Whine your way to the back of the plane

Years ago my wife and I had traveled to a Caribbean island for a week of scuba diving. Had a wonderful time. Coming back we had a connection in Puerto Rico. Problems with the plane delayed the flight so we took off well after out connecting flight had left. And the whole plane of luggage got left behind. The whole plane of passengers is diverted to a little counter with two agents.

Enter the Karen. Just ahead of my wife and I is a wild Karen. She absolutely, positively needs to get home TONIGHT! The first several solutions where absolutely UNACCEPTABLE! Eventually, she and her family got sorted and she flounced out.

My wife and I stepped up. We were our normal polite selves. We explained that we would like to get home sometime. Whatever you can work out is fine. Oh, the same flight the next day? Comped hotel room. Taxi voucher? Perfect. I think it was the standard treatment, but absolutely ACCEPTABLE. Then the agent pulled the two of us aside. She said because we were so nice, she upgraded us to First Class.

So next day after a morning of walking around San Juan, we got on our flight. Got the news that our luggage had caught up overnight and it was on-board with us. As we our sipping our complementary pre-takeoff drinks, the final boarding group arrives. Oh, look! I recognize Karen and her family.