“The customer is always right” is a classic service industry mantra that surely has its place, but there are a definitely some people out there are the exception to the rule.
Everyone who’s worked in a service job knows what I mean — those people who think they’re better than everyone else, demand to be treated like royalty and treat customer service people like dirt.
This story about a woman working at the check-in counter for an airline is fictional, but it shows a clever way to deal with rude customers. Her response to an extremely disrespectful passenger really put him in his place, and it also made me laugh out loud.
Scroll down to read the story and don’t hesitate to share it if you also thought the woman’s response was absolutely brilliant!
The woman at the check-in desk at LaGuardia Airport in New York should get an award for how she dealt with this obnoxious customer! For all of you out there who have had to deal with an irate customer, this one is for you.
A crowded Southwest Airlines flight was canceled due to unsafe weather. A single agent was re-booking a long line of inconvenienced travelers.
Suddenly, an angry passenger pushed his way to the head of the line. He slapped his ticket on the counter and said, “I HAVE to be on this flight and it has to be FIRST CLASS.”
The agent replied, “I’m sorry, sir. I’ll be happy to try to help you, but I’ve got to help these folks first; and then I’m sure we’ll be able to work something out.”
The passenger was unimpressed.
He asked loudly so that the passengers behind him could hear, “DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHO I AM?”
Without hesitating, the agent smiled and grabbed her public address microphone.
“May I have your attention, please?” she began. (Her voice heard clearly throughout the terminal), “We have a passenger here at Gate 14 WHO DOES NOT KNOW WHO HE IS. If anyone can help him with his identity, please come to Gate 14.”
With the folks behind him in line laughing hysterically, the man glared at the Southwest Airlines agent, gritted his teeth, and said, “Screw you!”
Without flinching, she smiled and said, “I’m sorry, sir. You’ll have to get in line for that, too.”
Don’t forget to share if you this story also put a smile on your face!
