On May 20, 2000, I was trying to get on flight #44 from San Fransico to New York.
I arrived the airport exactly one hour before departure time. There was no curbside check-in, so even though I already had my ticket, I had to wait in line just to check my luggage in.
After waiting patiently for about 45 minutes, it was finally my turn at the counter. As I took out my ticket, ready to show it to the staff behind the counter, this guy who was waiting in line at least 20 feet back just moments ago suddenly approched the counter and insisted he should be helped first because his plane to New York was departing in 15 mins and he was going to miss the plane if he didn't get help right away.
Well, gee, I happened to be on the same flight and I have been waiting for 45 mins. I kindly informed the staff behind the counter that I was here first and I was on the same flight so I shall be assissted first. "I shall help you once I assist this gentleman here," so she said. "No, I don't think so, I was here first," I protested. Ingoring my complain (and my presence), the staff went ahead and helped the line cutter.
There may be no racial issue invovled here, but I couldn't help feeling discriminated given the fact that the TWA staff and the person who cut in line happened to be in the same ethnicity group. And I happen to be, well, in a differnt ethnicity group.
A formal complain was submitted to TWA's customer relation department in writing on 6/3/2000 with no replies as for today, 9/5/2000. Obviously their customer relation department does not care much about their customers.
Update (10/25/2000): A letter was received on 9/7/2000 from TWA's headquarter stating that my complain has been forwarded to the their San Francisco Airport facility and will be investigated further. As for today, I haven't heard from TWA again.
Update (1/16/2001):TWA just filed for bankcrupcy and is being purchased by American Airline. If they treated their customers with a little bit more respect, maybe it wouldn't have happened. Oh, and I guess I will never get a response from them now.
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