The song "Airline Agent" by James McMurtry is about the frustrations and mistreatment that frequent travelers experience at airports, particularly at the hands of airline agents. The narrator of the song is a patient man who has been mistreated in the past, but he has had enough and is speaking out against the unfair treatment he is receiving from the airline agent. The narrator is frustrated with the agent's attitude and delays, which are causing him to miss his flight. He is also upset that he is being forced to check his guitar as baggage, which is a hassle for him. He feels that if he were a businessman with a briefcase, he would not be treated the same way. The chorus of the song expresses the narrator's urgency to make his flight and his frustration with the airline agent. He just wants to get to his destination so he can perform at his show. At the end of the song, the narrator threatens to "go postal" if the airline agent does not improve his attitude. This is a reference to a common term used to describe workplace violence, indicating just how angry and frustrated the narrator is with his treatment. Overall, the song highlights the negative experiences that can come with air travel and the mistreatment that travelers can often face.
