August 1, 2008. Western Head, N.S. Airport Tantrum

Everything he said was correct. But by the time the plane was boarding, no one would give up their seat to come on a later flight, because he was so nasty with the gate agent. It was an old fashioned two year old rage reaction, except this man was 50. It all took place in front of all 70 of us, waiting to board the plane for Halifax. He arrived with his wife and baby and two older boys, 16 and 12 years old. They met a man about the same age. They were all going on vacation together in Nova Scotia, visiting at the friends vacation house. The wife and family were already there, but a Surburban was left at the airport so they all could travel together. So it was a complicated situation, especially because the family did not have seat assignments. At first they were cool and assured each other that certainly they would each get a seat, but when it became apparent that no seats were available, the whole world erupted around him. Two people offered to give up their seats, but they needed two more, and no one was budging. The friend offered to take the boys with him, but the angry man refused to have his family separated. It was a pathetic display. The poor woman who was trying to help him received the brunt of his anger, until she finally asked for a Manager for help, but to no avail. It was a very difficult situation for this family. They were very excited to go to a new place, to visit a friends vacation house, and they had a baby to contend with too. But everything he did and said made everything worse. Finally, they booked them on a flight tomorrow, but I wonder if the flight tomorrow is over sold also. It was quite a remarkable display of stupidity, right in front of our eyes.