Via iStockphoto / @vibrantsuntravels TikTok
One passenger was shocked and left speechless by a flight attendant's response when she asked for a cup of ice.
Flying can be stressful, as there are so many variables at play. The air travel experience can include long security lines, delays, rude fellow passengers, and even rude customer service. One woman says she experienced a nasty flight attendant and what happened still haunts her to this day.
In a TikTok with over 386,100 views, Jenny (@vibrantsuntravels) recalls a time that a flight attendant snapped at her.
“POV: You politely ask a flight attendant for a cup of ice and she snaps, ‘YOU NEED TO BE PATIENT,’” the on-screen text reads.
This response not only shocked Jenny but also everyone on board. She says fellow passengers turned to see what was happening. She says she sat in silence and slowly processed that moment.
“Everyone turns to look at you, and you just sit there chewing, stunned,” on-screen text continues.
This flashback still haunts Jenny, she says, and it’s been over a year since this incident has happened.
“Why is this STILL Living in my head a year later,” the on-screen text concludes.
Similar Experiences With Rude Flight Attendants
Viewers in the comments section commiserated with what Jenny experienced.
“I asked for water once. The flight attendant snapped and said: ‘You’re gonna be difficult aren’t you?’ I snapped back with: ‘I didn’t ask you for attitude, I asked for water; do your job please.’ She got all flustered but I got my water,” one viewer wrote.
“Literally yesterday, I asked for a seatbelt extender, they moved me all the way to the back and kept saying ‘well still make sure you get your sodas and cookies’ like just call me big,” another added.
“I asked once if they had Diet Coke. The guy looked at me and said ‘no honey. I have no diets, no Ketos, no paleos’ and I was just like…. ‘What…?’ Said never mind and got nothing. This was like 5 years ago and it still bothers me. Was he trying to be funny? Was he out of diet? I’m still confused,” a third chimed in.
“The flight attendant looked me straight in the eye and asked if I wanted a drink. I said ‘water please’ she said, ‘you need to wait your turn’… then pulled the cart past our row. All three of us in the row were very confused. We never got drinks or snacks,” another commented.
Why Are Some Flight Attendants Mean?
Flight attendants’ attitudes and customer service treatment can vary, and no flight is the same. There are several amazing and respectful flight attendants doing their jobs with pride. However, there are a few bad apples with an attitude that make others believe the U.S. has rude flight attendants.
One Mile At A Time theorizes a few reasons why rude flight attendants are allowed to get away with this type of behavior. The first reason is that there is no direct high-level manager on board. When a rude interaction takes place, it’s hard to elevate the issue without a higher-up on board. Plus, airplanes don’t have security cameras to hold flight attendants accountable for poor service.
Another reason is that safety is preached to be the top objective for flight attendants even though the majority of the flight is service-based. There is no question that these flight attendants are great, knowing the safety protocols and operations. It may just be used as an excuse to provide poor customer service in some cases.
Low staffing can cause strain on the flight crew, as U.S. flights will typically just have the FAA minimum required amount. With lower crew numbers on board, the shift can be taxing on the staff. With staffing shortages, flight attendants can have high stress and burnout.
If you ever deal with a rude flight attendant, it’s always best to stay calm and respectful. Showing compassion in stressful situations can oftentimes lead the flight attendant to match your energy. Fighting fire with fire can lead to a spicy outcome, which no one wants.
BroBible reached out to Jenny via TikTok direct message.