The woman in this video drops an F-bomb to a Southwest Airlines check-in agent. She says she “has two small children and a dog.” Understandably she’s stressed because, she says, she traveled for a surgery and that her child “couldn’t have.”
A parent in this situation should be the most sympathetic passenger imaginable – but not when she drops the f-word a second time, and calls the agent something else too. And that’s before even bringing the employee’s race into it through use of an epithet sometimes used to describe African Americans.
Woman with her kids and dog freaks out at Southwest airlines counter. Drops the N word in front of kids.
byu/UKTVJunkie inPublicFreakout
When she says “I work at a law firm” at the end she’s communicating two things.
- I won’t be working there long
- I am not a lawyer
Ultimately there’s an important lesson in this sad video. “Don’t [expletive] come at me like that” is the exact opposite of “I really need your help today.” They will accomplish two diametrically opposed things. Remember:
- Whomever you’re dealing with is rarely the same person who caused the problem you’re dealing with.
- They can choose to help you, or not.
- They have lots of people complaining to them all day long. You set yourself apart by treating them as a person, with their own emotions and motivations.
You want acknowledge the person you’re dealing with, not treat them poorly. You may be having a bad day, and perhaps so are they. Don’t add to the stress they’re under, or at least acknowledge you’re seeking their help and that you appreciate their going out of their way for you. Thank them for doing so, even before they do it, and they may feel obligated!
If they ask you how you’re doing, as them too! Make them smile! Make them laugh. They’ll be happy to do more to help you.
Even if you don’t care to treat the agent as a person for its own sake (because they’re a human being and it’s what’s due them) if you want to get better treatment you should start by interacting with the person on the other end as a person. From a purely self-interested perspective it’s better not to be a jerk.
If you have a beef with the airline, take it up with executive management or the Department of Transportation. Don’t take out your frustrations on a junior employee. It’s not their fault, and they’ll be less inclined to help you if you do.
You know it’s pretty sad when we’ve reached the point that people have to be reminded of these basic rules of decency. But I’m sure it doesn’t hurt to bring them up again. And for those who think they only apply to “little people”, remember the old saying. You may meet a lot of folks on the way up who you will also see on the way down. (And it doesn’t take much for one of them to “lose” a critical piece of information or access that you need.)
Amen,
Southwest front in baggage and ticket handling counter when you first walk into a airport are certainly not catered to individual customer service. They are all geared to large volume, cattle herd, push them through as fast as you can. Two weeks ago at BWI there were two Southwest employees yelling at everybody to have their ID and tickets out and un their hands before reaching the counter. Just like Army basic training, yelling like drill Sargent. Some people felt disrespected like they were dumb recruits. No place to be for a problem.
As much as I travel (and have traveled) there are times when airline staff isn’t the greatest (hey…they’re human) and times when it’s the customer. I have become frustrated at times with the staff and there have been some unhappy moments. But, this “person” should be banned from flying the airline again. And yes…you can kiss that law firm job goodbye. Assuming you actually work there?
@The T
“Two weeks ago” meaning the days before Christmas, i.e. the busiest travel days of the year with the highest percentage of infrequent travelers? Believe me, the agents wouldn’t yell and repeat themselves over and over if people would actually pay attention and use common sense…
I’ve realized at the end of the day I say very little the airline personal. Even if they are wrong I keep my tone level, I may ask for a Red Coat. What I’ll never do is raise my voice or cuss. I definitely will never call anyone the F word, C word or B word. That’s just asking you to get banned. I have no sympathy for the women.
If you’re going to be polished and use the word, “whomever,” at least use it correctly in the sentence.
She may work in a law firm but has a poor understanding of the legal system. Her problem is too small for litigation. Besdies, the airline’s litigation budget far exceeds hers. The way out is settlement. That settlement is to get the ticket counter employees to help you.
The glasses and tatoos tell me that she’s “ultra-MAGA”.
/s
I’m sure she was stressed because her kid couldn’t get surgery but totally inappropriate to take it out on the customer service agents. I’m appalled she used the C word and a racial epithet; I would ban her from the airline. I’m curious with what she needed help.
Chris – she is from California and a brainwashed DemocRat – like yourself..
@ David @ Chris
Geezzz.. you guys just can’t help yourselves can you. Politics injected into everything.
Why don’t you guys give it a rest.
I agree with a ban just like with the post of a person calling a gate agent a jackxxx several days ago. It should be pointed out that these words used are commonly heard in music these days which may make people think that they are ok for a lot of situations and that is simply not true. I did not suggest that the previous person loose their job and I do not suggest it here since the person here did not mention a specific law firm. In fact, job sponsored anger management courses may be a good thing. The Raiders hat may have the Raiders organization sending a cease and desist letter about wearing their branded hat.
A Raiders fan…need one know anything further?
I love when people attempt to frighten staff by saying things like “I work for a law firm,” “I’ll sue,” “I’m friends with the CEO,” “I have 4 million followers,” etc. They’re all empty threats. They may work at some restaurant with a teenage host, but not with airline workers. They’re almost as fun as watching a guy trying to impress a woman out of his league with BS fifth graders wouldn’t buy.
People like this in addition to being arrested and charged with a felony should immediately be put on a no fly list.
@The T:
“Just like Army basic training, yelling like drill Sargent.”
In my experience, 99.9% of the public could sure benefit from an extended stretch in military bootcamp to teach them how to get along with others and that they are not the only person in the world.
And when (if) they finish bootcamp, a couple of years of service in a developing country will further straighten them out and teach them how to fly right.
Worked wonders for me!
Cursing at and dehumanizing the person from whom you need help has to be stupidest thing a self-centered jerk can do. It’s literally self-defeating.
there’s not as many law firms practicing “Rambo Law” these days; in Texas a decade or two ago I’d guess about 25% were … “I won’t agree on the day of the week” .. literally, scorched Earth, insulting, demeaning, a fight over everything, who can throw the most paper at the other, endless Motions, trips to the Courthouse … to make the other side settle cheap or give up. Employee may get a raise for confirming she understands the business philosophy.
@Patrick – I know, right? Cunts can come from any political affiliation. Or none at all. This broad is Queen Cunt.
@David Stephen Miller – “she is from California….”
David Stephen, you too are from California. The invitation to play b-ball near your old hood is still open.