One Thing I’d Do Differently
Not long ago, I had a flight on Frontier from Atlanta to Baltimore.
Typically, if I have an issue with Frontier, it is over whether my bag exceeds the size limitations. This is common with the low-cost airlines.
But what happened that day was a first for me.
In hindsight, I regret how I handled it.
The seats in the first few rows cost extra.
If you have ever flown Frontier, you know the deboarding process can become a competitive sport. People from the back surge forward like there’s a cash prize waiting at the jet bridge. It can be frustrating and something I wish to avoid.
So in order to be one of the first passengers off the plane and get to my grandchildren as quickly as possible, I paid for a first row seat.
When it was time to board the plane, I handed my boarding pass to the gate agent, heard the “Ding” that it was accepted, and I proceeded down the gangway. While that was happening, I saw an older woman engaged in a conversation with another gate agent.
I didn’t think anything of it other than noticing that the older woman did something you don’t see often anymore—she dressed up for the flight.
I was in my seat for over 10 minutes when the nicely-dressed woman told me I was in her seat.
A flight attendant quickly came and looked at our boarding passes. We both had seat 1F.
Within a few minutes, the gate agent who was speaking to the woman came on board and asked me to collect my things and meet her at the ticket desk.
“You need to be assigned a new seat,” she said.
I initially asked politely how that could be. I had paid for the premium seat two weeks ago. My confirmation email reflected the seat I purchased. My boarding pass said 1F.
What was the issue?
The gate agent said that her computer reflected the seat as available.
Obviously it wasn’t.
Trying to remain composed, I acknowledged that I understood errors happen. I asked why I was the passenger being relocated, though my ticket had been purchased two weeks ago.
Her response set me off. “Because.”
That was it. No further explanation.
Let’s just say, my words were very choice, and very uncharacteristic for me.
“You can accept the seat I assign you, or I will gladly refund your money.”
At that point, I had three choices: accept the new seat and make it to Baltimore, take the refund and cancel the trip, or continue my barrage until security escorted me from the airport.
I chose the first.
As I made my way back on the plane, the woman apologized to me.
It wasn’t her fault, yet she handled the situation with the same class she showed in the way she dressed.
When I took my seat, about two-thirds of the way back of the plane, the steam from my ears turned to a low simmer.
I felt as though I was wronged.
But in any other situation, I probably would have offered my seat to the woman. Unfortunately, I allowed my emotions to get in the way.
Rather than being noble, I had to have it forced on me.
I still believe I had every right to question the decision. What I regret is the way I allowed my anger to take over.
I’ll try to be better next time.
And in case you were wondering, yes, I was caught up in the chaos of passengers rushing to the front as we arrived at the gate in Baltimore.
