Passenger gets angry over lack of chicken

[AirHostess]

I've been doing longhaul recently and had many awful passengers (pax)

We do hot meals in coach class on long flights. We had either chicken with rice or pasta in a creamy mushroom sauce.

We soon ran out of chicken so were handing out pasta instead.

Pax: I don't like pasta, where is my choice of meal?
Wife (nervously) He doesn't like pasta!
Me: I'm afraid we only have pasta left but it is very tasty.
Pax: Don't lie, no-one likes pasta that's why they chose the damn chicken!
Me: Sorry but I have no other choice to offer you
Pax: Well that's DISGRACEFUL (raising voice, other pax staring)
Me: Well I suggest you write into customer services, I have just explained that there is no chicken left, I can't offer you food I don't have!
Pax: I paid £££ for my ticket I demand a choice of meal
Me: I am not going to stand here and be shouted at

I walked off at the point and the twunt ate all his pasta anyway! He shoved his tray on the floor and ignored me when I went back to clear the trays in.

Me: Would you hand me back YOUR tray please, I have a bad back and can't bend over that far.
Pax: *Shoves tray at me silently*
Me: Thanks so much! *Big fake smile*

Yeah I served YOU not the floor, have the decency to hand me your tray.

Anyway the best bit is, business class had several yummy hots left over. I sat eating my roast chicken meal in the galley and said pax saw me I said to my co-worker, "Mmm this chicken is really good today," and got an evil glare from the pax. He then looked a bit enraged as it twigged in his thick head that I, the mere sky servant had the AUDACITY to eat chicken!

Pax: Wait a minute, you're eating MY chicken meal!
Me: *big fake smile* No, this is actually my crew meal sir
Pax: *more grunts and anger.*
Me: Well why don't you help yourself to the snack bar *This is set up in the rear galley for coach passengers to help themselves to crisps, fruit and chocolate.
Pax: *Grabs a handful of food*

He gets off the plane back at Heathrow and snaps at me "I am never flying BlahBlah Airlines again!"
Me: Thank you, have a good day!

His wife just look embarrased and whispered "sorry" to me. Poor thing having to put up with that moron.

[Lingering Grin]

actually, I would have been slightly miffed too... but not because of the pasta... but what's on it.


I hate mushrooms


Guy was still a douchbag though

[AirHostess]

Funny thing is...if he had been nice I would have sympathised and found him a biz class meal or given him a crew meal as there was plenty of food for us. But he was such a nasty man that I didn't bother.

It always amazes me how passengers think ranting at ME will solve the problem. If they are nice to me I go out of my way to help them!

[Lingering Grin]

Yeah I just thought of that after I posted, I probably would have just asked if I could pay extra for the biz class meal

[AirHostess]

Yeah I just thought of that after I posted, I probably would have just asked if I could pay extra for the biz class meal

Ah but I can imagine you being nice and not shouting at me. Then I would have said I would find you something else to eat and discreetly given it to you That's what I do to people who aren't twunts!

[mikoyan29]

I was going to say that if the other meal was fish, maybe he just saw "Airplane!"

[AirHostess]

I should also add on most flights there is no other choice-biz class is tightly catered and apart from our crew meals there is no choice whatsoever in which case we literally cannot do anything.

There has recently been an influx of passengers on short-haul flights refusing the sandwiches and DEMANDING business class food!

Due to cutbacks, short-haul catering is being changed and there will now be no sarnies in coach class...just the free bar and a light snack-such as pretzels, a cookie or cereal bar! I am leaving just after this is introduced, cannot wait to see the abuse we crew will get! The sandwiches we currently offer are a bit crap and many people don't eat them...BUT they will moan when sandwiches are taken off!

[Sheldonrs]

Sounds like he's always in a fowl mood. :-)

[Teskeria]

Now the pasta would be a serious problem for me. I am severely allergic to mushrooms. Can't eat most seafood either. But I wouldn't throw a hissy fit. I would just say, 'can't eat that. I like living.'

[Broomjockey]

Can't eat pasta, severe psychological aversion - long story. I'd probably just have said "Oh, that's all? No thanks." If the guy was physically able to consume it, as he did, then he shoulda just shut his gob and taken it.

[Digitalpotato]

What some people would do for chicken. I swear there's a chicken fetish club that always visits subway and literally complains that we don't have enough chicken. >:

[Yfandes]

Theres very little I wont eat, but I do get cranky when my blood sugar drops. When I travel I always have energy bars and snacks in my carry-on, along with a big bottle of water (filled after security). Honestly, what on earth is the big deal? In coach you get what you get!

[raw456]

Some people just have to bitch about everything. If you had offered him chicken, he would have complained it wasnt steak.

We were flying from Johanasberg to Sydney and the flight ran short of meals and only had vegetarian left for one of the meals. We didnt mind, and they made it up to us by serving us first at the next meal so we got the choice.

I'm like Yfandes - I always have a big bottle of water, some chocolate and/or biscuits to keep me going if I dont like the food offered.

[Tigerpounce]

You know, I had two encounters in which I was HORRIFIED that the guy I was with might be a SC. I called it on him both times and we ended up in a nice debate on how to improve customer service on both ends. Now he calmly explains when there is a problem and always gets what he needs in such a way that everyone seems better off. That was four years ago. I don't think it would have lasted if he was a SC. I'm sure that man's poor wife uses basil and spit whenever she can.

[AccountingDrone]

Now the pasta would be a serious problem for me. I am severely allergic to mushrooms. Can't eat most seafood either. But I wouldn't throw a hissy fit. I would just say, 'can't eat that. I like living.'

Same, deathly allergic, but I request the diabetic meal normally as I am also diabetic =) They seem to be something on the order of chicken, rice and a salad with low fat salad dressing, and no sauce on the bird, and a piece of fruit for dessert.

But that guy is just a moron ... I could see a point if he had requested a special meal and someone managed to hijack it [which I understand can happen if you don't make sure that your hostess knows that you requested a special meal and it is marked on the seating chart]