Here’s a sad bookend to my latest trip report. We discussed a nasty yet passive-aggressive passenger on American Airlines yesterday. Today I share about a nasty and very direct passenger on my Air Canada flight from Toronto to Los Angeles.
A Nasty Passenger On My Air Canada Flight
I did not want to spoil my 787-9 trip report with such a sad side story, but here goes.
Toward the end of the boarding process, a man stormed on. I was in seat 3K while he was seated in seat 1K. Let’s call him Mr. Gupta (because his name was Mr. Gupta…he made that very clear to everyone in the cabin). You could almost see the steam coming out of his ears.
He opened the overhead bin over his seat and saw that it was taken…and flipped out. A flight attendant was walking by and he laid in to her:
“WHY IS THERE A BAG IN MY OVERHEAD BIN?! THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE! I DEMAND TO SPEAK TO THE PURSER!”
Natasha, the purser, was summoned.
Mr. Gupta proceeded to go on a tirade (I’ll spare you the all caps, but he was yelling the whole time). Some of his grievances included:
- “It took me 2.5 hours to clear U.S. customs! (how is this Air Canada’s problem?)
- “Then I spent 3.5 hours in your horrible lounge.” (how is that the FA’s problem?)
- “I asked nine times when the flight boards.” (that’s annoying…to staff)
- “They never told me!” (maybe because your boarding pass indicates boarding time?)
- “I was last to board.” (how is that the FA’s problem?)
- “I was lectured about being late by the gate agent!” (maybe because you had six hours to connect and almost missed your flight…?)
- “I got a dirty look from a flight attendant” (I doubt it)
Poor Natasha. This whole time she sat there listening, nodding her head, expressing empathy, and trying to calm Mr. Gupta. He was so rude to her, and so unnecessarily so. While he wasn’t berating her in a deeply personal way (yet), his volume and tone were such that he was scapegoating her for all that had happened well beyond her control.
Over and over he made a fuss about not having the overhead bin space above his seat at his disposal. Apparently, Mr. Gupta never got the memo that overhead bin space is shared. Natasha found space for him nearby, but that wasn’t good enough. He insisted upon the space directly above his seat for both his laptop bag (there was space for that) and his larger carry-on bag. Finally, he threw up his hands in anger and accepted that his carry-on bag would be…one row back (oh, the horror).
It Gets Worse…
Now if this was it, I might have just left it alone. We all have bad days and this had clearly been a long day for Mr. Gupta. Sometimes when we are tired we do not think clearly or act as we should.
But that’s not the end of the story.
Natasha came around the cabin to take dinner orders. Being in row one, she approached Mr. Gupta first. His response to, “Mr. Gupta, have you made a dinner selection?”
He erupted in anger.
“This is unacceptable! This is a service industry! This is no way to talk to people! You think I have had time to look at the dinner menu? I’m outraged!”
Oh my goodness. He criticized her professionalism in a personal manner for the sin of asking what he wanted for dinner.
And then this:
“I need you to give me bottle of Johnny Walker Black to take home! Or a better whiskey.”
What, no blue label?
Keep in mind that this is all going on at a volume loud enough for me to hear three rows back and for everyone around us to hear too.
I make no apologies for shaming the passenger publicly and directly, especially after he demanded a bottle of liquor. While I certainly wrestled with doing so, the fact that he broadcast his name and yelled loud enough for all 30 passengers in business class to hear weighed heavily in my decision to do so. If he had any expectation of privacy, it vanished when he made a spectacle of himself in front of everyone else.
And I hope that Air Canada will take note of Natasha a wonderful flight attendant who showed unwarranted gracefulness and professionalism in listening to Mr. Gupta and doing everything to calm him down. I can guarantee you he would have been thrown off if this was a U.S. airline.
CONCLUSION
Over and over and over again I will continue to call out passenger who act poorly onboard, especially when it results in harassing airline staff. I’m not calling for Mr. Gupta’s ban. I hope he is given a chance to apologize and will reflect upon his poor behavior. But he made this issue a public one when he involved the whole cabin in his tirade.
What are your thoughts on the nasty passenger on Air Canada?
Let me start by saying that you did nothing wrong Matthew, he had no expectation of privacy.
Now in the meantime, on behalf of Air Canada, let me offer my deepest apologies to Mr. Gupta. Asia, the atrocious and despicable flight attendant in question, completely failed in her DUTY!!! It is her JOB to make sure that there is the ABSOLUTELY PERFECT AMOUNT of storage for Mr. Gupta, with absolutely zero regard for any other person. In fact, you and every single other passenger should have been required to give up your space for this poor fellow.
I also apologize that Asia committed the untenable SIN of asking what he might want for dinner. She should have made sure that she was his personal butler throughout the flight, heck, she should have made sure that the appropriate meal was served from exactly the restaurant that he wanted it from, with no regard to the price, difficulty to obtain, or even whether or not she knew in advance what the meal was. The fact that she wasn’t able to do this is completely unacceptable! She belongs in PRISON for this act of TERROR!
To top it off, Asia flat out refused the perfectly and COMPLETELY REASONABLE REQUEST that liquor be served for the purpose of consumption off the airplane. Never mind that he might have to drive home from the airport, could pose a safety risk, or dare I say, yell out “BOMB!” While leaving the aircraft because of this action, but it doesn’t matter. A total and woeful failure on part of Asia!
Rotfl!
What’s with the Asia and Gupta? Are you a Mr. White?
Those were their names…?
Your assumption was incorrect. You have brilliantly proven the rule: “Never assume because when you do you make an ASS of U and ME”
Hi Matthew! Only partially related but…are those pics taken during those exchanges on-board? Cause I see no mask anywhere.
Popping in to assist Matthew on his day off – the flight was taken several months ago. Due to COVID he didn’t post for some time but as it continues on, he decided to release the trip report. So there wouldn’t have been masks when travelled.
Lol great summary and my thoughts exactly. I’m sure we are all guilty of having the occasional bad day when travelling alot for business but unfortunately I’ve met Mr Gupta or his twin more than enough times to feel sorry for the flight crew. I’ve even had the occasional Mr Gupta try and enlist me when they are looking for support as if they are more than a self entitled SOB that should have just been kicked off the flight. While I applaud the article and can relate… unfortunately Mr Gupta and his like live in a different stream of reality where flight crew and the people around him arent seen as human
I guess not one REAL Man on board to say hey buddy STFU and sit down.
Are you kidding? The flight attendants did their job perfectly. They didn’t need a “real man” to mess things up. They got Mr. Gupta calmed down and he was silent for the flight.
He belongs on IAD-LGA which pound for pound has the most DYKWIAs of any route I’ve flown
Maybe something about power broker / lobbyist types who skew narcissist and don’t have the public persona of politicians I don’t know
Usually Canadians are more able to hide their hate more than Mr. Gupta. For example, about a quarter to a third of Canadians hate Americans and America but manage to hide it. Some of the hatred is because Canadians are mad and jealous that everything costs more than in the US, even milk, cheese, and gas. Most Americans have no idea of this hatred of them up north. Canadian news frequently have subtle jabs at America to please these haters.
Mr. Gupta should be aware than restaurant servers can (and do) spit in food in retaliation. He should be extra polite to them and flight attendants. I do. Besides, flight attendants have so much power to call the police on you and be believed. I treat them like they are Gestapo. Smiles and respect to them.
You know for certain Mr. Gupta is Canadian? Lots of international passengers connect via Canada en route to The USA.
Canadians aren’t mad or jealous because everything cost less in the USA. I hate to break it to you but not everything is driven by price. I’d rather pay more if it means I’m not getting milk that doesn’t contain hormones, or chicken that is disinfected with chlorine. I’d rather pay more tax for access to universal healthcare and a better quality of life.
Canadian news organizations, especially the public broadcasting CBC have done a very good job in highlighting the jaw dropping erosion of democracy in the USA. Canadians are paying attention and taking note so that doesn’t happen here.
Erosion of democracy? What in the world do you mean? I’m guessing this is a typical anti Trump reference, so I’m curious what exactly has he done that has eroded democracy? The only threat to democracy I see is those advocating mob rule, violence, anarchy, rioting and looting to push their agenda.
You guessed wrong – not anti anything and certainly not advocating violence. I like to stick with facts… on that note…
As someone who is on the outside (in Canada) looking in (the USA)..
I see an administration attempting to constrain a free press as well as to abandon truth as a standard. Any news stories not complimentary of the administration is “fake news.” This degradation also takes the form of attacking political rivals labelling them “enemy of the people”.
Another sign of democratic erosion is when Trump ceases to rely on the knowledge and expertise of the bureaucrats in their employ, and replaces those he can with officials who are pliable for his use.
Trump has proven to be a master at this chipping away at the bricks in the wall of democracy. Trump has appointed untold numbers of inexpert loyalists to positions of responsibility in departments that have highly technical functions. Examples include Dr. Ben Carson, a neurosurgeon with no expertise in housing policy or in running a large organization, as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; and Gordon Sondland as ambassador to the European Union; Mr. Sondland’s claim to fame is that he donated $1 million to Donald Trump’s inaugural committee.
I could go on and on with more examples but if at this point you still don’t see what is plain to see … I think you should get off the blogs and spend more time on accredited news sites and no that doesn’t include Fox News.
I’m not an administration fan but you lost me with the “Dr. Ben Carson, a neurosurgeon with no expertise in housing policy or in running a large organization” in a derogatory tone.
He led teams of 70 as a neurosurgeon. He also happens to be one of the few African Americans to be appointed to a cabinet level position by any president.
Gordon Sondland owned and managed a substantial hotel group and was active in state government appointments. Compare to A Vernon Weaver from the Clinton administration, also a regional businessman who was a likely donor, and had used Clinton as a character reference in the 80s to get an SBA loan for his business:
https://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/06/us/politics/06weaver.html
There’s a lot of myopia that claims things without precedent that are in fact with precedent.
So silly. Critical of Dr. Ben Carson but fails to note that all Canadians in a similar role are always not qualified. The Canadian equivalent to the American Secretary of Transportation, Secretary of State, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, etc. is always a politician who is a member of parliament. Never an expert. Some Canadians are so jealous.
See…evidence that some Canadians are out of their mind hateful of Americans! No American hates Canada, none.
As far as health, Canada’s death rate to cancer is higher. The CBC did a story about two friends, both having breast cancer that spread. The Canadian was dying because she could not get the medicine she needed. Her friend, also Canadian but with American health insurance by working for a US airline, could easily get the breast cancer drug, which has helped her cancer.
let’s be clear – you’re an idiot
I understand your point of view and honestly I’m embarrassed at what our country has become as of late. That being said I have been to over 70 countries, and Canadians are the most likely to criticize and stereotype Americans in really open and unacceptable ways. First we are usually subjected to a lecture out of nowhere about how Canadians are a polite tolerant people who are good global citizens to be followed up by a jaw droppingly rude intolerant diatribe about America, and this happened even during the Obama years. I very much like Canada and most Canadians, I just wish Canadian nationalism could be more than defining how different you are (always in a positive light) from the neighbors. Canada is too great a country for that.
Are Rick and derek the same person? They both seem to be promoting the same idiot nonsense that they can’t prove with facts.
I wouldn’t be so smug IV – we have our own erosion of democracy here too : decrees being issued by order-in-council, prorogued Parliament to avoid that “annoying “ debate, not to mention stopping dead in their tracks all committees looking into the various scandals of this Government. No surprise really from this government using the pandemic to push through its green agenda regardless the cost for future generations.
Aww. Ickle WR2 will always refuse to see how Trump has eroded democracy. Its not that WR2 it stupid, no, far from it. WR2 is smart, yet WR2 wants a dictatorship and hence his silence on those matters. What WR2 lacks, as we can see is not intelligence, but courage
Where are you getting the figure that a quarter to one third of Canadians hate America and Americans? What is your source for that statement?
We are not. If you actually read my post you can see it is respectful and from my personal experience only. I do not make up statistics which even if verifiable can be biased due to the way a question is phrased. I think my post was very respectful, I can not say the same for yours. That says more about you than me.
Matthew, since this flight took place back in February (?), I hope you wrote in to counteract any complaint Gupta (he doesn’t deserve the “Mr.”) may have submitted. If his behavior on the plane is any indication, he probably wrote a nastygram to AC customer service filled with lies/exaggerations.
Also, IIRC, AC’s reverse herringbone seats have plenty of space for a personal item, so if he had wanted to, he could’ve stored his laptop bag under the ottoman… -_-
I did speak to Asia and told her to reach out to me if she ever needed to defend herself against this lout.
There’s no way to make this comment without leaving myself open to shrieking about racism, but if you’ve spent any time at all in India, none of this is a surprise.
Indians can be the warmest, loveliest, most hospitable people in the world, but for a subset of them, treating individuals in service roles this way is seen as normal behavior. Mr. Gupta may be from India, or may be from the US or Canada and of Indian descent, but either way, it appears he’s part of that subset.
Fly domestically in India, visit a department store in India, dine in a restaurant in India, and you’ll see this on a semi-regular basis.
Many in Indian society still live under a caste system, formally or not.
Unfortunately when you are brought up under the notion that there are classes of people beneath you, especially in the service industry. This is what will happen…not everyone of course.
At least Mr.Gupta didn’t reach the abysmal behavior of the meltdown you witnessed in Lufthansa F with the perfume bathed pax. Life experiences will eventually teach you young Mr.Klint people in relationships based on comfort and convenience leach out in anger at others for not experiencing love and commitment.
Mr. Gupta? Sounds like an Indian name.
Yes mr gupta is Indian name !!
Ok he behaved in a horrible way. Everybody agrees. But seriously, posting pictures of him AND mentioning his name on a public blog? That’s a massive invasion of his privacy. Yes, even jacka**es are entitled to privacy.
I understand this wouldn’t fly in Germany, but he abdicated his rights when he shouted his name in front of the cabin and made such a vocal and public spectacle.
In this day and age, that even tweeners have smart phones.
No one should have an expectation of privacy in public – so I ask where is our gratiouteous, voyeuristic video of Mr. Gupta?
I am actually shocked he didn’t remove the bag from the overhead bin and just toss it in the aisle.
Just curious, nobody is wearing mask, including the Bollywood star, Mr. Gupta?
This flight was pre-pandemic (full review is linked in story). In short, I held off on publishing reviews during the pandemic, but since no end is is sight, I’ve resumed publishing reports from my Feb/March travels just before the pandemic became worldwide.
It may be helpful to state more clearly when the trip happened. Maybe you did, but it wasn’t obvious. Both for context but also because airline fleets and note interiors change, so having the date clearly stated helps set reader expectations.
You should have taken a video 😛
Mr Gupta is an Indian person. From what I saw from this post, this disgraceful passenger is BLACK.
I am surprised that he was not offloaded. If he was this defiant and disruptive on the ground, how would he follow the FA’s instructions in case of an emergency?
I was truly surprised as well. He seemed to sleep through the flight.
Typical “Gupta.” I have many Indian friends and they always stereotype by last name (I’m just repeating information). A “Bajwa” or “Singh” would have been much classier.
“Having many Indian friends” and “just repeating information” doesn’t change the fact that you’re racist.
Slow down Aziz, I believe the “racism” brush you’ve been painting with, is a tad too wide. Granted, he’s making generalizations about groups of people, but it’s not based upon race. In fact, he’s pointing out how three families’ names, from the same ethnicity, are different.
No need for a long explanation here of how I see this Mr. Gupta. You’re a self entitled bellend.
Nice try. Repeating information told to me by a member of their culture doesn’t make me racist, just as much as if I were to assume you were Saudi because of your name. Besides, you don’t even know my own background. I’m part native American.
@Jim Sure, let’s call it discrimination based on family name then, no better than racism if you ask me.
@Andy K Again, being “part Native American” means nothing.
You’re clearly prejudiced and have no problem judging millions of people based on the actions of one.
I don’t care what your background is or who your friends are, you’re comments (and justifications for that matter) scream racism.
He is part nothing! Can he even prove to us he is part native American?
“My “friends” from told me this, so I cannot be racist!!!”
Can you prove you’re not part cracker?
Expose people like this. BAN HIM!!!!!
What a douche he is!
Just hearing about him makes me want a drink.
Mr. Gupta Lives Matter! It was a mostly peaceful protest. You as a white a re so privileged, never understand how Mr. Gupta daily lives are about! Shame on you!
I would have been happy to remove the stuff from his bin, making sure to elbow him in the neck during the process.
I want to punch this Indian out of the cabin. Do not care even when arrested. Such people need a lesson! Drag his back to India where he belongs!
That’s not nice. He could easily have been an American or Canadian.
Agree!
He should have been offloaded and subsequently banned from travelling on AC.
No one cares. And public shaming leaves both sides looking less-than-admirable.
This serves no public good. And look and the comments this story evokes and ask yourself why u wanna be a part of this.
People act like jerks all the time, including me and u. Little is severed by gleefully sharing this underbelly of humanity.
I am all for naming and shaming.
No, I’m not keen on public naming, shaming and showing, regardless of the outrageous behaviour. While one hopes this was a once in a lifetime meltdown, and that he’s chastened and remorseful, it serves no useful purpose the go into this level of detail, particularly with no opportunity for redress. One the other hand, we’re pleased when guys like this get their comeuppance.
But how would you feel if someone filmed your kids having an inflight meltdown (…as the majority of kids will have, at least once), and published it in a blog under “ WORST KIDS EVER, HOPELESS PARENTS “, replete with pictures and mentioning overheard names.
It’s great that Asia was able to diffuse the situation, probably reflecting both training and personality. So many of them go into an instantly defensive/combative mode, only serving to exacerbate the situation.
I’ve got a story about kids for the blog next week. Stay tuned!
“But how would you feel if someone filmed your kids having an inflight meltdown (…as the majority of kids will have, at least once), and published it in a blog under “ WORST KIDS EVER, HOPELESS PARENTS “, replete with pictures and mentioning overheard names.“
Now thats an interesting hypothetical…
You didn’t let us know if he ever got his bottle of Johnny Walker Black
He didn’t.
The customer (consumer) is not always right! That adage and perspective are wrong and out-of-date. #MrGupta was being #unreasonable and #demanding — the #flightattendant managed him as well as can be expected.
I hope #AirCanada put him on a #watchlist.
Aircrews are under enormous pressure, assuming, adopting, and adapting to training not included in their original training – enforcing public health orders to limit transmission of disease-causing pathogens.
Be happy you could fly into Canada, #MrGupta — hope it was essential travel otherwise you may be flagged under Canada’s Quartine Laws.
“Then I sent 3.5 hours in your horrible lounge.”
This article about manners reminds me of a book I recently read “A Gentleman in Moscow” which was partly about the manners of 19th century aristocrats. I think you’d enjoy it on one of your long haul flights particularly as it delves into the philosophy of a behavior of those who are privileged enough ( a word that had a negative meaning then, as now) to behave in a decent manner.
Considering the fact that the Canadian border is supposed to be closed to all but residents, how did Mr Gupta (a connecting overseas passenger?) and the writer get into the country to begin with?
As for American democracy, doesn’t sound very democratic that the person who got 3 million plus more votes “lost” the presidency? Nor do I care that groceries in the US cost less than here in Canada. At least I know our dairy farmers are not going bankrupt or committing suicide because they can’t make enough from their milk!
Flight from Feb
Good on you – that was some rude passenger. I hate it when that happens. I can’t believe people can be so rude.
And, you’re getting meals in business class again? I am waiting for AC to put their Mexico City-Vancouver flight back into the schedule!
Air Canada flying to the U.S. and neither the flight attendant or passenger wearing a mask?
Dear Americans, we Canadians don’t hate Americans. We’re terrified of you. Especially of the people who find a way to justify the the lunatic behaviour of the individual in the White House. It’s incomprehensible to most of us. Please, for the sake of your country, which I am sure you love, take 10 minutes a day to watch any accredited news source besides fox. Any. MSNBC. PBS. BBC. Any source which isn’t a propaganda vehicle for the government. The reason it’s easy to say that it’s propaganda is when you read a number of other sources and compare with what’s being said on fox, any thinking person starts to ask themselves questions. That’s all that needs to happen. Just to ask questions. To open the door a crack. And what you’ll find in watching them is they aren’t continuously spewing out messages of hate. That in itself should be a good reason to tune in.
Unless you enjoy hating. I can see how there’s an Adrenalin rush to anger. Good luck with that.
Meatloaf hates along with the best of them. Canada is nothing but goodness and light.
Nothing bad ever happens there and never has.
Canadians are so terrified of the US that they count us as their largest trading partner and depend on us for defense assistance from the big bad Russians.
But yeah…we are so terrifying they have millions of troops guarding their border.
Haha!
One can still be wary of another country while still having economic ties with that same country. Not that hard of a concept to grasp.
It’s pretty absurd to be scared of the US. Let’s see…how many millions of trips to the US do Canadians make per year?
@Aziz
I am East Indian, Black, and White French there is nothing racist in Andy K’s comment and Jim is right with his statement. So I think you should get off the racism bandwagon…it seems it is an excuse for so much today.
But my Indian friends said it was racist! Therefore your anecdotal example is invalid.
Sadly I have seen similar behavior before. The comments about his ethnicity being a contributing factor are valid. They in particular have a dim opinion of people in a “servant” role. It’s their upbringing. More prevalent perhaps with people from the Indian subcontinent, but I too have have been treated with same attitude by all races, including Asians, Whites, Blacks in my role as postal clerk. I don’t blame them. It’s who they are. Sorry call me a racist but it’s the truth. It happens and I’m a WASP. Perhaps his life is miserable and making others feel terrible and him more important helps him sleep at night. It helps me to think that when the victim. I feel sorry for the flight attendant but it’s part of the job that you train for. She handled it very well.
Well, you are a racist. His ethnicity has nothing to do with his behavior, some people are just rude arrogant jerks. It happens with people of all ethnicities and nationalities.
Mr Gupta obviously thought he was a somebody if only in his mind as with some Business Class passengers. Mr
Gupta has to know that he is no different from those wo believe they are in entitled, and being loud and obnoxious is not accept. I can imagine what the Flight Attendants had to say about him behind his back, kudos
to them for enduring such a person. SHAME ON MR GUPTA
If the article was written on the date indicated, no wonder the fellow had a terrible time in the Maple Leaf Lounge. According to the AIr Canada Web site it was closed!
Published on that date, but the trip took place prior to COVID-19 restrictions. This was mentioned in other posts on the same trip.
Mr Gupta is one of those pompous new money Indians who probably made his money into because of the political connections.
And before you shout racism, I’m an indian and have dealt with a ton of jokers like this.
Eg, I was the night shift duty manager at the Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai. An indian gentleman walks his German client upto the counter to check in. Asked the German gent for his passport and Cc details and the indian went off on a rant saying that it is an insult to ask someone for their cc details and that he would call Ratan Tata (the Taj hotels are Tata owned).
I politely told him that the rules have been put in place by Mr Tata to protect the interest of guests and the hotel itself. However “you are welcome to disturb Mr Tata for such a trivial matter as you appear to be his close friend. Till such time I would need the Cc to check in your guest and ensure he gets some rest”
For context the poor German hard flown in on LH 756 which lands at 0135
My good friend is a senior AC flight attendant. This story/and photos have made the rounds on their own social media links in the past. Apparently this particular “special passenger” is well know to many of the inflight crew members. Mr. G has behaved like this before apparently/rumour has it. His demeanour and attitude may be how he prefers to treat the poor AC staff at the airport and during his flights. Just disappointing he hasn’t been banned from AC by now.
As much as I truly believe social media is a blight and cancer on humanity, if there was ever a case for social media shaming, it’s this turd.