LEAKING DOOR SEAL IRRITATES PAX WHO CREATES ACFT DAMAGE TO FIRST CLASS SEAT.

Narrative

SHORTLY AFTER TKOF FROM CLE ARPT; ENRTE TO ORD; THE FORWARD GALLEY SVC DOOR SEAL BEGAN LEAKING; CREATING A HIGH SHRILL NOISE. THE NOISE BECAME LOUD AND WAS NOTICEABLE IN THE COCKPIT ABOUT THE SAME TIME OUR FIRST CLASS FLT ATTENDANT NOTIFIED ME. I CHKED THE COCKPIT DOOR WARNING LIGHTS AND CABIN PRESSURIZATION AT THAT TIME ALL SEEMED NORMAL. I FELT IT WAS NO MORE THAN A LEAKING SEAL; WITH NO IMPACT TO FLT SAFETY; SO I THEREFORE ELECTED TO CONTINUE OUR SHORT FLT (0 PLUS 55) TO ORD. I ADVISED OUR FLT ATTENDANT THAT THE NOISE MAY SUBSIDE AS WE FURTHER PRESSURIZED THE ACFT. I ALSO ADVISED HIM THAT HE COULD RESEAT ANY FIRST CLASS PAX IN THE COACH CABIN IF THEY SO DESIRED. AS WE CLBED TO CRUISE ALT (FL280) THE NOISE LOUDLY PERSISTED. WE SPENT A SHORT TIME AT CRUISE ALT (APPROX 15 MINS) AND THEN BEGAN A DSCNT INTO ORD. AGAIN HOPING THE NOISE WOULD SUBSIDE. IT NEVER DID. WE LANDED UNEVENTFULLY AND RPTED THE PROB TO ORD MAINT FOR THE NECESSARY REPAIRS. AFTER THE PAX HAD DEPLANED; I WAS NOTIFIED BY THE FSM OF AN IRATE FIRST CLASS PAX WHO FELT THE SAFETY OF THE FLT WAS IMPACTED AND THREATENED TO TAKE HIS STORY TO THE LCL FAA. I WAS NOT AWARE OF THIS PAX INFLT; AND DID NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH THIS MAN. IN MY OPINION; AT NO TIME WAS THE SAFETY OF OUR FLT IN QUESTION. AS PER MY INSTRUCTIONS; THE MAN WAS OFFERED; AND REFUSED A SEAT IN COACH CLASS. IN THE FUTURE; I ADVISED MY FSM TO IMMEDIATELY NOTIFY ME OF ANY PROB WITH A PAX; AS OUR AIRLINE AND MYSELF PERSONALLY HAVE EFFECTIVE PROCS TO HANDLE IRATE PAX. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 240388: FSM THEN INFORMED US OF A VERY IRATE PAX IN FIRST CLASS WHO WAS EXTREMELY UPSET ABOUT THE NOISE; TO THE POINT THAT HE BECAME VERY ABUSIVE TO THE ATTENDANTS; AND CAUSED PHYSICAL DAMAGE TO THE SEAT IN FRONT OF HIM. THEY ALSO TOLD US THAT; AS HE LEFT THE ACFT; HE DEMANDED TO BE TAKEN TO THE ARPT FAA OFFICE TO INFORM THEM OF THE SIT. MAINT FOUND A TEAR IN THE DOOR SEAL IN ORD. REPLACED THE SEAL; CHKED PRESSURIZATION; AND CERTIFIED US FOR FLT.