Entitled couple refused to stow a purse, claiming they 'fly all the time' — flight attendant's five-word comeback left little room for argument
Air travel comes with rules that passengers are expected to follow, even when they believe their experience gives them more freedom. A small disagreement over cabin baggage showed how instantly a routine safety reminder can turn into an uncomfortable exchange. During a flight from Columbia Regional Airport to Chicago O'Hare, a flight attendant asked a woman, sitting in the first row, whether the purse on her lap was the same bag she had been told to stow earlier. The incident was later shared by a traveler, who goes by u/Wolfcat_Nana, on Reddit on May 8, 2026. She described how the exchange unfolded when the couple told the staff member they "fly all the time," and why the attendant's response caught her attention later.
The flight attendant repeated that the purse needs to be put away because passengers are allowed only two bags under the rules she cited. The woman's husband tried to dismiss the reminder by saying, "We fly all the time." The attendant immediately replied, "Then you should know already." Her short response made it clear that being a frequent flyer did not excuse anyone from following the rules. Although the person who shared the post could not hear what the woman had said earlier, she could hear the exchange that followed. The post also suggested the flight attendant had already needed to repeat instructions to several passengers during the same flight.
For crew members, enforcing basic rules can become tiring when travelers refuse to cooperate. The incident highlighted how a simple safety instruction can turn into an unnecessary disagreement when passengers assume they deserve special treatment. Cabin baggage rules are not optional just because someone travels regularly, and flight attendants are responsible for making sure passengers follow the required procedures. The attendant's reply was brief, but it brought the conversation back to the main point: frequent travel should mean knowing the rules, not expecting to ignore them.
Some entitled passengers challenge staff members, creating unnecessary trouble. This is what happened in another similar incident when two men boarded a flight late with two large bags each. Since the luggage could not fit in the overhead bins, a flight attendant explained that each passenger could store only one bag there and had to keep a smaller personal item under the seat. However, one man refused to cooperate and started arguing with her. He even challenged her by asking, "What are you going to do about it?" His behavior made the boarding process more difficult.
The flight attendant remained calm and told him, "That is very unacceptable. You should not be yelling at anybody like this, so at this time you will not be flying with us." She then offered him two choices: leave with his belongings or be escorted off the plane. She then contacted security and informed the pilots about it. The man eventually had to leave the aircraft. The incident showed how refusing to follow instructions can create unwanted problems for staff and other passengers. The issue was not only the number of bags but also their size, which made storing them safely difficult.
For more interesting flight content, follow u/Wolfcat_Nana on her Reddit account.