An award should go the United Airlines gate agent in Denver for being smart and funny, while making her point after being confronted by an irate passenger who probably should have been classified as cargo.

During a hectic period at the old Denver Stapleton airport, what would have been a crowded United flight was cancelled. A single agent was endeavouring to re-book a long line of inconvenienced travellers, when suddenly a very angry passenger pushed his way up to the desk, slammed his ticket down on the counter, and said,

"I HAVE to be on this flight, and it has to be FIRST CLASS."

The agent replied, "I'm sorry sir, I'll be happy to try to help you, but I've got to help these folks first, and then I'm sure we can work something out."

The passenger was unimpressed. He asked loudly, so that all the passengers behind him could hear, "Do you have any idea who I am?"

Without hesitating, the gate agent smiled and grabbed her public address microphone and announced, "May I have your attention, please?" her voice bellowing throughout the terminal. "We have a passenger here at the gate WHO DOES NOT KNOW WHO HE IS. If anyone can help him find his identity, please come to the gate."

With the folks behind him laughing, the man glared at the United agent, gritted his teeth and swore, "(Expletive) you!"

Without flinching, the agent smiled broadly and said, "I'm sorry, sir, but you'll have to stand in line for that, too."

The people in line now laughed hysterically, and, the guy retreated. United Airlines was off the hook for a few hours.