Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Attendant Current
Time Pressure; Distraction
Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Passenger Misconduct
General None Reported / Taken
Company Policy; Human Factors
I'm filing this report because I stepped off the aircraft (about 3 steps away) onto the jet bridge to alert the gate agent standing there about the passenger mentioned in this report. They were just behind me as I stepped off the aircraft. The agent saw for himself and stated to me after seeing the passengers words and gestures...'I would say that is threatening behavior!'Also; though I did not seat them in premium economy; I did allow both passengers to remain in premium economy seating; because I felt threatened and didn't want the situation to escalate any further. The passengers around them were becoming uneasy; by the looks on their faces.Upon reflection; I realized that I could have done things differently (there is always room for improvement) but I have to blame fatigue after waiting 3 hours in a hot airport prior to boarding this flight (my 3rd for the day).The event happened as followed:Prior to boarding the gate agent stated that there will be those that want to move to premium economy without being charged. She wanted to make us aware beforehand. I notified the flight attendant in the aisle of the gate agents briefing. While boarding Passenger Mr. X and his wife Ms. X entered. Mr. X asked that he and his wife be seated together because she has severe anxieties and didn't want her to cause a scene.I advised him that if once in the air and after the seatbelt sign goes off he could ask to switch seats with another passenger and informed him that he could not sit in premium economy without an upcharge. He did not like my answer. He said 'look at her (now standing in first class cabin)...just look at her.' I didn't see anything out of the ordinary with her behavior; except she looked agitated. I asked him to speak to the flight attendant in the aisle for assistance in order to keep the boarding process moving.Before closing the door; I went to check on these 2 passengers and seen that they were sitting in an empty row in premium economy. I asked them if they would like to pay the upcharge for the seats they were occupying and he said with a stern voice 'NO!' He became very angry to the point his wife said 'Stop it' and popped him in the chest with her left hand- 2 different times.. He said very angrily and loud that 'I am NOT moving!' I told him that we will not be able to close the cabin door if they do not return to their original seats. At that point he went but not without stating how 'sorry' I was and that I should allow them to sit together because of her anxiety. I did not feel safe because of how angry he became when I told him to go back to his seat.I informed the captain who wanted to give him another chance and not take him off the flight. After the seatbelt sign was turned off I called to the back galley and asked the other FA to see if they could reseat them in economy or get someone to trade their economy seat. 30 minutes later I went through the cabin to find them seated once again in the premium economy seats. I stopped and asked them if they had decided to do an upcharge. Mr. X once again became inflamed at me stating 'NO; we did not! Your flight attendant moved us here.' I replied that they should not have done that. Because he stated again in a loud forceful and threatening tones that I didn't understand and that sometimes exceptions need to be made. Stating that his wife had a disability with her anxiety.I told him in calm tones that I understand as my own family members suffer from severe anxiety; but we still cannot assign them to seats that they did not pay for. He said 'Next time I fly; I will just sit where I want to and I will NOT move.' This angry; threatening tones with me was causing a scene with the surrounding passengers; for this reason; I left them there for the duration of the flight rather than move them again. Before leaving them; I asked his wife if she was ok and he said; 'Yes; NOW she is...NO thanks to you!'I have never felt so harassed in my life and bullied by a passenger. I thought we all agreed beforehand that we weren't going to move passengers to premium economy without charging; but this passenger was better left alone. When we landed I reported Mr. X and his wife to the gate agent. I stepped onto the jet bridge just before they came off so that I could point them out to him. As they passed me and the gate agent he yelled and waved his hand 'Thanks for ruining my flight!' The gate agent said he would flag him for future flights.
A Flight Attendant reported a passenger misconduct incident regarding the unauthorized use of premium seating. When the passengers were confronted; and told they would be charged for upgrading; they responded in a very threatening and abusive manner.