Teenager apologizes to passengers on Southwest Airlines flight

A Southwest Airlines crew member holds up a microphone as a teenager apologizes for cutting in line while boarding the plane in Austin, Texas before liftoff. (Youtube)

Most people who cut in line probably hope that no one will notice their infringement on the single file rule. Unfortunately for one teen on a Southwest Airlines flight, he instead became the subject of a viral video.

A teenager from Austin, Texas who cut in line while boarding an airline flight was forced to publicly apologize to a cabin full of passengers by his lacrosse coach. While other members of his team were called to the front of the line during the boarding process, he was not, but joined them at the front anyway.

Southwest Airlines has an open seating policy: customers are called to board in groups, depending on how early they check in. They can then choose where to sit, as opposed to being assigned a seat once they acquire a ticket.

According to the New York Daily News, the teenager's coaches caught him sneaking onto the plane with an earlier boarding group than he had been assigned. The coaches escorted him to the front of the plane, and the Southwest crew allowed him to use the plane's intercom to read a quickly scribbled statement to the packed house of passengers.



"During the boarding process I took advantage of this airline's kindness. When some of my teammates were called to the front of the line, I was not. And yet, I cut in line," he said.

"This is not how my coaches, teammates or parents expect me to behave. And for all of this, I apologize. I hope you will all find it in your hearts to forgive me, for I am simply a young man that thinks I am smarter than I am."

The cabin responded with generous laughter and applause. A video of the teen's apology - with complete subtitles of the statement - was posted on YouTube last week, and has so far gathered more than 225,000 views.

What do you think of this episode of life coaching by the teen's lacrosse team?

Was this a public apology or a public shaming? And is it more or less effective than a private punishment or scolding?


(This survey is not scientific. Results are based on readers' responses.)