I settled into my first-class seat, grateful for the perk of a free upgrade after a grueling week of business meetings.

The quiet hum of the cabin was a welcome respite from the chaos of the airport. I closed my eyes, ready to savor these moments of peace before takeoff.

But the universe had other plans.

The unmistakable sound of expensive shoes on the carpet caught my attention. I cracked open an eye to see a man strutting down the aisle like he owned the plane.

Everything about him screamed “I’m better than you,” from his perfectly tailored suit to the designer sunglasses perched on his nose.

Even in first class, he stood out.

As he approached his seat across the aisle from me, I caught the eye of Samantha, our flight attendant. She gave me a warm smile, but I noticed a flicker of… something in her eyes. Resignation? She’d clearly dealt with his type before.

“Welcome aboard, sir,” Samantha said, her voice professional and pleasant. “Can I help you with your bag?”

The man (I’d later learn his name was Todd) barely glanced at her.

“It’s fine,” he muttered, shoving his carry-on into the overhead bin with more force than necessary.

I sighed internally. It was going to be one of those flights.

As the rest of the passengers filed in, Todd made himself comfortable, spreading out like a peacock. He snapped his fingers at Samantha, who was helping an elderly woman to her seat.

“Hey, you,” he barked. “I need a drink.”

Samantha finished assisting the woman before turning to Todd with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Of course, sir. What can I get for you?”

Todd didn’t even look up from his phone. “Scotch. Make it fast.”

I watched as Samantha’s jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. “I’ll get that for you right away, sir.”

A few minutes later, she returned with his drink. Todd took one sip and wrinkled his nose like a toddler presented with broccoli.

“This tastes horrible,” he spat. “You call this service? Get me another one.”

Samantha’s face remained a mask of calm, but I could see the strain around her eyes. “I’ll be right back, sir,” she replied before heading off to prepare another drink.

When she returned with the second scotch, Todd didn’t even bother to thank her. Instead, he looked down at his shoes, which had the tiniest speck of dust on them. What happened next made my blood boil.

Todd kicked his foot out towards Samantha and sneered, “While you’re at it, clean my shoes! You’re here to serve me, aren’t you?”

The entire cabin went silent. I felt my fingernails digging into my palms as I clenched my fists.

Samantha froze for a moment, and I could see the muscles in her jaw working as she forced a smile. “I’m sorry, sir, but I’m not able to assist with that.”

Todd scoffed, waving his hand dismissively. “Then what are you here for?”

“You should be thankful someone like me is even flying with this airline,” he continued. “The least you can do is keep the drinks coming and make yourself useful. Who knows? I might even tip you.”

I nearly choked. Tip her? On a plane? Who did this guy think he was?

Samantha, ever the professional, just nodded and walked away, probably to keep herself from saying something she’d regret.

As she passed by my seat, I caught her eye and mouthed, “I’m so sorry.” She gave me a small, grateful smile before continuing down the aisle.

The flight took off, and Todd’s behavior only got worse. It was like watching a train wreck in slow motion: horrifying, yet impossible to look away from. Every few minutes, he’d find something new to complain about, each grievance more ridiculous than the last.

“Hey!” Todd’s voice cut through the quiet hum of the engines. “It’s freezing in here. Do something about it!”

Samantha appeared at his side, ever patient. “I’m sorry you’re uncomfortable, sir. I’ll adjust the temperature for this section.”

But of course, that wasn’t good enough for Todd. “Well, don’t just stand there. Get me a blanket. And make it snappy!”

I watched as Samantha retreated to fetch the demanded blanket, her shoulders tight with tension. Across the aisle, an older gentleman caught my eye and shook his head in disbelief.

No sooner had Samantha returned with the blanket than Todd was onto his next complaint. “This Wi-Fi is garbage,” he growled, jabbing at his tablet. “I’m trying to do important business here. Can’t you make it go faster?”

“I apologize, sir,” Samantha replied, her voice strained but professional. “Unfortunately, the Wi-Fi speed is affected by our altitude and location. We don’t have control over-“

“Excuses!” Todd interrupted. “I pay good money for this seat. I expect better service.”

A woman a few rows ahead turned around, glaring daggers at Todd. For a moment, I thought she might say something, but she just huffed and turned back around.

The litany of complaints continued. Todd’s seat wasn’t comfortable enough. His drink wasn’t cold enough. The lighting was too bright, then too dim. At one point, he even had the audacity to complain about the angle of his tray table.

“This thing is crooked,” he snapped, gesturing at the perfectly level surface. “How am I supposed to work like this?”

Samantha leaned in to examine the tray. “It appears to be level, sir. Is there something specific that’s bothering you about it?”

Todd rolled his eyes dramatically. “Of course you can’t see it. Just get me the captain. Maybe he can do something about this incompetence.”

I could almost hear the collective intake of breath from the surrounding passengers. The tension in the cabin was palpable, a rubber band stretched to its limit.

That’s when I noticed movement a few rows back. A tall man in his mid-50s stood up, adjusting his casual blazer. He made his way towards Todd, and I found myself holding my breath.

“Todd?” the man said, his voice deep and commanding. “I thought that was you.”

Todd’s head snapped up, and I swear I saw all the color drain from his face. “Mr. Harris!” he squeaked, scrambling to his feet. “I… I didn’t know you were on this flight.”

Mr. Harris, who was clearly Todd’s boss, smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Evidently not,” he said coolly. “I’ve been enjoying quite the show from my seat back there.”

Todd’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed hard. “Sir, I can explain–”

Mr. Harris held up a hand, cutting him off. “Oh, I don’t think that’s necessary, Todd. Your behavior has been… illuminating.”

I couldn’t help but lean in, trying to catch every word of this exchange.

Around me, I noticed other passengers doing the same, all of us united in our schadenfreude.

“Tell me, Todd,” Mr. Harris continued, his voice deceptively calm, “do you think this is how we expect our employees to conduct themselves? Berating service staff, making unreasonable demands, acting as though the world revolves around you?”

Todd opened and closed his mouth like a fish out of water. “I… I was just…”

“You were just embarrassing yourself and, by extension, our company,” Mr. Harris finished for him, adjusting his cufflinks.

“I’m curious, do you treat your colleagues this way? Your subordinates?”

Todd’s face had gone from pale to a sickly shade of green. “Of course not, sir,” he mumbled.

Mr. Harris raised an eyebrow. “No? Then why do you think it’s acceptable to treat the hardworking staff of this airline any differently?” He paused, letting the question hang in the air.

“You know, Todd, since you seem so concerned about cleanliness, perhaps you’d like to shine your own shoes when we land. After all, isn’t that what you’re here for? To be useful?”

I had to bite my lip to keep from cheering out loud. Around me, I could see other passengers struggling to contain their glee.

“Mr. Harris, please,” Todd stammered, “I promise it won’t happen again.”

His boss fixed him with a steely gaze. “You’re right about that, Todd. When we land, you and I are going to have a very serious conversation about your future with the company. Or rather, your lack thereof.”

With that, Mr. Harris turned on his heel and walked back to his seat, leaving Todd standing there, shell-shocked and humiliated.

For the rest of the flight, Todd was a changed man. He sat quietly, avoiding eye contact with everyone. When Samantha came by to collect trash, he mumbled a barely audible “thank you” without looking up.

As we began our descent, I caught Samantha’s eye again. This time, her smile was genuine, reaching all the way to her eyes. I gave her a little thumbs up, and she winked in return.

Here’s another story: On a long flight, Haley clashes with a teen and his entitled mom over a window shade. A sharp flight attendant intervenes, offering a surprising solution that leaves them speechless. Click here to keep reading.

This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.