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This Passenger Demanded a Window, and a Flight Attendant Had the Best Response Ever

Nov. 13, 2018
•
3 min read
window plane twitter
This Passenger Demanded a Window, and a Flight Attendant Had the Best Response Ever
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In yet another (albeit relatively mild) case of travelers behaving badly on planes, a passenger on a flight in Japan demanded a window seat — and received a stunning response from a flight attendant.

According to a local Tokyo-based news site, Sora News 24, the unidentified man, who was seated in a window seat without a window, blurted out, "Give me a window seat!" at the flight attendant who came around with the beverage cart.

Maybe not the best way to get what he wanted.

Rather than acquiesce to the passenger's rather rude attempt at requesting a different seat — or perhaps because he or she was simply unable to accommodate the seat change — the flight attendant walked away, and came back with a drawing of a window with a view of the sea and some clouds. The flight attendant taped the rather crude, hand-drawn window to the empty wall next to the passenger.

The episode went viral on Twitter when fellow passenger @kooo_TmS_suke posted a photo of the crew member's drawing. It's since gotten more than 15,000 likes and nearly 7,900 retweets. Sora News 24 reported that people have been praising the flight attendant with comments such as, "That's really clever," and "Great thinking by the attendant."

Though most window seats do, as they suggest, come with a window, it's not unheard of for cabins to have interior seats that don't line up with a window. If this passenger had cross-checked his seat assignment with SeatGuru before flying, he wouldn't have been surprised by the lovely view of the aircraft wall.

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And perhaps if this passenger had read TPG's Travel Etiquette column, he would have changed his tone and gotten a different response. Such as an actual window, with a real view.

"No matter if you are the swapper or the swappee, confidence and a little compassion are key to getting or keeping a good seat assignment," Cynthia Dressler wrote in a TPG article about the etiquette of swapping seats on planes.

So the next time you're hoping to get a coveted seat, be careful not to come off as demanding and entitled, or you could find yourself the subject of the next viral tweet.

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  • Annual Fee

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Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

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  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
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  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.