Never had a problem with any Flight Crew during my tenure as a Ticketing/Check-in/Gate/Ramper agent. Worked for both Virgin Atlantic and XJet in those capacities...

At any rate, people on power trips is not a good thing. It doesn't matter if it's gate agent, pilot, etc.

I heard this one from a friend-

Airplane is closed up, bridge is moving back and the ramp agent calls up.

"Ground to flight deck, we're all closed up down here, cleared to release"

The CA fires back, "Isn't there something you need to say" (Capt. just wanted them to state the by-the-book answer, "Preflight walk around is complete, bla, bla, bla..."

Not to be outdone, ramper quickly says, "I'm not saying anything different, we ARE standing by for the push."

CA gives in, clears the push.

Ramp clears start on 1 only.

CA starts 1 AND 2. Blasts construction folks behind, causing mayhem, damaged a few vehicles from the gravel in the blast.

Ramp un-hooks and says, "For 500 bucks I cleared you on 2, if you weren't a dick I'd do it for free."

Haha! That's classic

It's all about trying to see the big picture. Try to be one of the pilots who "gets it", and walk a mile in their shoes. A long time ago, in a Galaxy far far away, I was a Gate Agent in STL.....

There is a level five thunderstorm tearing the field apart. You can't see from the terminal to the end of the jetway, it is raining so hard. The flight is oversold, it is the last departure of the night, the crew has just timed out, the flight has cancelled, the outbound flights for the next two days are also oversold, and I am rebooking 142 irate passengers! (Yeah, I still remember how many an America West, all coach, B737-300 used to hold) Anyway, this moron is pounding on the podium with his fist, trying his best to poke me in the chest with his other finger, saying "Do you know who I am? I don't care what you have to do, but you will get me there tonight!"

While this is going on the crew is exiting the jetbridge and heading to the hotel. The Captain stops beside me, quietly listens to the rest of this guys tirade, then leans in, points to the jetbridge door with his thumb and says to this guy, "Hey buddy, the keys are in it, if you think you can handle it. Me, I'm going to the hotel, before the tornado gets here.", and walks on. The other 141 people in line, burst out laughing, this guy storms off, and the rest are then pleasant and polite. Now there was a Captain who "gets it". I wish I could remember his name.

:D Hahaha, that is classic! Some of these captains always have the greatest things to say in the knick of time. Probably just the years of passenger abuse they have learned a line or two in their day.

I hope for the best, but prepare for the worst. I always show up with a goodie for the gate agent, as well as the crew. You'd be surprised how fast that snarl melts away to a smile. I bring them a Starbucks, or a muffin, or a bag of cookies, etc.

IAH CAL agents are the NATZIS of the whole entire airline Industry............I would rather chew on mouthful of razorblades then ask them for anything. You want a speech on how worthless you are as a pilot, ask them to pre-board muwhaaaaaaaaaaaahhahahahahhaah

Its a shame it has to come to bribary haha, but I guess it will save you a headache. Ah, the risk of talking to gate agents! I should turn this into a gambling ring somehow...Bet on Red - Get your head bitten off. Bet on Black - Be greeted with a smile!

I guess it could be considered bribery. But I think of it as thanking a hard working person, who probably gets yelled at all the time from disgruntled pax. Sometimes it's the little things that make someone's whole day.