United
8/8/4
An Old guy with hearing aid and confused about his seat location stumbles through the narrow isle of economy class. It is flight 1176, the 6am out of Spokane for Denver. The silver haired gentleman wears business clothes. His brown shoes are shined. He carries an elaborate business briefcase, but the confusion is obvious. He finds his way into another person's seat, twice. While pushing his way to the aft service area for a Styrofoam cup of hot water, the flight attendant attempts to help him with his seat location. He argues about his reservation. Then he cries rather loudly, "Where is my cell phone?"
This could easily be dismissed as an annoying old man, but the flight attendant extended herself. She attempted to retrieve the phone from the gate agent, and indeed there was one, but it turned out not to be his. By now most of the nearby passengers were aware of the problem. One nearby passenger had heard an announcement over the loud speaker in the terminal for a cell phone, keys and newspaper, left at security. The old man had not heard but by now he was missing his keys as well.
The plane departed but the flight attendant, I think her name is Linda Clausen, persisted. She called United customer service on the Verizon airphone using her own credit card. Explaining the problem. She asked for their help. They tried to give her another number to call, but she persisted. Finally, after repeating the story a number of times, the cell phone, keys and morning issue of the Spokane newspaper were located. The flight attendant relayed the name, address and local phone number for the old man's Fort Worth home and made arrangements for the items to be delivered to his home. I did not hear all of the conversation but she arranged for fast delivery and asked about his ground transportation and his ability to get his car and into his home when he got there.
All this took place in the row behind me. The kindness and thoroughness with which this flight attendant extended herself, clearly beyond the call of duty, brought tears to my eyes. She asked no recompense for what was obviously an expensive airphone call on her own credit card and assured him she would call again in Denver to make sure the items would be on hand in Fort Worth.
United is back! This is the United that I grew up viewing as a standard of excellence. Moral of course is everything. This unselfish unassuming flight attendant demonstrated that fact beyond any doubt. What an inspirational way to start the morning.
An Old guy with hearing aid and confused about his seat location stumbles through the narrow isle of economy class. It is flight 1176, the 6am out of Spokane for Denver. The silver haired gentleman wears business clothes. His brown shoes are shined. He carries an elaborate business briefcase, but the confusion is obvious. He finds his way into another person's seat, twice. While pushing his way to the aft service area for a Styrofoam cup of hot water, the flight attendant attempts to help him with his seat location. He argues about his reservation. Then he cries rather loudly, "Where is my cell phone?"
This could easily be dismissed as an annoying old man, but the flight attendant extended herself. She attempted to retrieve the phone from the gate agent, and indeed there was one, but it turned out not to be his. By now most of the nearby passengers were aware of the problem. One nearby passenger had heard an announcement over the loud speaker in the terminal for a cell phone, keys and newspaper, left at security. The old man had not heard but by now he was missing his keys as well.
The plane departed but the flight attendant, I think her name is Linda Clausen, persisted. She called United customer service on the Verizon airphone using her own credit card. Explaining the problem. She asked for their help. They tried to give her another number to call, but she persisted. Finally, after repeating the story a number of times, the cell phone, keys and morning issue of the Spokane newspaper were located. The flight attendant relayed the name, address and local phone number for the old man's Fort Worth home and made arrangements for the items to be delivered to his home. I did not hear all of the conversation but she arranged for fast delivery and asked about his ground transportation and his ability to get his car and into his home when he got there.
All this took place in the row behind me. The kindness and thoroughness with which this flight attendant extended herself, clearly beyond the call of duty, brought tears to my eyes. She asked no recompense for what was obviously an expensive airphone call on her own credit card and assured him she would call again in Denver to make sure the items would be on hand in Fort Worth.
United is back! This is the United that I grew up viewing as a standard of excellence. Moral of course is everything. This unselfish unassuming flight attendant demonstrated that fact beyond any doubt. What an inspirational way to start the morning.
posted by Clancy Hughes | 8/11/2004 10:22:00 AM
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