Note: This article pertaining to Take 5 Minutes to Assist Others — It Could Make Their Day. was originally published on Friday, September 19, 2014 at 7:55 in the morning and has been updated.
As I checked in for my flight at the kiosk on the morning of Friday, September 19, 2014, the gentleman next to me — speaking in a broken English accent — asked for me to assist him.
Take 5 Minutes to Assist Others. You Could Make Their Day.
After asking him to wait just a moment until I completed my transaction and received my boarding pass, he said to me that he had no idea how to operate the kiosk in front of him. He was holding his mobile telephone in front of him.
I asked if he had a frequent flier membership program number. He was not sure about what I was talking.
Pointing to the slot on the kiosk, I asked if he had a credit card. He pulled out his credit card and put it in the slot every which way except the correct way, on which I assisted him. The message on the kiosk instructed him to see an agent.
Looking at his reservation details on his phone, I encouraged him to try typing in his confirmation number. Although his seat was going to be assigned to him at the gate, success! There was his information displayed on the screen of the kiosk so that he may continue to check in.
Helping him took me all of five minutes, if that much time. I really did not do anything special; and yet he was so grateful as shown by the happy and relieved expression on his face, in his voice, and in his words.
Did I make his day? I do not know — but I would like to think so…
…and helping him made my day — so far, anyway.
Final Boarding Call
I then thought to myself that if everyone took an extra five minutes to assist someone in need while traveling — whether it would be helping to put a bag in the overhead compartment; granting a seat request; or giving that person information he or she needs — perhaps there would not be as many incidents of “air rage” pertaining to seat recline and some other “pet peeves” of air travelers; and civility and respect could slowly and eventually return to commercial air travel in general.
Perhaps…
Photograph ©2020 by Brian Cohen.
