man complaining to woman at airport check in
Sarah Biren
Sarah Biren
March 13, 2024 ·  4 min read

Angry passenger screams at woman in check-in – then she says these 6 words and instantly shut him up

When you think of internet legends, you might think of creepy tales like Slenderman and the clown statue. But there is also a league of feel-good stories where obnoxious people are put in their place. They tend to circulate around Tumblr and Facebook, often ending with “and everyone clapped”. Today, that phrase is another way to say, “This story is completely fabricated”. Or at the very least, legendary, meaning, we’re not sure of its origin and it cannot be verified. Nonetheless, it’s still satisfying to read about jerks facing consequences for their actions, even if it’s just a pipe dream. And if you’ve ever worked in customer service, this story will be especially more enjoyable for you. Particularly if you’ve worked at an airport during a canceled flight.

Entitled Passenger Demands a Flight — The Agent Immediately Puts Him in His Place

An agent was working at a check-in counter for a busy airline. A crowded flight was canceled due to weather complications and the passengers flooded the counter, trying to get re-booked. Everyone was stressed — after all, they had somewhere to be — but one passenger was irate about the cancellation. He shoved to the front of the line, where an elderly couple was talking to the agent, and threw his passport on the counter.

“I don’t have time to wait in line!” He yelled. “I need to be on the first flight out of here and it must be first class.

The agent kept her cool. “I’ll be happy to help you but I’m in the middle of booking for these people first. Please wait your turn like everyone else.”

The passenger turned red and screamed, “Do you have any idea who I am?”

The agent gave him her best professional smile and reached for her microphone to make an announcement. “May I have your attention please?” Her calm voice rang out throughout the terminal. “We have a passenger at Gate D15 who doesn’t know who he is. If anyone can help identify him, please make your way to Gate D15.

The stressed-out people in line began to laugh while the man glared at the agent. “Screw you!

She smiled in return, and without missing a beat, she replied, “I’m sorry, sir. You’ll have to get in line for that, too.[1]

This legend has dated back to 1998 according to Snopes, although the origin is unknown. It could have been based on a tale from the 70s where a snooty man is upset by the slow service at a restaurant. He indignantly asked his waiter, “Do you know who I am?” And the waiter replied, “No, sir. But I’ll ask around and inform you right away.” [2]

This story was notably made into a hilarious South African commercial for Joko Tea. 

Read: Woman Gets Duct-Taped To Seat On Plane After Trying To Open Door Mid-Flight

Another Famous Legend About an Airline

This legend is funny, but it also contains a serious message about racism and discrimination. Here’s how it goes:

A middle-aged white woman entered a crowded flight and was appalled to discover her seat-mate is a young Black man. The woman immediately called a flight attendant and demanded a new seat, claiming she cannot sit next to this man, referring to him with a racial slur. 

The flight attendant nodded and said she’d look for another seat. Then she returned sometime later and explained,

“I spoke with the captain and there are no more seats in economy but there is one empty in first class. Our policy usually doesn’t allow moving passengers from economy to first class but he agreed that you shouldn’t have to sit next to someone so unpleasant for the entire flight.” 

The woman smiled until the flight attendant turned to the Black man and said,

If you’ll retrieve your personal items, sir, I’ll show you to your new seat.” 

Alternative Versions

This legend also has multiple variations. It seems to change every time it’s retold. This version about the racist white woman refusing to sit next to a Black man circulated in 1998 and again in 2004. In 2005, it was about a fancy woman refusing to sit next to an Orthodox Jew. More recent versions contain a Muslim who doesn’t want to sit next to a woman reading the Bible or a passenger shaming a gay person. While the core idea of this story — stand up to entitled bigots — is satisfying and comforting, these kinds of legends can reinforce stereotypes, which can negatively reflect on those who do not share the same beliefs. Still, these stories can do more good than harm, especially when they’re taken with a grain of salt. [2]

And yes, this story also resulted in an advert. This time, it’s a Portuguese anti-racism public service announcement celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Like the funny Joko commercial, it’s super satisfying to watch. 

Keep Reading: The Seven Secret Words On A Flight That Means There’s Danger

Sources

  1. “Airline passenger yells at check-in woman – then her 6-word response instantly knocks him down to size.” Newsner. April 28, 2018
  2. “Obnoxious Airline Passengers.Snopes. David Mikkelson. March 3, 2001