On a recent trip, I had to chuckle at the way a helping hand quickly morphed into entitlement in the form of helping an older woman lift her carry-on bag.
When A Simple Favor Becomes An Expectation At 35,000 Feet
I was flying from Burbank (BUR) to Denver (DEN) on United Airlines and while boarding I saw a woman was struggling to put up her carry-on bag into the overhead bin. I jumped up to offer her assistance, asking if I could help. She nodded and I took the bag and placed it into the overhead bin. She said, “thank you” and took her seat.
It was an uneventful flight, but a productive one for me and I was still engrossed in my work even after we landed and taxied to the gate.
All of a sudden, I felt a tap on my shoulder (good thing we were not in Florida!). It was the lady.
“Well, are you going to get if for me?,” she said in an annoyed tone.
Admittedly, I snickered a bit at her entitlement but jumped up and grabbed her bag, lifting it down for her and even extending the handle so that she could easily wheel it off the plane.
This time I did not receive a “thank you.”
I share that not because I was all that offended or annoyed…life is far too short to get upset over that…but just to remark on the amazing sense of entitlement some people have, from young children to old ladies to everyone in between (and sometimes, sadly, even me).
So if someone does need help lifting a bag, help them…and don’t forget to help them after the flight too.
But if you’re that person being helped, don’t forget gratitude to those who step up to help you.
Somehow I keep thinking of this scene from Come Fly With Me where Moses Beacon (David Walliams) helps the very entitled 92-year-old Hetty Wolf (Matt Lucas):
https://www.tiktok.com/@wishwings6/video/7330278968072883489?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc
Life goes on…
Maybe you should have said “no”?
“Are you going to get it for me?”
“No.” (smiling)
Or “Thank you but I will let you have the pleasure!”
Matthew, you should have titled this piece “Assaulted in Denver” for more clicks, referring to “The Tap”. And here is your response option for the next time you lift a bag to/from the overhead and get no thanks: “If you are not going to thank me, at least you could tip me.” Best to you and family in 2026 from the OC.
you handed it well but sometimes we have to treat adults like we train kids “did you ask nicely and say please?”
Well said, Tim ‘Duffy’ Dunn. Etiquette! Wear a suit!
Be kind and patient with the elderly. One day, if you’re fortunate, you too may need a little help also.
Good manners should be practiced daily and not forgotten. Snark in these situations just looks cheap. Well handled Matthew.
I think you read that into the story, he never said the woman in question was elderly.
She was.
I look at a person like that and say “you’re welcome.” I do it when I hold a door for someone who does not acknowledge it. “You’re welcome,” usually elicits an embarrassed “oh thank you.”
Now tell us about your entitlement stories
Smile at the person making the request, pause and then say, ‘I’ll say please and thank you for you as you’ve forgotten to’ ;=)
Just like you did, Matthew Klint, let’s be tolerant and carry on!
I’ve seen this a lot with the elderly—once very polite people failing to say please and thank you. Their younger selves would be so embarrassed. You handled with grace, Matthew.
you might call it a BUR-DEN-some series of events
You made Sean Duffy proud!!!
I would have obliged and taken it down for her and finished by saying “you’re welcome” as my response to her silence.
I am short and have a shoulder issue so getting my bag up into the overhead bin is a challenge at times.. So many tall guys just look at me as I struggle. ( I do not call myself elderly but at my numerical age I am!! ) Thank you for helping that lady. I can usually get it down unless it has totally shifted to the back or someone getting their bag out pushes mine to the back…
If a person cannot carry their carry-ons over their head the length of the jetway, they should be forced to check their bags.