Passenger asks me for directions

[AirHostess]

The scene: an airport terminal. I'm waiting at the cashpoint.

Some random traveller grabs my arm and practically yells at me: "hey you, where is the train station?" No please or anything.

Despite the fact their native language is clearly English AND there is very good signage.

I swing round and hiss "do NOT touch me and I have no bloody idea."

I glare and walk off. The traveller says something to his companion like "geez these British stewardesses are f-ing rude. And they stand there looking confused, obviously too thick to read the signs or ask politely for directions.

[Teskeria]

aww, how mean of you. You should have smiled sweetly, said 'last time I saw it it was that way' and A) if you didn't know - point in a random direction or B) if you do know, point in the opposite direction.

They could use the looooonnnng hunting time to reflect on their manners, although we know they won;t.

[jjllbb]

I'm just thanking my lucky stars that i don't get grabbed like many of you out there. I couldn't handle that.

In fact, i should own a t-shirt that says "do not touch"

[BookstoreEscapee]

aww, how mean of you. You should have smiled sweetly, said 'last time I saw it it was that way' and A) if you didn't know - point in a random direction or B) if you do know, point in the opposite direction.

I'd point at the sign or an information booth that might actually be able to help them. Especially if they're glaringly obvious.

[auntiem]

Please tell me this wasn't at the Manchester airport because even directionally challenged jet lagged little ol' me can find the train there. (of course I can't manage to get on the right one, but that is on me)

[Legal Eagle]

They've just redone Manchester Airport so that from Terminal 3 it's near impossible to find anywhere let alone the train station. I even had to ask for directions, although i'm less "OI YOU" and much more "excuse me mate"

[lilstu50]

I remember someone asking for directions like that to me in the middle of the street by grabbing me, but when i'm down the street I go into screensaver mode and daydream about guy stuff stuff, (like being a spy, yeah)

Well long story short, he grabbed me

I flinched and punched him in the face

oooooooooooooopppppps

[RickSpangle]

People seem to get like that in airports - major entitlement problems.

I was queuing at the bar in departures in Sydney a month or so ago and a woman in front of me (who was taking ages, apparently oblivious to others waiting) turns to me (obviously not there in any official capacity) and demands to be told which of the beers available is most like a light beer. Despite there being no suggestion of a please or anything crazy like that I decided to help her, and guided her past what Australians call light beer (ie low alcohol) to something akin to an American light beer (possibly low alcohol but more importantly low carbs and minimal flavour). I think all I said was "the Pure Blonde is probably closest to what you're after".

She just gave me a dirty look and went back to the negotiation process with the bewildered barman without so much as a thank you. Later on I saw she'd ended up with a low alcohol beer which I sincerely hope she didn't enjoy at all.

[MelodiousBubbles]

Now, see, if anyone were to ever grab me (while I was at work or not), my reaction is more of a fight than a flight and they would probably be looking at a broken nose.

I jump easily, and I don't like people I don't know touching me or getting unnecessarily close. It makes me just a tad bit tense, and really, who likes being tense?

[Dreamstalker]

I can handle crowds et al (if one relies on public transportation that's pretty much a given), but touch me if I'm not expecting it (I can handle being snuck up on if I know the person) and I will react. And not probably in the way you were expecting. The typical commuter-jostle is fine. Anything that feels like a grope, you better believe the whole train and possibly the next two platforms down the line will know about it.

The ex got the brunt of this once (you know me, how could you EVER think what you did would be "funny" or "interesting"?). I haven't hauled off on a stranger yet, but a few of the panhandlers in the area have been pushing the issue.

[chapookie]

Airport + uniform = I KNOW WHERE EVERYTHING IS IN THIS AIRPORT to many travelers. Flight crew, security, hired contractors, uniformed military, limo drivers, etc. all apparently have world airport maps stored in their noggins.

I could navigate my base airport, home airport, and London Gatwick (where I flew the most) but I couldn't tell you much about the infrastructure of any other - including the other 2 NYC airports - no clue.

I was physically grabbed once in my base airport but I yanked away so hard and gave such a look of death that they didn't have time to ask me anything as I ran away. Grab me forcefully in a busy NYC airport and you're lucky I'm not allowed to carry a billy club. Now, a light tap on the shoulder? Fine. How can I help you?

Everyone in customer service is rude if the customer can't hear "yes" to their every demand.

Air crew are automatically rude if passengers can't treat them however they want (including physical manhandling). Terrible thing is, I've seen one too many situations where a coworker was manhandled, wanted to press charges, then other passengers would stand up for the abuser and cry foul when the authorities were called in.

I won't say cabin crew are all smiling and angelic but no human being deserves to be physically assaulted - this includes all work positions!

/rant off

[Dreamstalker]

Sometimes you don't even have to be wearing a uniform. I tend to get asked for directions to Terminal/Gate X when I've been connecting though DFW or Denver--95% of the time I don't mind as I fly through those 2 a lot and so am pretty close to memorizing the layout (isn't that a bit sad?).

The other 5% the person is either an EW/dick about it, and/or due to the wonder of overscheduling I have two minutes to make it to the opposite end of the terminal/airport.

[Ironclad Alibi]

Some random traveller grabs my arm and practically yells at me: "hey you, where is the train station?" No please or anything.

Answer: It's next to the train tracks, duhh.

I was queuing at the bar in departures in Sydney a month or so ago and a woman in front of me turns to me and demands to be told which of the beers available is most like a light beer.

Answer: Guinness.

[AirHostess]

Yesterday after my LAST EVER FLIGHT some woman started to complain about something. I took my ID and scarf off and shrugged and said "I don't care, I no longer work here."

IT FELT SO DAMN GOOD!

[hobbitt97]

go the other way

I used to work in a gas station. During a torrential downpour a Mercedes Benz pulled almost up to the office. He wasn't at the pumps and he wasn't close enough to talk to from the overhang. He started honking his horn for me to come out to him. I made motions for him to come in. He shook his head and leaned on the horn. I put on my slicker and went out to him. He wanted to know where the exit was for such-and-such. (It was 50 ft up the road). I told him I had no idea and went back inside. What a total EW!!!!