So there I was, boarding yet another flight from New York to Los Angeles, hoping for a smooth, uneventful trip. As a 35-year-old marketing consultant, I travel a lot for work, so by now, I’ve got the whole airport and flight routine down.
This time, I was heading to a big conference in LA, with a super tight connection to San Diego for a pre-conference meeting. Everything was scheduled down to the minute, and I really couldn’t afford any delays.
The woman about to embark on a flight | Source: Midjourney
I had everything planned out perfectly, even picking an aisle seat for a quick getaway. As I got to my row, I noticed the guy in the window seat was already settled in.
He looked like he was in his early 40s, radiating a kind of self-importance that was hard to ignore. He was dressed in a neatly pressed button-down, nice slacks, and shiny shoes. He kept checking his expensive watch, like he had someplace more important to be, and barely glanced up when I sat down.
The man seated by one of the windows of the plane | Source: Midjourney
No big deal, I thought. All I wanted was a quiet flight and maybe a few minutes to go over my notes for the San Diego meeting. Little did I know, this guy was about to turn my simple trip into a mini-nightmare.
Halfway through the flight, the attendants started serving dinner. I hadn’t eaten all day because I’d been so focused on prepping for the conference. By the time the meal service began, I was absolutely starving.
The woman working on her laptop on the plane | Source: Midjourney
As soon as I smelled the food, my stomach growled, reminding me just how hungry I was. I couldn’t wait to eat, go over my notes, and maybe even sneak in a quick nap before landing.
But then nature called. I glanced down the aisle, hoping the food cart was still a few rows away. It was, so I figured I had just enough time for a quick restroom break. I excused myself, trying not to bother Mr. Important too much, and made my way to the back of the plane.
The woman heading to the restroom | Source: Midjourney
When I got to the restroom, I saw a line. Great, just what I needed! I checked my watch anxiously as the minutes ticked by, but the line barely moved. By the time it was finally my turn, I was practically tapping my foot with impatience. I knew the meal service had started, and I didn’t want to miss it.
Woman impatiently waiting for her turn at the plane’s restroom | Source: Midjourney
When I finally made it back to my seat, I couldn’t believe what I saw: my meal tray was gone! And the guy next to me was sitting there, happily digging into his second meal!
The man seated beside the woman enjoying a second serving of food | Source: Midjourney
“Uh, did they bring my meal while I was gone?” I asked, even though the answer was painfully obvious.
He looked up from his tray, a smug smile spreading across his face. “Oh, yeah. You were taking a while, so I figured you didn’t want it. Didn’t want it to go to waste.”
I stared at him, dumbfounded. “You ate my meal?”
Woman surprised to learn that the arrogant passenger had eaten her meal | Source: Midjourney
“Yeah,” he said, still chewing. “I was still hungry after mine, and you weren’t here. You can just grab something at the airport when we land.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I’d dealt with entitled people before, but this was on a whole new level. I stood there for a moment, completely speechless. Who does that?
Woman dumbfounded by the arrogant passenger’s audacity | Source: Midjourney
“Are you serious right now?” I asked, mostly to myself, still hoping this was some kind of bizarre joke.
He just shrugged, totally unfazed. “Relax, it’s just airplane food.”
The Aarrogant man smiling at the woman while enjoying his meal | Source: Midjourney
Feeling a mix of anger and disbelief, I hit the call button and asked the flight attendant if there were any meals left. She gave me an apologetic smile and said, “I’m so sorry, but we’ve run out of meals. Would you like some pretzels instead?”
Pretzels? That wasn’t exactly going to cut it, but what could I do? I took the tiny bag of pretzels, feeling defeated and increasingly annoyed at my seatmate’s sheer audacity.
Woman expressing disappointment at only having a pretzel to eat | Source: Midjourney
Meanwhile, Mr. Important finished off both meals, leaned back in his seat, and promptly fell asleep, looking as satisfied as a cat that had just caught a mouse.
The arrogant man sleeping soundly on the plane | Source: Midjourney
I tried to focus on my work, nibbling on the pretzels and glaring at the man, now softly snoring beside me. My stomach growled in protest, but I forced myself to concentrate on my notes.
I reminded myself that I had a tight connection to worry about and couldn’t afford to let this jerk ruin my day. I kept checking my watch, counting down the minutes until we landed.
Woman working while the arrogant man beside him was fast asleep | Source: Midjourney
As we started our descent into LA, the flight attendants made the usual announcements about landing and connecting flights. The reminder about tight connections snapped me out of my frustration and back into work mode. I glanced over at my seatmate. He was still out cold, completely oblivious to the world.
Man still asleep on the plane upon landing | Source: Midjourney
The plane touched down, and as soon as it did, I grabbed my bag, ready to dash to my next gate. But just as I stood up, I heard a flight attendant make an important announcement: “Attention, passengers connecting to San Diego. There’s been a last-minute gate change. You’ll need to head to Terminal 4, Gate 45, as quickly as possible.”
The woman listening to an announcement as she prepares to exit the plane | Source: Midjourney
Great, I thought. Just what I needed—a gate change. I turned to leave when I glanced at Mr. Important, still snoring away. I actually debated whether to wake him up. I mean, sure, he’d eaten my meal and been a complete jerk, but did that mean I should just leave him to miss his connection?
The woman contemplating if she should wake the man | Source: Midjourney
As I reached for my bag in the overhead bin, I decided to give him a light nudge. “Hey, we’ve landed,” I said quietly, not wanting to disturb anyone else.
Nothing. He didn’t even stir.
The man sleeping soundly in his seat | Source: Midjourney
I nudged him a bit harder. “You might want to wake up; we’ve landed, and there’s a gate change.”
This time, he mumbled something unintelligible in his sleep and turned his head the other way, clearly not ready to wake up. I figured the commotion of people getting off the plane would eventually wake him up, and besides, I had to get to my next gate.
I couldn’t afford to miss my flight. So, I left him there, still fast asleep, and hurried off the plane.
The woman walking away from the sleeping man as she heads to the plane’s exit | Source: Midjourney
The terminal was packed with people, and I had to weave through the crowd to reach my new gate. By the time I got there, they were already boarding. I made it just in time, and as I settled into my seat, I finally felt a wave of relief. I was on my way to San Diego, and for the first time that day, I had a moment to breathe.
The woman sits by the window of a plane, smiling and relieved to be on her way to her final destination | Source: Midjourney|
It wasn’t until I arrived in San Diego and met up with my colleagues that I got the full story. As we were chatting about our flights, one of my coworkers, Lisa, mentioned that she had seen someone who sounded very familiar.
The woman with her colleagues, dining at a cafe | Source: Midjourney
“I swear, there was this guy at LAX who looked like he’d just woken up from a coma,” Lisa said, laughing. “He was stumbling off the plane, looking completely disoriented. I overheard him arguing with a gate agent because he missed his connection. Apparently, he was asleep when they announced the gate change, and by the time he woke up, it was too late.”
Lisa talking about the man she saw at the airport | Source: Midjourney
I couldn’t help but grin. “What did he look like?”
Lisa described him — a man in his early 40s, wearing a slightly wrinkled button-down shirt, slacks, and polished shoes, with an expensive watch that he kept checking as he argued with the gate agent. His hair was a mess, and he looked both frazzled and furious.
There was no doubt in my mind — it was him.
The woman smiling at the realization that she knew who her colleague was talking about | Source: Midjourney
“Oh, that guy!” I said, unable to hide the satisfaction in my voice. “Yeah, he was sitting next to me. Can you believe he ate my meal while I was in the restroom and then fell asleep? I tried to wake him up, but he didn’t budge.”
Lisa’s eyes widened. “No way! That’s karma in action right there.”
Lisa gesturing as she says karma did its job | Source: Midjourney
I couldn’t agree more. As much as I’d been frustrated by the whole ordeal, there was something deeply satisfying about knowing that karma had stepped in. While I made it to my meeting on time, Mr. Important was stuck in LA, missing his connections and probably regretting his decision to indulge in both meals.
Sometimes, what goes around really does come around. And in this case, karma didn’t let it slide.
If you enjoyed this story, here’s another about an arrogant passenger who disturbed a teenage boy’s peace by reclining his seat right into his face.
I’m 16, and for my age, I am quite tall. I’m just over six feet! Every time I get on a plane, I know I’m in for a rough ride. My legs are so long that even before we take off, my knees are already wedged against the seat in front of me. And let me tell you, it’s not fun! But what happened on this last flight took the cake…
A happy teenage boy with his mother at the airport | Source: Midjourney
It started like any other trip. My mom and I were flying back home after visiting my grandparents. We were going to be seated in economy, where the legroom felt more like a leg prison. So, I was already bracing myself for the discomfort, but determined to get through it.
Little did I know, things were about to get a lot more uncomfortable. The flight got delayed, so by the time we finally boarded, everyone was on edge. The plane was packed, and you could feel the tension in the air.
A teenage boy with his knees sticking up as he sits in an airplane | Source: Midjourney
I settled into my seat, trying to find some way to position my legs so it didn’t feel like I was squashed into a washing machine. My mom, who always seems to have a solution for everything, handed me a travel pillow and a couple of magazines.
“Here, maybe this will help,” she said with a sympathetic smile. I was flipping through one of the magazines when I felt the first warning sign: a slight jolt as the seat in front of me reclined an inch. I looked up, hoping it was a minor adjustment. But no, it wasn’t…
A business man leans back in his airplane seat | Source: Midjourney
The guy in front of me, a middle-aged man in a business suit, was about to go FULL recline! Now, I’ve got nothing against people reclining their seats, but there are some basic unwritten rules about it. Like, maybe take a look behind you first?
Or MAYBE don’t SLAM your seat into someone’s knees when there’s barely enough space as it is? I watched in horror as his seat came back further and further until it felt like he was PRACTICALLY in my lap!
An uncomfortable boy squashed into his airplane seat | Source: Midjourney
My knees were smashed, and I had to angle them to the side to avoid crying out in pain. I couldn’t believe it! I was trapped! I leaned forward, trying to catch his attention. “Excuse me, sir?” I said, my voice polite despite the growing frustration.
“Could you maybe move your seat up a bit? I don’t have much room back here.”
He turned his head slightly, gave me a quick once-over, and then shrugged. “Sorry, kid, I paid for this seat,” he said as if that was supposed to make it okay.
A businessman leaning his airplane seat too much | Source: Midjourney
I glanced at my mom, who gave me that look… the one that said, “Let it go.” But I wasn’t ready to let it go. Not yet.
“Mom,” I whispered, “this is ridiculous. My knees are jammed against the seat. He can’t just —”
She cut me off with a raised eyebrow. “I know, honey, but it’s a short flight. Let’s just try to get through it, okay?”
I wanted to argue, but she was right. It was a short flight. I could tough it out. Or at least, I thought I could.
A frustrated teenager talks to his mother | Source: Midjourney
But then, the guy in front of me decided he needed to recline even further. I’m not kidding! His seat must have been broken or something because it went back another few inches, FAR BEYOND what was normal!
My knees were now practically embedded in his seatback, and I had to sit at a weird angle to keep them from getting crushed!
“Mom, this isn’t going to work,” I said through gritted teeth.
A frustrated teenager on an airplane | Source: Midjourney
She sighed and flagged down the flight attendant. A friendly-looking woman in her mid-thirties walked over, her smile fading as she took in the situation.
“Hi there,” she said, leaning down to hear us over the hum of the engines. “Is everything okay?”
“My son’s having some trouble with the seat in front of him,” my mom explained. “It’s reclined a lot more than usual, and he doesn’t have any room.”
A woman reacts badly to the passenger in front | Source: Midjourney
The flight attendant nodded and approached the man in front of me. “Sir,” she said politely, “I understand you’d like to recline your seat, but it seems to be causing an issue for the passenger behind you. Could I ask you to bring it up a bit?”
The man barely glanced up from his laptop. “No,” he said, his tone flat. “I paid for this seat, and I’m going to use it how I want.”
The flight attendant blinked, clearly not expecting that response.
A flight attendant talks to a passenger | Source: Freepik
“I understand, but the seat seems to be reclining more than it should. It appears to have gone down a full six inches more than other seats. It’s creating a very uncomfortable situation for the young man behind you.”
He finally looked up at her, and I could see the irritation in his eyes. “There’s nothing in the rules that says I can’t recline my seat. If he’s uncomfortable, maybe he should get a seat in first class.”
A rude passenger who is reclining in his seat | Source: Midjourney
I felt my face flush with anger, but before I could say anything, the flight attendant gave me a sympathetic look. She mouthed “I’m sorry, there’s nothing more I can do.” She then turned back to him and said, “Enjoy your flight, sir,” before walking away.
I slumped back in my seat, trying to find a way to deal with the discomfort. My mom gave me a reassuring pat on the arm, but I could tell she was frustrated too. That’s when it hit me! My mom is always prepared for any situation, and I mean ANY situation.
A teenage boy thinking of an idea | Source: Midjourney
She’s the kind of person who packs an entire pharmacy in her carry-on, just in case. I was sure she’d packed everything we’d possibly need on the plane. And sure enough, when I opened her bag, there was the answer to my problem… I pulled out a family-sized bag of pretzels!
An idea had started to form in my mind! It was a bit childish, but honestly, I didn’t care. This guy had no respect for anyone around him, so why should I respect his personal space? I leaned over to my mom and whispered, “I think I know how to handle this.”
A teenage boy whispering something to his mother | Source: Midjourney
She raised an eyebrow but nodded, curious to see what I had in mind. I ripped open the bag of pretzels and started munching away, making sure to chew with my mouth wide open. Crumbs were flying everywhere, on my lap, on the floor, and most importantly, on the guy’s head!
He didn’t notice at first, too absorbed in whatever important business he was doing on his laptop. But after a few minutes, I saw him stiffen. He reached up and brushed his shoulder, then the back of his head.
A businessman with crumbs on his face | Source: Midjourney
I could tell he was getting annoyed, but I kept going, making sure each bite was as loud and messy as possible. Finally, he couldn’t take it anymore! He whipped around, glaring at me with a mixture of disgust and fury.
“What are you doing?” he snapped.
I looked up at him innocently, wiping some crumbs from my mouth. “Oh, sorry,” I said, even though I was not sorry at all. “These pretzels are really dry. I guess they’re making a mess.”
“Stop it,” he demanded, his voice rising.
An irritated businessman with crumbs on his clothes | Source: Midjourney
I shrugged. “I’m just eating my snack. I paid for this seat, you know.”
He narrowed his eyes at me, clearly not amused by the use of his own words against him. “You’re getting crumbs all over me. Knock it off!”
I leaned back in my seat, still munching. “I’d be happy to, but it’s kind of hard when your seat is crushing my legs. Maybe if you moved it up a bit, I wouldn’t have to sit like this.”
His face turned an interesting shade of red. “I’m NOT moving my seat because some brat can’t handle a little discomfort!”
An angry-looking businessman | Source: Midjourney
“Well, if that’s how you feel,” I said, and then I sneezed, on purpose, of course! It was a fake sneeze, but it was enough to send another shower of crumbs his way! My mom looked like she was about to intervene…
But THAT was the breaking point! He grumbled something under his breath, then, with a look of utter defeat, he pushed the button to raise his seat. The relief in my legs was IMMEDIATE, and I couldn’t help but smile as I stretched them out a bit.
A happy and relieved boy sits comfortably in his airplane seat with his mother next to him | Source: Midjourney
“Thank you,” I said sweetly, though I’m sure the smile on my face wasn’t as innocent as I made it out to be.
He didn’t reply, just turned back around, probably trying to salvage whatever dignity he had left. The flight attendant returned a few minutes later, giving me a discreet thumbs-up as she passed by. I could tell she was happy to see that the situation had resolved itself.
My mom leaned over and whispered, “That was clever. Maybe a little mean, but clever.”
I grinned. “He kind of deserved it, don’t you think?”
She chuckled softly. “Maybe so. Just don’t make a habit of it.”
A proud mother sits with her happy son | Source: Midjourney
The rest of the flight was MUCH MORE comfortable! The guy in front of me kept his seat upright, and I was able to enjoy the rest of my pretzels in peace. When we finally landed, I felt a sense of victory! Sure, it wasn’t the most mature way to handle the situation, but it got the job done.
As we gathered our things to disembark, the man stood up and glanced back at me. For a second, I thought he might say something, but then he just shook his head and walked away. I couldn’t help but feel a little proud of myself!
A happy boy proud of himself | Source: Midjourney
As we made our way off the plane, my mom looked at me with a mixture of amusement and pride. “You know,” she said, “sometimes it’s okay to stand up for yourself, even if it means making a little bit of a mess.”
I nodded, feeling a lot better than I had when the whole thing started. “Yeah,” I agreed. “And next time, maybe I’ll just stick to snacks that don’t make such a mess.”
A proud mother talks to her son | Source: Midjourney
She laughed and put her arm around my shoulders as we walked toward the baggage claim. “Or maybe we’ll just upgrade to first class.”
I couldn’t help but smile at that. “Now that’s an idea I can get behind.”
A happy mother and son embracing each other | Source: Midjourney
If you celebrated the boy’s victory in this story, then you’ll love the next one about a young woman who was bullied by an older man while trying to place an order at a coffee shop. An unexpected hero helped put the man in his rightful place!
