Screaming at the Gate Agents

Logic is often suspended by travelers. I am not talking about complex ideas, I'm talking about basic, connect-the-dots stuff.

My favorite examples of this are people who scream at gate agents when they don't get what they want. For starters, this makes no sense because you are alienating the one person who may have a shot at resolving your issue. The notion that belittling them as if they were your indentured servant is completely illogical. Secondly, most of the time the issue is beyond anyone's control. This is not always the case, but things like weather, for example, are likely out of the control of that gate agent. Explaining to Miranda at Gate C7 that, regardless of the thunderstorms centered around Memphis, you "have to get there because it is her wedding" doesn't change a thing. In fact, the slow, higher volume emphasis on the "key words" is not so much insulting to Miranda as it is a pitiful display for the traveler.

The trickier ones involve seats, and often, upgrades. Some people get downright hostile when it comes to the free drink or extra space associated with the first class upgrade. Again, yelling at the person who can actually call the shots seems to be self-defeating. I can usually spot the more seasoned traveler by the one befriending the gate agent, and showing a sincere appreciation for a given dilemma. In the end, it's usually these people who win out.

It turns out gate agents are actually people. And by my careful observations, almost none of them respond well to being yelled at, especially for things completely beyond their control. If you are one of the people yelling at them, I can tell you two things with certainty. First, it will hurt you, not help you, in getting what you want. And second, you look like an idiot doing it. So don't.

Safe travels.