An air traveler says, “Some grown men really need to grow up,” after witnessing an unexpected standoff between a fellow airline passenger and a gate agent (GA).

The incident, recounted in a Reddit post, occurred while boarding a “packed” flight from Atlanta to Newark. The original poster (OP), user shebrew11, described a moment when a man boarding in Group 1 was impatient while fulfilling a standard safety procedure for exit row seating.

Rolled His Eyes

The GA had reminded all passengers in the exit row that they were required to verbally confirm their willingness to assist in an emergency. However, before the GA could even finish asking, the man repeatedly cut her off with a terse “yes” and attempted to continue onto the jet bridge.

After being stopped multiple times, he rolled his eyes in frustration before finally allowing the GA to complete the mandatory question and responding properly.

While this exchange only delayed his boarding by a few seconds, the OP noted the irony of his impatience—by the time he reached the aircraft, there was still a line waiting to enter.

The Reddit post struck a chord with other travelers, with many pointing out the entitlement and lack of patience often displayed by frequent flyers.

As one user commented, “Some dudes never miss an opportunity to show the world how important they think they are.”

Another added, “Someone who has presumably achieved enough success in life to be able to fly in nice seats, you would assume, would know that certain things require a person to go through all the motions, the whole ritual, for the sake of liability. Alas.”

Airline Etiquette: A Growing Concern

The exchange as described by the OP taps into the evergreen conversation about airline etiquette and respect for airline personnel, particularly as the travel industry faces increasing stress from high passenger volumes.

According to a YouGov poll on airline etiquette, most travelers believe that basic manners are eroding in the air. The survey, cited by Newsweek, found that 77% of Americans believe airplane etiquette has worsened in recent years.

GAs, flight attendants and other airline employees often encounter disrespect from entitled travelers, especially those with status in airline loyalty programs.

Some passengers assume that their frequent flyer perks place them above standard safety and boarding procedures, a pattern of behavior that was evident in this Reddit anecdote.

Passenger Preparedness

Aviation professionals have long stressed that following safety procedures—even seemingly redundant ones like verbally confirming exit row responsibilities—is not just about compliance, but about passenger preparedness in an emergency.

The Wings Over Camarillo flight etiquette guide highlights the importance of respecting flight crews and airline personnel, emphasizing that even seasoned travelers should follow basic rules and procedures to ensure a smooth boarding process.

‘The only thing that works’

For gate agents, ensuring compliance with airline safety regulations is a non-negotiable responsibility. And for passengers—no matter how frequently they fly—respecting those doing their jobs is just as essential as arriving at their destination on time.

The OP shared their own tactics in a reply in the Reddit thread: “Fighting doesn’t work. Scolding doesn’t work. Appealing to logic doesn’t work.

“When grown adults act like babies, the only thing that works is laughing at them.”

Newsweek has contacted shebrew11 for comment via Reddit.

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