Hilary and I were flying recently. We had a few extra minutes before the flight boarded, so I did what I usually do. I went up the desk and asked the young man if there were two better seats available. He told me that there were, but they came with an upgrade cost. He quoted a price that wasn’t worth it to me.
“Bummer. We’re just both tall, so… But that’s okay.”
He was silent for a moment.
“Merry Christmas,” he said, handing me two “Extra Space” (or whatever the crap they call that particular up-sell) tickets. “No charge.”
We were pumped. It’s the simple things.
Moral of the story: Smile and ask.
My mom taught me young, “it doesn’t hurt to ask.” She’s in the Guinness Book of World Records for getting discounts, upgrades, and free things because of her kindness and fearlessness in ASKING. It works… some of the time… which seems worth it.
Also, if you’re in the position to make someone’s day, do it. Not for karma… not because they deserve it… but because we’re all struggling humans and you just might make someone’s day.
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” -Ephesians 4:32