Comments on: A true story about the power of nice http://www.elliott.org/blog/a-true-story-about-the-power-of-nice/ Consumer advocate Christopher Elliott's site. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:25:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: P.J.Zornosa http://www.elliott.org/blog/a-true-story-about-the-power-of-nice/comment-page-1/#comment-26012 P.J.Zornosa Sun, 25 Oct 2009 18:34:50 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=7465#comment-26012 Courtesy and congeniality unfortunately aren't common attributes for most who fly today. Courtesy costs nothing and goes a long way to make a bad situation at least nominally acceptable. I have seen very inconsiderate passengers stow their carry ons in overhead compartments as far as 20 rows ahead of where they are seated. When the person boarding and has nowhere to stow their own carry ons above their seat they often have to stow them BEHIND where they are seated. THIS is a major obstacle when exiting the flight and often delays EVERYONE else. This is an example of complete lack of consideration for one's fellow passengers. Courtesy costs nothing. The self righteous entiltlement attitude does no one any good. Period. Many forget thet it isn't just about them, but we are a group traveling on the same aircraft. We demand service from the airlines and yet many of us don't want to pay for it either monetarily or otherwise. We could all make it a little less stressful if we just exhibited some manners and consideration. Unfortunately there are those who disagree and are miserable human beings. THEY should be denied boarding in a perfect world. Courtesy and congeniality unfortunately aren’t common attributes for most who fly today. Courtesy costs nothing and goes a long way to make a bad situation at least nominally acceptable.

I have seen very inconsiderate passengers stow their carry ons in overhead compartments as far as 20 rows ahead of where they are seated. When the person boarding and has nowhere to stow their own carry ons above their seat they often have to stow them BEHIND where they are seated. THIS is a major obstacle when exiting the flight and often delays EVERYONE else. This is an example of complete lack of consideration for one’s fellow passengers.

Courtesy costs nothing. The self righteous entiltlement attitude does no one any good. Period. Many forget thet it isn’t just about them, but we are a group traveling on the same aircraft.

We demand service from the airlines and yet many of us don’t want to pay for it either monetarily or otherwise. We could all make it a little less stressful if we just exhibited some manners and consideration. Unfortunately there are those who disagree and are miserable human beings. THEY should be denied boarding in a perfect world.

]]> By: John http://www.elliott.org/blog/a-true-story-about-the-power-of-nice/comment-page-1/#comment-24697 John Mon, 28 Sep 2009 20:52:57 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=7465#comment-24697 James finally posted what I was thinking as I read all of the posts chiding Chris for "jumping" the list. Chris didn't do anything except behave nicely. The agent chose to move him up. James finally posted what I was thinking as I read all of the posts chiding Chris for “jumping” the list. Chris didn’t do anything except behave nicely. The agent chose to move him up.

]]> By: James http://www.elliott.org/blog/a-true-story-about-the-power-of-nice/comment-page-1/#comment-22171 James Mon, 03 Aug 2009 18:56:07 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=7465#comment-22171 I was a little undecided exactly how I felt about this situation as I read all the comments. I came to two conclusions: One, it is always better to be nice. Given any other situation, we would not be having a debate over whether Chris was considerate to other passengers or not. Let’s say he was on a wide-open flight and received a comp upgrade. Would anyone really care that his niceness got him a perk? I was once comped an upgrade on a half-full AA flight because I apologized for the rude customer in front of me and told the GA that she certainly had earned her pay that day. Second, it doesn’t seem that Chris ASKED for anything other than to be added to the standby list. Any actions above that were made solely by the GA. What was Chris supposed to do, ask her if the other 24 people had refused the seat? That’s a little unrealistic. Had Chris requested to be put at the top of the list I would agree that he had been inconsiderate to the other passengers. But lacking any evidence of that I think he is being prosecuted unfairly. The whole point of this column was to communicate a Golden Rule “treat others as you would have them treat you” message. That being nice and polite can bring unexpected benefits. I would hate to think his message will get lost because he could have used a better example. I was a little undecided exactly how I felt about this situation as I read all the comments. I came to two conclusions:

One, it is always better to be nice. Given any other situation, we would not be having a debate over whether Chris was considerate to other passengers or not. Let’s say he was on a wide-open flight and received a comp upgrade. Would anyone really care that his niceness got him a perk? I was once comped an upgrade on a half-full AA flight because I apologized for the rude customer in front of me and told the GA that she certainly had earned her pay that day.

Second, it doesn’t seem that Chris ASKED for anything other than to be added to the standby list. Any actions above that were made solely by the GA. What was Chris supposed to do, ask her if the other 24 people had refused the seat? That’s a little unrealistic. Had Chris requested to be put at the top of the list I would agree that he had been inconsiderate to the other passengers. But lacking any evidence of that I think he is being prosecuted unfairly.

The whole point of this column was to communicate a Golden Rule “treat others as you would have them treat you” message. That being nice and polite can bring unexpected benefits. I would hate to think his message will get lost because he could have used a better example.

]]> By: Teresa Stewart http://www.elliott.org/blog/a-true-story-about-the-power-of-nice/comment-page-1/#comment-21972 Teresa Stewart Wed, 29 Jul 2009 14:27:32 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=7465#comment-21972 Joe, you're missing one detail, though.... "After general boarding ended, I watched the standby list scroll by on the monitors. ELLI/C was number one on the screen. In other words, if there was a free seat on the plane, I would get it. And I did." The fact that his name was first on the screen means she bumped him ahead of the other 24 people, regardless of how many people were in their party. Chris, I'm a big fan of yours, your blog helped give me the resources I needed to get home early when there was a tragedy in my family while I was on vacation. I also appreciate the sentiment of this post - as the saying goes, you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. But while you were nice to the gate agent, you certainly weren't being very nice to or considerate of your fellow travelers. Joe, you’re missing one detail, though….

“After general boarding ended, I watched the standby list scroll by on the monitors.

ELLI/C was number one on the screen. In other words, if there was a free seat on the plane, I would get it. And I did.”

The fact that his name was first on the screen means she bumped him ahead of the other 24 people, regardless of how many people were in their party.

Chris, I’m a big fan of yours, your blog helped give me the resources I needed to get home early when there was a tragedy in my family while I was on vacation. I also appreciate the sentiment of this post – as the saying goes, you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. But while you were nice to the gate agent, you certainly weren’t being very nice to or considerate of your fellow travelers.

]]> By: Donna Hull http://www.elliott.org/blog/a-true-story-about-the-power-of-nice/comment-page-1/#comment-21968 Donna Hull Wed, 29 Jul 2009 12:25:58 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=7465#comment-21968 Being nice has always worked for me in these types of situation. And you know what? It takes a lot less effort to be nice than it does to work up an angry rage. Being nice has always worked for me in these types of situation. And you know what? It takes a lot less effort to be nice than it does to work up an angry rage.

]]> By: Doris http://www.elliott.org/blog/a-true-story-about-the-power-of-nice/comment-page-1/#comment-21964 Doris Wed, 29 Jul 2009 01:00:45 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=7465#comment-21964 We were traveling with Girl Scouts to Atlanta. Because my husband had to drop me off before going to work, I was at the airport very early for our later flight. While waiting, I discovered our original flight had been cancelled. I collected all the information and when our group arrived, we had already been wait listed for another flight. As a thank you, we gave the airline employee a "swap" - something Girl Scouts use to trade with other Scouts. Believe it or not, all 8 of us got on an earlier flight - and other employees wanted to help us just to get one of our swaps - so it does pay to be nice! We were traveling with Girl Scouts to Atlanta. Because my husband had to drop me off before going to work, I was at the airport very early for our later flight. While waiting, I discovered our original flight had been cancelled. I collected all the information and when our group arrived, we had already been wait listed for another flight. As a thank you, we gave the airline employee a “swap” – something Girl Scouts use to trade with other Scouts. Believe it or not, all 8 of us got on an earlier flight – and other employees wanted to help us just to get one of our swaps – so it does pay to be nice!

]]> By: Continuum http://www.elliott.org/blog/a-true-story-about-the-power-of-nice/comment-page-1/#comment-21956 Continuum Tue, 28 Jul 2009 20:06:55 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=7465#comment-21956 Clearly, Chris was well within his rights to schmooze. However, by in essence "jumping the line" he displaced someone else who arrived ahead of him, and in all fairness, may have had just as valid reasons for getting home. The actions of Chris and those of the gate agent are not something to brag about. Clearly, Chris was well within his rights to schmooze. However, by in essence “jumping the line” he displaced someone else who arrived ahead of him, and in all fairness, may have had just as valid reasons for getting home.

The actions of Chris and those of the gate agent are not something to brag about.

]]> By: Joe Farrell http://www.elliott.org/blog/a-true-story-about-the-power-of-nice/comment-page-1/#comment-21954 Joe Farrell Tue, 28 Jul 2009 19:37:01 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=7465#comment-21954 Carver - I was teasing about the upgrade list! As I said, if there was a single with a higher priority than Chris that person should have received it. Can you imagine the following - 8 min to departure to clear the list: AA Gate Agent [AAGA]: Passenger Henry Flabby, party of 4? Sir, we have one seat - do you want it? Agnus - what do you think? you could get the bags and luggage? and the Car. I don't now Henry - we should stay together. Agnus- I'll go. ' Maybe we should send one of the kids Henry? They can get the car too. We might get separated - I don't know. AAGA: Sir, do you want the seat? Miss - we're deciding. AAGA: Passenger Patel, party of 6 - report to the counter - Sir, we have one seat - do you want it? i'd like to go Rashid, what do you think Mohammed? I don't know, should we split up. and it goes on and on and on. C'mon Carver - first SINGLE highest on the list gets ONE available seat. Human nature. Carver – I was teasing about the upgrade list! As I said, if there was a single with a higher priority than Chris that person should have received it.
Can you imagine the following – 8 min to departure to clear the list:
AA Gate Agent [AAGA]: Passenger Henry Flabby, party of 4? Sir, we have one seat – do you want it?
Agnus – what do you think? you could get the bags and luggage? and the Car.
I don’t now Henry – we should stay together.
Agnus- I’ll go. ‘
Maybe we should send one of the kids Henry? They can get the car too.
We might get separated – I don’t know.
AAGA: Sir, do you want the seat?
Miss – we’re deciding.
AAGA: Passenger Patel, party of 6 – report to the counter – Sir, we have one seat – do you want it?
i’d like to go Rashid, what do you think Mohammed?
I don’t know, should we split up.

and it goes on and on and on. C’mon Carver – first SINGLE highest on the list gets ONE available seat. Human nature.

]]> By: Merryl http://www.elliott.org/blog/a-true-story-about-the-power-of-nice/comment-page-1/#comment-21949 Merryl Tue, 28 Jul 2009 17:46:52 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=7465#comment-21949 I'm sure nice pays. Several years ago I was travelling home from Phoenix via Las Vegas on America West. That was the trip I discovered how it feels to be a sardine... but I digress. I arrived at the gate to find a line of boarding people and two irate people yelling at one of the gate agents. From that I surmised that America West had oversold the flight. (Not that anyone who ever flies that airline should be surprised to find that, but that's a different story.) I walked up to the counter and asked "Are you looking for volunteers?" She said "Yes" and told me what they were offering. I said "Tell ya what, if you can get me a business-class upgrade, I'll volunteer." She got me business class for the Las Vegas to Boston leg. I had a fun 4-hour layover in Las Vegas (where I saw a movie and won $6), and some comfort on the long flight home. She got another seat open on the flight, plus a smile from me. Win! I’m sure nice pays. Several years ago I was travelling home from Phoenix via Las Vegas on America West. That was the trip I discovered how it feels to be a sardine… but I digress. I arrived at the gate to find a line of boarding people and two irate people yelling at one of the gate agents. From that I surmised that America West had oversold the flight. (Not that anyone who ever flies that airline should be surprised to find that, but that’s a different story.)

I walked up to the counter and asked “Are you looking for volunteers?” She said “Yes” and told me what they were offering. I said “Tell ya what, if you can get me a business-class upgrade, I’ll volunteer.” She got me business class for the Las Vegas to Boston leg. I had a fun 4-hour layover in Las Vegas (where I saw a movie and won $6), and some comfort on the long flight home. She got another seat open on the flight, plus a smile from me. Win!

]]> By: DN http://www.elliott.org/blog/a-true-story-about-the-power-of-nice/comment-page-1/#comment-21943 DN Tue, 28 Jul 2009 17:01:13 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=7465#comment-21943 Now, that being said, I'm still a fan of "elite" boarding and privileges and will defend it even after I stop flying 140K+ domestic miles per year. From the comments, you can pretty much figure out who the Platinums and high-mileage travelers are. Every airline treats their frequent flyer program as a money maker, and if you want your money maker to generate more money, make sure that the ones who rack up thousands of miles are happy. That is why they have airline lounges, free drink coupons, upgrades, etc. United made over $600 million last year on their program, which helps when you post billion dollar losses per year. Casual travelers who choose a flight based on the lowest fare and don't have any particular loyalty to an airline just don't mean a lot and are usually treated that way. I'm sorry if some of them aren't experienced enough and need Chris's help to resolve their issues - this is why he's here and seems to be very successful at what he does. I did a lot of boneheaded things when I was an inexperienced traveler and I still do some today. It's what I call my "stupid tax". Regardless of what you casual flyers say, the tiered system will always be present and always put casual flyers at a disadvantage. Your recourse is either to join the system or live with it. Southwest even started a business program now, where for more money, you can get a Business Elite fare giving you a special line at LAX, almost automatic "A" level boarding passes, and other bonuses. If it makes you feel any better, every year, most airlines are cheapening the privileges we get anyway. Now, that being said, I’m still a fan of “elite” boarding and privileges and will defend it even after I stop flying 140K+ domestic miles per year. From the comments, you can pretty much figure out who the Platinums and high-mileage travelers are.

Every airline treats their frequent flyer program as a money maker, and if you want your money maker to generate more money, make sure that the ones who rack up thousands of miles are happy. That is why they have airline lounges, free drink coupons, upgrades, etc. United made over $600 million last year on their program, which helps when you post billion dollar losses per year. Casual travelers who choose a flight based on the lowest fare and don’t have any particular loyalty to an airline just don’t mean a lot and are usually treated that way. I’m sorry if some of them aren’t experienced enough and need Chris’s help to resolve their issues – this is why he’s here and seems to be very successful at what he does. I did a lot of boneheaded things when I was an inexperienced traveler and I still do some today. It’s what I call my “stupid tax”.

Regardless of what you casual flyers say, the tiered system will always be present and always put casual flyers at a disadvantage. Your recourse is either to join the system or live with it. Southwest even started a business program now, where for more money, you can get a Business Elite fare giving you a special line at LAX, almost automatic “A” level boarding passes, and other bonuses. If it makes you feel any better, every year, most airlines are cheapening the privileges we get anyway.

]]> By: DN http://www.elliott.org/blog/a-true-story-about-the-power-of-nice/comment-page-1/#comment-21941 DN Tue, 28 Jul 2009 16:40:55 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=7465#comment-21941 Chris's point is that by being nice, you can sometimes help your cause. Obviously, when you're not very nice, you can definitely hurt your cause. I'm a 1K with United and MVP Gold with Alaska so I am very used to being near the top of the standby list whenever I want to fly an earlier flight. Regardless of what the rest of us "elite" members think about his actions, wouldn't you prefer to have "nice" people on the plane instead of grousers and irate flyers - especially sitting in the middle seat next to you, taking both armrests, and complaining the whole time about how they'll never fly XXX Airlines again? That being said, I have also been bumped higher on the standby list with American with no status (because Alaska's doesn't count at all with American) by being nice, and Executive Platinums who have a problem with that need to take it up with AA. United's priority is still status first (based on fare type) but I believe the GA is allowed to move delayed/cancelled passengers higher on the list at their option. Chris’s point is that by being nice, you can sometimes help your cause. Obviously, when you’re not very nice, you can definitely hurt your cause. I’m a 1K with United and MVP Gold with Alaska so I am very used to being near the top of the standby list whenever I want to fly an earlier flight.

Regardless of what the rest of us “elite” members think about his actions, wouldn’t you prefer to have “nice” people on the plane instead of grousers and irate flyers – especially sitting in the middle seat next to you, taking both armrests, and complaining the whole time about how they’ll never fly XXX Airlines again?

That being said, I have also been bumped higher on the standby list with American with no status (because Alaska’s doesn’t count at all with American) by being nice, and Executive Platinums who have a problem with that need to take it up with AA. United’s priority is still status first (based on fare type) but I believe the GA is allowed to move delayed/cancelled passengers higher on the list at their option.

]]> By: Blake Fleetwood http://www.elliott.org/blog/a-true-story-about-the-power-of-nice/comment-page-1/#comment-21938 Blake Fleetwood Tue, 28 Jul 2009 16:19:32 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=7465#comment-21938 Chris, Nice story... I am amazed by the comments. Flyers seem to feel that they, as a result of FF miles or status,,, have a god given right, higher than a legal right, to bump other poor slobs who don't share their status. This is the result of the Class System the airlines have set up.... whereby they bribe business travelers with FF miles, that should rightly be taxed or go to their employers. When everybody is on the take..... it becomes legal.. Hope this stirs up discussion. Chris,

Nice story…
I am amazed by the comments. Flyers seem to feel that they, as a result of FF miles or status,,, have a god given right, higher than a legal right, to bump other poor slobs who don’t share their status.

This is the result of the Class System the airlines have set up…. whereby they bribe business travelers with FF miles, that should rightly be taxed or go to their employers.

When everybody is on the take….. it becomes legal..

Hope this stirs up discussion.

]]> By: Greg N. http://www.elliott.org/blog/a-true-story-about-the-power-of-nice/comment-page-1/#comment-21933 Greg N. Tue, 28 Jul 2009 14:28:35 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=7465#comment-21933 2 more examples of how being nice works to one's advantage, both on American. First, my partner got caught at security trying to catch a flight to Miami, connecting to Madrid, and missed the flight at the start of the Memorial Day weekend. No flights were available for 2 days, with no chance to connect to Madrid via Miami. American booked him on Lufthansa to Spain via Frankfurt, at no charge! They are not even code share partners! Second example: I showed up late for check in and lost my upgrade. No problem, I still had a nice aisle seat. The gate agent told me a couple from Europe had to split up, and would I be willing to give him my aisle seat and take the wife's window seat in back. I was happy to do so, and the couple thanked me as we changed seats. Then, a couple with a baby sat in my row, and since there was a middle seat opened, I offered to switch seats with the wife so they could have the middle seat for their baby. After the last passenger was seated, the gate agent came running back to tell me they found one last seat in First Class, and I was given that seat with no upgrades used. It DOES pay to be nice! 2 more examples of how being nice works to one’s advantage, both on American. First, my partner got caught at security trying to catch a flight to Miami, connecting to Madrid, and missed the flight at the start of the Memorial Day weekend. No flights were available for 2 days, with no chance to connect to Madrid via Miami. American booked him on Lufthansa to Spain via Frankfurt, at no charge! They are not even code share partners!
Second example: I showed up late for check in and lost my upgrade. No problem, I still had a nice aisle seat. The gate agent told me a couple from Europe had to split up, and would I be willing to give him my aisle seat and take the wife’s window seat in back. I was happy to do so, and the couple thanked me as we changed seats. Then, a couple with a baby sat in my row, and since there was a middle seat opened, I offered to switch seats with the wife so they could have the middle seat for their baby. After the last passenger was seated, the gate agent came running back to tell me they found one last seat in First Class, and I was given that seat with no upgrades used. It DOES pay to be nice!

]]> By: Naomi Shapiro http://www.elliott.org/blog/a-true-story-about-the-power-of-nice/comment-page-1/#comment-21924 Naomi Shapiro Tue, 28 Jul 2009 09:39:49 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=7465#comment-21924 True True True (about being nice) -- and also keep trying. It was Christmas Eve and I wanted to get off my late night flight to stay in Minneapolis to visit my daughter and grandchild (on my way home to Madison from abroad). I would be vacating a seat (that wasn't needed), and not taking anyone else's place the next day. After two refusals, I found a very nice woman who "had the Christmas spirit" as I stated it, and resonated with my wish to stay over in Minneapolis. True True True (about being nice) — and also keep trying. It was Christmas Eve and I wanted to get off my late night flight to stay in Minneapolis to visit my daughter and grandchild (on my way home to Madison from abroad). I would be vacating a seat (that wasn’t needed), and not taking anyone else’s place the next day. After two refusals, I found a very nice woman who “had the Christmas spirit” as I stated it, and resonated with my wish to stay over in Minneapolis.

]]> By: carver http://www.elliott.org/blog/a-true-story-about-the-power-of-nice/comment-page-1/#comment-21922 carver Tue, 28 Jul 2009 08:38:52 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=7465#comment-21922 @anonymous and Scott None of us know who is one the list or their circumstances and as such we cannot draw any conclusions about who deserves the seat from a humanist perspective. What we do know is AA has a policy for determining priority that is a publicized benefit of achieving status in the membership program and based upon that criteria Chris would be #25. Seems highly unfair. @anonymous and Scott

None of us know who is one the list or their circumstances and as such we cannot draw any conclusions about who deserves the seat from a humanist perspective. What we do know is AA has a policy for determining priority that is a publicized benefit of achieving status in the membership program and based upon that criteria Chris would be #25. Seems highly unfair.

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