Last week, I flew home HKG-MEL on CX163 on an E fare, in the middle seat of the middle group of seats. I had a bad experience with the pax in front, who declined my polite request to raise his reclined seat when drinks service began – both services. He berated me angrily both times; in fact, I would have felt unsafe if there hadn’t been the barrier of seat-backs inbetween us. My gestures and requests to cabin crew, right beside us with the trolley, proved fruitless. When he failed to respond to their request, they agreed he had “the right” to remain reclined, and asked me to give him five minutes. After some more pugnacious rudeness to me, he raised his seat and I thanked him.
If the aisle hadn’t been clogged with the trolley, I would have asked staff to get the flight director. I gave in to the shame of “making a fuss”, and to some sympathy for the two young women trying to serve drinks. But I am shocked and disturbed that this angry man was allowed to rant at me and was supported by cabin crew, on both meal services.
My email to CX the next day elicited an automatic note to the effect they aim to respond within 10 days, but business is so busy it may take longer. NOT good enough!
If the aisle hadn’t been clogged with the trolley, I would have asked staff to get the flight director. I gave in to the shame of “making a fuss”, and to some sympathy for the two young women trying to serve drinks. But I am shocked and disturbed that this angry man was allowed to rant at me and was supported by cabin crew, on both meal services.
My email to CX the next day elicited an automatic note to the effect they aim to respond within 10 days, but business is so busy it may take longer. NOT good enough!