Not United

Last Friday as I boarded my plane back to Los Angeles I was still feeling great about the day, but as I entered the plane and took my seat in First Class I noticed a weird energy right away from one of the male flight attendance. I brushed it off and went about my business of preparing for my next assignment. Later in the flight I when dinner was served I couldn’t help but notice everyone was being served except me. I was sitting in an aisle seat on the second row of the plane so I thought it was a bit strange when he served the gentleman next to me and then served all the rows behind and beside me. Still I held my peace and waited. After he served everyone in First Class he came to me and said, “I’m so sorry I’ve made a terrible mistake”. I miscounted and have run out of dinners. Can I get you something from the back?” I looked at him and said “no, don’t worry about it. The I stood up and pulled out my Sony pocket camera, which is always in my pocket, and documented the First Class cabin. I wanted to visually show how I was overlooked so there could be no mistaking the obvious. All of the sudden this attendant comes rushing up to me and says he can offer me his dinner and that he dropped my meal. I though to myself, I thought he said he miscounted and ran out of dinners? I said, “Yes, that would be fine” and he started trying to explain himself even more but I could see from the other flight staff that they were concerned about the situation. The damage was done and for an instant I was fuming inside. I took a moment to reflect on my many blessing and decided how to best handle the situation. No one has the power to upset me unless I allow it to. I believe it never does any good to loose your composure in these situations. The only thing that can make a difference is bringing attention to the situation by exposing it to the world and to those who run the company. Everyone has a choice on how we spent our money and with whom. Also nothing gets more reaction then sending a letter to the CEO of a company and adding images to illustrate my point. Let the CEO know that you have also sent the letter the New York Times and Washington Post as well.

Let no one take away your joy and dream bigger in 2010!