Is it really better to be nice?

I was supposed to be on a flight to Spokane, WA right now to see my mom and take a week long road trip visiting different museums for a class my mom is taking, instead I'm here venting on blog spot about my missed flight. We had timed it perfectly to arrive about one hour before the flight was scheduled to leave, half way to the airport I realize I forgot Hendrix's shot records, I don't know if they need those to verify age or what, but we drove home to get them and by the time we arrive at the airport I'm only 20 minutes before take off. I unload and get in line on curb side check-in. A huge sign is posted to let travelers know bags on curb side are $2 a piece, not including gratuity. First thing I'm a little upset about, I'm flying US Airways, but Southwest, who I usually fly checks bags curbside for free and then I always tip the guy who helps me out. Anyways, the baggage guy comes over and feels the need to tell me their $2 a bag policy "And that doesn't include a tip for me, $2 a bag (he says it again) and doesn't include gratuity".

Okay, I got it dude, are you hard up for cash? Do I look like a bad tipper? Is it because I'm young? Let's just hurry here. He types in his computer and informs me I'm not getting on this flight. I ask if it's boarding, Can I run? What can I do to get on this flight? 'Nothing' he says, you should have been here 45 minutes ago. I tell him about having to go back to get the shot records, he says they're only concerned about those if you're flying internationally.

REALLY(?!), BECAUSE, every flight I've been on in the last two years requires me to have a birth certificate or shot records. The lame part was that this guy, Baggage Mike was not trying to help me out, he just hands me back my ID and now I'm pissed. I start packing up my bags and let him know what I think of him, including how he was neither helpful nor considerate and I thought he had little tact begging for gratuity from me. By this time I'm causing a scene and his supervisor tells Baggage Mike to 'Get control of the situation'.



Oh, NOW Baggage Mike wants to help me find another flight, why didn't he offer that before? The supervisor was very nice and calm, which apparently I needed because I was a ragin' pregnant chick with a sick baby (did I mention Hendrix had woken up that morning with a fever)





So, I'm crying, Hendrix is now crying because he sees me upset and My Mike is trying to work with baggage Mike to find me another flight, which doesn't leave for another 9 hours.

So, I'm on the next flight to Washington, they didn't even charge me to switch flights, and they gave me a seat next to an empty one, so I would have more room for Hendrix. Basically the entire thing was my fault, but I blamed some baggage guy who didn't deserve it, although it's still rude to ASK for a tip (three times). I'm entirely embarrassed I allowed myself to act so childish.

My question is; If I had been nice would I have gotten the special treatment? My Mike says I didn't have to be rude, I could have just cried, that would have been enough.

I'm also worried my bags are not going to get to where they're supposed to, did Baggage Mike send them to Mexico? I really hope not, because it had all Hendrix's and my cutest clothes to visit my family.

End result I tipped Baggage Mike very well even though a part of me didn't want to, but the customer service part of me wouldn't be able to sleep at night knowing although he wasn't the nicest guy in the world, he wasn't a jerk and he still has a family to feed. (My Mike and Baggage Mike discussed their wives pregnancy hormones getting the best of them.) And I'm really looking forward to having a nap this afternoon and having more room on the plane with Hendrix.



Thanks, My Mike for helping him calm down afterwards, setting me up for my later flight and dealing with the bad guys. You're a sweetie.

I'll thank baggage Mike when my bags show up in Washington tonight.