Miss Manners: Airline rep’s rudeness accomplishes nothing

DEAR MISS MANNERS: After a long flight from overseas, my plane landed and I called my family to say that I had arrived safely. A few minutes after this phone call, and after going through customs, I realized that I had either left my phone on my seat or it had fallen out of my pocket when I went to retrieve my bag from the overhead compartment.

My phone had a case storing my credit card and driver’s license. As I could not return to the plane myself, I found a security guard, who found a representative from the airline to assist me.

Before I could explain what happened, she snapped, “How could you be so irresponsible and not check for all your valuables before leaving the flight?”

I was taken aback and could only mumble in response. I finally must have asked if there was anything that could be done. She said that she was not able to go to the plane and the only thing was to wait to see if the cleaning crew retrieved it.

Luckily, a few moments later, a different representative arrived with my phone. I thanked them politely and walked away.

However, I was so taken aback by this customer service rep. How should I have responded to her? I agree that I should have double-checked for my valuables before leaving the plane, but after a 10-hour flight, I was very tired and obviously, though unintentionally, overlooked it.

GENTLE READER: People are going to tell you that you are lucky they didn’t beat you up. And airline employees are going to tell you that you are the 112th person that day to forget something after their clear announcement about checking for personal belongings.

Nevertheless, this was unprofessional and rude. Those who take jobs dealing with the public should know how to deal with their own understandable exasperation. And as you had already failed to heed the warning, the representative accomplished nothing – except to get you to vow never to take that airline again (unless the flight is cheap and convenient).

Miss Manners would have said tersely, “Thank you for your courtesy” while checking the person’s nameplate.

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My dinner parties now include sushi for either the appetizer or the main course, yet I cannot find a satisfactory answer on where to place the stainless chopsticks.

I cannot replace the regular utensils, because not all guests use the chopsticks. I initially set them above the dinner plate, where the dessert service would be, which caused much confusion, as I always serve dessert. If it matters, this would be a four-course formal dinner.

GENTLE READER: You are in luck. Japanese chopsticks are correctly placed horizontally at the bottom edge of the plate, thus not competing with the flatware positioned at the sides and top of the plate for the other three courses.

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Is it OK to have a money tree at a baby shower?

GENTLE READER: If you want the baby to grow up to be a little beggar who believes that money grows on trees.