Travel Nice

http://www.cnn.com/2009/TRAVEL/traveltips/10/22/travel.behavior/index.html

I was reading this article on CNN.com today about being nice whenever you travel. It told many stories of travelers who got better treatment than those who were rude or expressed anger when things such as delayed flights or overbooked hotels didn’t go their way. A few ways to do this are to remain calm, flatter them, or be a volunteer. If you remain calm in a situation you just may get an upgraded room or flight. This article tells a story about a passenger who got onto a plane seated in coach. Her chair was broken and she goes to one of the flight attendants to see if she could be moved to another seat. Apparently the attendant was having a bad day a told her that the flight agreements never stated having a properly working seat in the contract. The attendant kept raising their voice while the passenger remained calm and tried to talk it out. During this confrontation another flight attendant saw what was going on and noticed who was out of line. The passenger was then quietly taken aside and took to business class. If you’re seated at your gate you can always try to flatter your gate attendant. Let them know you appreciate what they are doing and tell them they are doing a great job. Maybe if your flight is overbooked you won’t be the one held over and the angry man behind you will? If you are ever on a flight and another passenger might want to set with their significant other or child, or maybe they have a disability and could use your seat you could volunteer to give up that seat?

After reading this article, it reminded me of many circumstances where an angry customer got their way. I do think that it is probably much easier to remember those rude customers for their actions, but I also think that the people who are nice about what problems are going on are given special treatment quietly.

I reacted this way because too many people get away with being rude. I like hearing about customers being nice and getting a little extra in return. I was on a fully booked overseas flight one time. A family near me had a small dog with them. Their seats had the AC unit underneath and they weren’t able to get their dog kennel under it. The poor dad who was being very nice asked the flight attendant if he could be moved. She then asked out loud if anyone would give their seat up and trade him. I had a lane seat in the middle and gave it up for his seat in the center isle in the middle. I wasn’t very thrilled about doing this but the poor guy was going to have to hold that dog kennel on his lap for an eight hour flight! Whenever I got up to give him my seat the flight attendant called me over to her. She told me that I needed to follow her and took me all the way to the front in business class and pointed at a seat for me to set. I was thrilled and she thanked me for giving up my seat. I couldn’t believe it!

When it comes to people I think the best advice I can give anyone is to kill them with kindness.