, 2021, 1:15 pm
#66
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: USA
Programs: UA Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,189
IWhat you said was "I've seen all manner of ridiculous behavior over the years, and if I had to guess, a decent percentage of that behavior has come from 1K members" and I said "It is wrong of your to judge a category of your customers based on a guess." I stand by the statement that you said you are judging 1K's based on bad behaviors of those you guess are 1K's and that you are wrong to do that. That may not be what you meant but it is what you said.
If the miscreant in question is on FT, I sure hope he recognizes himself in this story and sees the blowback from other frequent fliers.
Apr 27, 2021, 1:54 pm
#67
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Tacoma, WA
Programs: UA Mileage Plus, Alaska Mileage Plan, Marriott Bonvoy
Posts: 82
757FO remember that people like that 1k customer are unhappy in their own skin. They compensate by trying to make others equally or more unhappy. Hopefully you can soon chuckle about at his inadequacies in human interaction instead of that rattled feeling. Some of the "loudest" people are also the most insecure people.
Apr 27, 2021, 1:58 pm
#68
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: ORD
Programs: United Plat 2MM, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,727
Drawing conclusions on a category of people based on guessed behavior is wrong. That's all I am saying.
Apr 27, 2021, 2:55 pm
#69
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Wildomar, CA USA
Programs: 2MM United, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, AMEX Plat
Posts: 61
Buffoons walk amongst every day. Thank you for your professionalism and acknowledgment to someone who did it for service, not miles and recognition.
Apr 27, 2021, 3:17 pm
#70
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: DFW
Programs: UA 1K, AA Platinum, Hilton Diamond, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 466
This reminds me of what is now just an urban legend: Southwest had a serial complainer. Finally his complaints made it up to the legendary founder and CEO, Herb. Herb wrote back telling him that if he is so unhappy with their service than he should choose a different airline. He also told him to stop abusing his employees. While it's certainly possible a few bad apples existed, Herb knew there was no way he had that many bad employees.
This brings me to my second point. Making 1K was relatively easy last year. Perhaps this gentleman wouldn't have so easily made it to 1K in normal times and it got to his head. I know FA's can make reports about rude passengers if they want. Would a pilot do the same thing in this case? You know that guy may write in to complain.
This brings me to my second point. Making 1K was relatively easy last year. Perhaps this gentleman wouldn't have so easily made it to 1K in normal times and it got to his head. I know FA's can make reports about rude passengers if they want. Would a pilot do the same thing in this case? You know that guy may write in to complain.
Apr 27, 2021, 3:59 pm
#71
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: vx diamond
Posts: 377
What would have been epic if you told the biz traveler that the crew did not feel comfortable with him onboard and ua has refunded his ticket so he can get thanked by another airline 👍😎
Apr 27, 2021, 4:16 pm
#72
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: NOVA
Programs: IHG Rewards Platinum, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, UA/DL/AA Back of the plane...
Posts: 4,610
Apr 27, 2021, 4:25 pm
#73
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: Does Non Rev count?
Posts: 587
This reminds me of what is now just an urban legend: Southwest had a serial complainer. Finally his complaints made it up to the legendary founder and CEO, Herb. Herb wrote back telling him that if he is so unhappy with their service than he should choose a different airline. He also told him to stop abusing his employees. While it's certainly possible a few bad apples existed, Herb knew there was no way he had that many bad employees.
This brings me to my second point. Making 1K was relatively easy last year. Perhaps this gentleman wouldn't have so easily made it to 1K in normal times and it got to his head. I know FA's can make reports about rude passengers if they want. Would a pilot do the same thing in this case? You know that guy may write in to complain.
This brings me to my second point. Making 1K was relatively easy last year. Perhaps this gentleman wouldn't have so easily made it to 1K in normal times and it got to his head. I know FA's can make reports about rude passengers if they want. Would a pilot do the same thing in this case? You know that guy may write in to complain.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Apr 27, 2021 at 5:06 pm Reason: merged consecutive posts by same member
Apr 27, 2021, 4:33 pm
#74
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: BNA
Programs: HH Gold. (Former) UA PP, DL PM, PC Plat
Posts: 8,178
I guess I look at it a little differently. If a passenger, regardless of status, needs to blow off some steam and picks me as the target, I'm okay with it. I have no need to prove to him that he's wrong. In fact, I think that listening then responding politely is more likely to help defuse the situation than other, possibly more personally satisfying, responses. Travel is stressful. I'd rather him vent to me than take it out on another passenger.
You're probably be surprised by how much of our training involves managing the automation and avoiding/correcting the mistakes that can be made with it.
https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/ is one on which anyone can participate. If you ever get tired of watching passengers argue with one another, go there and you can watch pilots arguing with each other, instead. 
Apr 27, 2021, 6:05 pm
#75
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: Does Non Rev count?
Posts: 587
I guess I look at it a little differently. If a passenger, regardless of status, needs to blow off some steam and picks me as the target, I'm okay with it. I have no need to prove to him that he's wrong. In fact, I think that listening then responding politely is more likely to help defuse the situation than other, possibly more personally satisfying, responses. Travel is stressful. I'd rather him vent to me than take it out on another passenger.
You're probably be surprised by how much of our training involves managing the automation and avoiding/correcting the mistakes that can be made with it.
https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/ is one on which anyone can participate. If you ever get tired of watching passengers argue with one another, go there and you can watch pilots arguing with each other, instead.
You're probably be surprised by how much of our training involves managing the automation and avoiding/correcting the mistakes that can be made with it.
https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/ is one on which anyone can participate. If you ever get tired of watching passengers argue with one another, go there and you can watch pilots arguing with each other, instead.
