Monday Morning Manna: Two Flight Attendants, Two Attitudes

Because I fly many miles, I occasionally get an upgrade to first class. Such was the case last week on both outbound and return flights. Because it was a birthday trip for my wife, I switched seats with her, allowing her to sit in first class, while I took her seat in the coach area of the airplane. Seeing empty seats in first class, Joanne asked the flight attendant if I could come up and sit by her. Stephanie came to my coach seat and politely asked if I would like to join my wife in first class. Her positive attitude and willingness to accommodate made for a wonderful three-hour flight. Surprisingly, I was also upgraded to first class on the return flight. Once again, I switched seats with my wife, allowing her to sit in first class. With an empty seat next to her, my wife, again asked if I could be moved up to sit with her. This time the flight attendant, Gineska, was so rude in telling my wife that I could not move up, that Joanne spent much of the flight crying. Furthermore, Gineska, came to my coach seat to inform me that our switch was against all rules, since this was an international flight, and in addition, she had “written up” our seat switch, and reported it to the Captain. Since she had made my wife cry, I was told I could go to first class just long enough to console her, but I could not sit down beside her. I really wanted to visit with Gineska again to quote Ephesians 4:2 to her, “with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love” or at least quote Winston Churchill, “Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.” We understand the need for rules, and appreciate the fact that rules were enforced. However, there is a proper, professional way to be an enforcer, and an improper, unprofessional way. One flight attendant made our day, another made our day miserable.