A few weeks ago, I finished what me and my crew dubbed “The trip from Hell” (we gave it that name on day 2 of our 4 day trip). The trip was filled with mechanical and weather delays of all kinds. The cherry on top of the trip was that all legs were filled with discount travelers who couldn’t comprehend that being flight crew doesn’t give us power to control the weather (the best part was that the majority gave themselves less than an hour for connections at ORD during the holiday season).
Anyway, being the troopers we were, we finished our trip struggling as much as possible to keep those famous smiles on our faces as each passenger de planed and felt the need to hurl insults our way. Demoralized, I walked off the jet, grabbed my mobile home (aka, my suitcase), my lunch box, and my requisite manual bag. I quickly made my way out of ORD, hiding my id badge and trying to avoid eye contact with anyone with a frown on their faces. Finally, I was free!!!! I boarded the blue line and began making my way to my crash pad. The only thought on my mind at that moment was that I need to change my clothes and go grab a well needed and well deserved drink at one of my favorite Chicago watering holes.
Fast forward 2 hours, and I found myself entering one of the local bars. I made my greetings to the staff and regulars, ordered my favorite drink and began the process of un winding. A patron who was sitting 3 stools down from me over heard my conversation with the bartender and quickly deduced that I worked for the airlines. He then moved over a couple of stools and began talking to me about the industry. Honestly, after the trip I had, I really just wanted to sit quietly (and ALONE), but didn’t want to be rude (not to mention, I do love flying and normally enjoy talking endlessly about aviation). Our conversation lasted a lot longer than it should’ve and I suddenly had a new best friend. Then, about 30 minutes into the conversation, IT happened. Apparently, we became good enough friends that the question all airline employees hate was asked: “Listen, Dino, I really want to take my girlfriend to Hawaii and was wondering if I could use your free travel passes”. I became so angry inside that it took all of the self restraint I could muster not to use some of the new words I learned from my angry passengers on him. To make matters worse, he wasn’t even close to drunk when he asked for that favor. My first thought was “Who the hell is this moron that I barely know and where does he get off asking me for such a favor?” Rather than telling him off, I made up some BS story that I was saving them for a close friend and couldn’t spare them. He then made a rude comment and returned to his original seat. I then paid my tab and proceeded out the door (even more stressed than when I entered the place).
But seriously, what is it with perfect strangers or casual acquaintances thinking I have an unlimited amount of these passes and what makes them feel they’re more deserving than my close friends and family? I am totally cool with offering them to friends and family, but not to strangers. Unfortunately, it’s not an isolated incident. It happens ALL the time. It happens at the store, on the planes (yes, I’ve even had passengers ask on flights—long story), landlords, the hotels I stay in, waitresses, gym patrons. My favorite involved my mechanic. After he was finished robbing me blind last year, he had the nerve to ask for passes for him and his wife to go to Vegas. I have to confess that I almost gave them to him knowing that flying standby to and from Vegas can be incredibly difficult and they probably would’ve spent 2 days sleeping in the Vegas airport trying to get home. But I decided it wasn’t worth all the headaches and stress of getting them home and once again declined his request.
My question is this: Do any of you think I’m being unreasonable and how often does this happen to you? Maybe it’s just me, but I’m just getting sick and tired of perfect strangers confusing me for the Buddy Pass Bank!
Fly Safe everyone and I’ll be back soon.
Dino
Author Resource:-
Dino is a career airline employee and avid traveler. He spends his work days as part of a flight crew crisscrossing North American for a commercial airline and his off days going anywhere in the world he can grab a free flight with friends and is a regular contributor at http://airlinedevils.com
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