Business class. A long international flight.
I bought my ticket in advance and specifically chose a window seat — I wanted to spend those hours quietly, do a little work and just relax.
Boarding proceeded as usual: passengers took their seats, stowed their hand luggage, and flight attendants handed out water.
I had already settled into my seat when a man entered the cabin — a distinguished-looking man in an expensive suit, carrying a leather briefcase.
With a smug look on his face, he walked down the aisle and stopped next to me.
Glancing at the seat next to me, then at me, he demonstratively wrinkled his face and said loudly enough for everyone around to hear:
“Is this some kind of joke? I paid for business class, but I feel like I’m on a bus during rush hour!
He rolled his eyes theatrically, then looked at me with obvious contempt.
‘I need to concentrate, I’m flying to a business meeting, and now it looks like I won’t even be able to sit down properly,’ he muttered, sinking into his seat.
Everything was clear without further explanation.
The hint was not about the circumstances, but about my figure.
‘Who allowed someone like that to buy a ticket here?’ he muttered, half in a whisper, but loud enough for me to hear.
Once seated, he began to push me with his elbow, as if trying to emphasise his dissatisfaction.
It was unpleasant, hurtful and… humiliating.
I turned away to the window so that no one would notice how much I wanted to cry.
I would never have thought that a mature, intelligent-looking man could be so rude.
He didn’t calm down the entire flight — he rustled papers, sighed, and fidgeted as if he were deliberately making himself uncomfortable.
He didn’t say anything else, but his behaviour spoke for itself.
I remained silent.
I am familiar with such looks and whispers, but such open rudeness was a first for me.
But at the end of the flight, something happened that made him seem to seriously regret his attitude towards me.
When the plane landed and the passengers began to prepare to disembark, my assistant, who was flying in economy class, approached me. Nodding politely, he said:
“Mrs. Smith, we’ve taken care of everything.
If it’s convenient for you, after checking into the hotel, we’ll go straight to the forum venue.
Your presentation is ready.
The man next to me froze.
I could clearly feel him staring at me.
The assistant left, and his face and voice changed abruptly.
“Excuse me… are you also participating in the conference?
I heard that one of the main speakers is Dr. Smith…”
‘That’s right,’ I replied calmly, getting up from my chair and picking up my bag. ‘That’s me.’
His face turned pale.
He began to mumble something about how he admired my scientific work, how he had read my articles, how he had dreamed of attending my lecture on neuropsychology and AI.
I just smiled slightly and, without saying another word, walked out first.
He remained seated, as if someone had knocked the wind out of him.
And I sincerely hope that after this incident, he will no longer judge people solely by their appearance.
