AITA for being mean at the airport?

r/

I have TSA Precheck and am a frequent business traveler. Things are pretty robotic.

However, this last week not one but two people decided to crowd the outflowing belt. I’m standing there, like, “My stuff is coming out first, but whatever…”.

Then this chick grabs my bag to move it out of the way as it comes down the line. I stepped to her side and did yank it out of her hands saying “pardon me” in a knowingly terse tone. She genuinely gasped and said “You don’t need to be a jerk about it!”

So I might be the asshole because it just slipped: “Fuck off.”

I didn’t yell it. Nobody else said anything. Her face was just stunned.

So was I wrong for being overly aggressive to her, or did she just suck?

Comments

  1. purrfectcutiex Avatar

    she touched your stuff without asking at TSA, of all places. you didn’t yell, you just reacted in the moment. could it have been handled smoother? maybe.
    did she overstep first? definitely.

  2. Helpful-Inside-5023 Avatar

    People touching your stuff is an ick .. people touching your luggage AT THE AIRPORT!! That is a huge No no.

    NTA

  3. Topgunshotgun45 Avatar

    YTA.

    Being right and being an asshole are not mutually exclusive.

  4. twinklytoezxx Avatar

    she grabbed your bag,that’s your personal property, and at an airport, that’s a big deal.

  5. easymadzy Avatar

    “Airport etiquette is simple: don’t touch what isn’t yours. You said ‘pardon me’ she touched your stuff. That ‘fuck off’ was just the carry-on you didn’t mean to pack.”

  6. MethodFit8017 Avatar

    YTA. It doesn’t hurt to be nice, and all she did was touch your bag

  7. vonnegutlover Avatar

    Sketchy…definitely NTA. I get pissed if people mess with my stuff no matter where I am. Best believe at the airport I’d be even more frustrated

  8. Regular-Situation-33 Avatar

    She shouldn’t have touched your bag
    NTA 

    Next time yell “that’s my purse!!” Like Bobby Hill.

  9. Emergency-Kale5033 Avatar

    NTA: sometimes these things just slip out. It was two words not a thorough beating. I’m sure she’ll cope.

  10. paintlulus Avatar

    Is your life that boring?

  11. Black_Reformed1517 Avatar

    Nope. Now days people have no respect for anyone sometimes not even themselves

  12. thequiethunter Avatar

    You don’t touch other people’s luggage. She is lucky you did not raise the issue with TSA. NTA

  13. Sigwynne Avatar

    NTA. It slipped out. Sounds like it wasn’t intentional.

    A terse “You don’t get to touch my stuff” or “You don’t get to steal my stuff” would have been preferable, but not everyone can think of the perfect line at the right time.

  14. WtfChuck6999 Avatar

    NTA you were alot more polite than I woulda been.

  15. ZookeepergameNo7151 Avatar

    NTA

    At an airport or on a plane you don’t touch anyone’s shit. Period.

    She has some nerve acting affronted when caked on lifting your bag

  16. Fun_Possession3299 Avatar

    NTA

    Pretty sure not touching someone else’s bag is a big thing at airports. 

    As a fellow business traveler you’re nicer than I would have been. 

  17. Any_Ranger_9653 Avatar

    NTA but as a professional traveler it will behoove you to keep in mind that most folks aren’t as seasoned as you. Most are likely in a state of stress that you have the luxury of floating above if you so choose.

  18. RawrRRitchie Avatar

    Where is the part where you’re being mean?

    You said “pardon me” not “that’s my purse I don’t know you” and kicked em in the groin

    NTA

  19. dixxie__normus666 Avatar

    Nta….id be pissed oif somwone touched my stuff. Especially in the airport. I would have said the same thing because im a bit hot headed😅

  20. Easy-Tip-7860 Avatar

    NTA. People are getting increasingly rude and entitled everywhere and the airport is one of the worst places. You tried polite and terse, she took it as the call out for bad behavior it was, lashes out and got an appropriate response. I think you were pretty well controlled in that situation.

  21. Livid-Supermarket-44 Avatar

    You’re fine. You do not touch other people’s stuff, especially at the airport

  22. Buga99poo27GotNo464 Avatar

    Fuck Off was bad, how does it feel when I type it to you? Surely, if you’re an experienced traveller, as you say, you have better ways of coping with the holiday rushes by now:) act like an understanding, well mannered adult, not an ungrateful kid, will go go a long way in life:)

  23. HighlightAcademic194 Avatar

    You’re supposed to be rude at airports

  24. Wheresmymindoffto Avatar

    What are the standard questions asked at security?

    1. Did you pack your luggage yourself?
    2. Have you left it unattended at any time?
      So you could really be the ass and report her for tampering with your luggage. It would only take a bored jobsworth customs officer to really ruin her day.
      So no nta.
  25. Lady_Gator_2027 Avatar

    She touched your personal property and called you a jerk… I probably would have said worse to her

  26. Burden_Bird Avatar

    ESH. Unfortunately, your “fuck off” probably just allowed her to double down that you’re the asshole. I doubt it occurred to her that she was the jerk about it. If you’re going to make the effort, you want to walk away with the other person wondering AITA.

  27. crazy010101 Avatar

    NTA while you could’ve used different wording. I’m guessing if someone grabbed her bag she wouldn’t be silent.

  28. PipeInevitable9383 Avatar

    Nta. Wait your turn and let the people in front of grab stuff first

  29. SavageTraveling Avatar

    I have to tell somebody what’s up about everytime I fly domestic …Some Americans don’t know how to act in public

  30. thepatriot74 Avatar

    What’s up with these comments ? Bunch of feral AHs, starting with OP. His bag was moved out of the way on the belt, oh, the ultimate insult. At some point OP is gonna get punched, especially if tries shit like that with a dude, and especially abroad. YTA.