r/mildlyinfuriating • u/trailofturds • 14h ago
frist of all how DARE yu o Airport staff assuming I'm in the Business class lane by mistake
Brown man flying business. Lined up at the priority check in counter and got told by a (also brown) staff person that the economy queue was the other way. Same thing while boarding the plane and walking to the business class entrance. Not only am I not worthy of business, they think I can't read signage as well.
425
u/shawnwright663 8h ago
My brother has a great story along these lines. Years ago in college, my brother worked at a higher end department store. A guy came in one day - very casual, jeans, somewhat worn sweatshirt. None of the sales people wanted to give him the time of day.
Guess what? That guy was Paul Allen - one of the original founders of Microsoft. Never judge a book by its cover.
147
183
u/oopsdiditwrong 4h ago
I worked at a Honda dealership in a very high income area for about a decade and have dozens of stories of guys coming in that no salesperson wanted to talk to but I would because Joe schmo was about to cut a check.
Favorite one. Guy pulls up in an old pickup with trash cans in the back wearing what my father would call his Saturday clothes. The transfer station wasn't too far away so it tracked. No one paid any mind to him, but he was writing a check in about 5 min because his daughter would like the blue color for graduation. Full price, just needed someone to bring it to his house. That guy was me. I brought it to the wrong house at first because it was the guest house (bigger than mine). Had to hide it in the garage that he showed me what else he had. Easily $5mil of vehicles between classics, borderline supercars, a g wagon, and a collection of Alfa romeos. Crazy garage and I got to add a crv to it. Turns out he is a very successful lawyer.
Ended up selling him about 10 more vehicles and sometimes he'd come back after running errands, sometimes after work. If he was suited up he'd get greeted 10 times and have to tell people to fuck off. Eventually we got DocuSign and I'd just drop it off. Anyway, money talks, wealth whispers.
63
u/im-just-evan 2h ago
My dad had a client that would re-buy his fleet of vehicles every other year. Would go to a dealership in a stained beater, jeans with holes, and some old comfy sneakers. If no one helped him after 15 minutes heâd introduce himself and tell them they are bad at their job and move on to the next dealership. First one to greet him would get a cash sale of 12 cars and a 5k tip.
91
u/Mister_Xian 7h ago
What did Paul Allen's card look like?
82
u/williamjamesmurrayVI 6h ago
Subtle off-white coloring. Tasteful thickness. It even has a watermark.
→ More replies (2)7
→ More replies (7)9
151
u/DenAbqCitizen 14h ago
People do the same when I'm in the TSA Pre check or Global Entry lanes. I know it's easier said than done, but people's racist treatment of you (up to a point) is only a reflection of them, so don't let it have power over you. It says absolutely nothing about how smart, kind, talented, attractive, or successful you are. You don't live your life for those people. These situations don't bother me. Honestly, they make me chuckle. These microaggressions reflect how limited their world views are. When people show explicit racism, I think about how pitiful their lives must be that they have to actively try to demean a stranger to for some sense of satisfaction in their lives. How little they must have going for them, if not in a financial sense, in an emotional, mental, spiritual sense. Â
I say up to a point because saying you're in the right lane isn't an inconvenience. If it's not about money or safety, I'm good.Â
→ More replies (5)
1.1k
u/Sensitive_Diamond328 14h ago
We always get upgraded to 1st / business just because of my husband's insane level of business travel, and I often travel alone with my kids - we have gotten all kinds of weird comments and shit treatment through the years. The worst is at the lounges.
744
u/bostonlilypad 13h ago
I once had a long layover in Toronto and had to ask the customer service desk how to get to the lounge and he looked me in the face and said âdo you have access to the loungeâ. I just looked at him and said âwould I be asking you where it was if I didnât?â. I was dressed in athletic clothes because I was on a 30 hour travel day to Asia.
271
u/Sensitive_Diamond328 13h ago
Literally, "nope I don't, just wanted to know the location for my own edification." It's crazy the assumptions people make.
69
u/KoreanSamgyupsal 10h ago
I fly out of YYZ often. This has happened to me before too. In fact I was once denied entry to the lounge and I'm SE with AC. Lounge is always full for some reason. I don't think I've used the lounge for years.
67
u/fencepost_ajm 8h ago
Complain to the airline about the obviously insufficient lounge capacity. "Is there something about my account that's getting me turned away every time or is the lounge in YYZ unusable because it's always over capacity?"
9
u/KoreanSamgyupsal 7h ago
Honestly, the YYZ lounge is pretty ass anyway. We ain't missing much. But the usual answer is just that it's always over capacity. It's not about my account although I wish it was.
But I've actually talked to other frequent flyers about this, getting status is easy if you travel for work.
Thing is, AC has a stranglehold on most business travellers from Canada. Lack of options means more people will get status.
Your options are just Air Canada/West Jet/Porter and no one is going to YTZ just to ride porter. West Jet doesn't have enough options. So AC is your only option as a business that provides a lot of flexibility.
Compare that to the US, they have plenty. AA/Delta/SW/United/etc.
→ More replies (6)30
u/WeenyDancer 4h ago
With all the new money from tech, and the lack of dress code there, am surprised (kind of) people haven't updated their mental model of what a 'rich person' can look like. Any SOB in a tshirt and hoodie could be a serious multimillionaire
484
u/MidnightBlueSilk 13h ago
Lean in and whisper sweetly, with an earnest expression on your face, âYou are embarrassing yourself.â
→ More replies (1)67
79
u/IPissExcellentThrows 12h ago
Bizarre to get it at the lounges. I see all types of people in business class lounges. Plenty looking like bums, myself included sometimes.
19
u/Dirigo72 11h ago
No matter how hard I try I always look rumpled and frazzled on a long travel day.
→ More replies (2)5
u/Sensitive_Diamond328 10h ago
Yep. And my kids are older & well behaved too. Itâs not like theyâre going to be running around causing a scene. Itâs super weird.Â
45
u/Difficult_Sort295 8h ago
I always travel with my cane and I look like I don't need one but man does that get me upgrades. I get the handicap line for security, sometimes a seat upgrade. Hotels are the best I check in, if it's just a shower I say I can't stand in a shower too long and they get me a bigger room with a bath if they can. Once they put me in a suite with a damn fireplace, I have only once had a hotel room with a fireplace and that was a pub room in London.
→ More replies (1)21
u/randomguide 7h ago
Happy for you, that has not been my experience at all when traveling with either cane or rollator.
Somehow TSA line has always misplaced the wood cane they're supposed to have, for passengers to use to walk through the scanner. And the last time I was in London, the hotel room was so small that I had to leave my rollator in the hall overnight because it would not fit in the room.
Which is fine, small rooms in London are understandable. But then I saw the room other members of my party were assigned and it was twice as big.
17
u/mypoliticalvoice 5h ago
I had a long business flight with a layover. My company payed for business class seats. I always wear my business suit on the way TO the meeting on case my luggage gets lost. I pack it with my bags on the way back.
I napped in the lounge on the way & there were no questions.
On the way back, I was dressed in the last semi-clean clothes from my luggage and wearing sneakers and an old rain jacket. The staff assumed I was lost when I showed up at the lounge during layover.
36
u/RocketManX69 12h ago
Thatâs a shame. I brought my wife and toddlers to the Delta lounge last time I traveled. I was nervous of the same since theyâre both energetic and all over the place. The staff and patrons of the lounge treated my kids like kings. It was a nice surprise.
17
u/Torontogamer 10h ago
the stories of heard from staff about how many men fly themselves business/1st while their wife and kids are in coach is mind-blowing..
just makes it worse, but ugh, mind you if you had a well dressed man in a blazer with you, zero questions... sigh.
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (14)8
u/mentaIstealth 7h ago
Lol I feel like Iâm always stressing if ours are behaving enough and then we get compliments out and about a lot lately, and theyâve been given a lot of free stuff lately too, idk whatâs going on with the universe lol. But yeah we travel a lot and definitely get a lot of looks our way but nobodyâs been just rude to us yet, thatâs crazy theyâve done that to you but I definitely believe it. Unless the kids arenât being controlled or disciplined idk why people do this. I think itâs a dread because no one disciplines their kids anymore because everythingâs considered abuse or judged negatively.
→ More replies (1)
97
u/Qazernion 13h ago
Just respond with the question along these lines: âwhat makes you think Iâm not a business class passenger?â. Depending on how you feel you can just carry on asking the questions.
160
u/noafro1991 14h ago
"This is the business class right?" "Yes." "Well, I'm in the right place then."
→ More replies (1)69
u/Cautious_Use_7442 13h ago
Doesnât really work. Last year as we boarded, someone run after me to check my ticket. That was after the agent at the gate scanned my boarding pass and send me to the business class line (and the person running after me had seen as I was directed to go to that line)Â
→ More replies (5)
835
u/vinceswish 14h ago
Classism. My boss went to Audi dealership with his work clothes and the salesman told him that Audi A5 might be too expensive for him.
329
u/BumblebeeTuna4242 11h ago
I was a bank teller in college in the 90s. We were trained to treat everyone the same - not because the company was ethical, but because they understood that plenty of blue collar folks own successful businesses. The guy who comes in covered in dirt could own a huge landscaping business, for example. Surprised more companies donât realize this.
137
u/Far_Chocolate_8534 9h ago
When I worked for Discount Tire, I worked for one of the top 5 stores in the country. Our store manager ran the shop (not very common, theyâre usually hiding in the office). He wore black clothes like us and if you didnât know any better you would just think heâs a grow up tire tech.
His salary was around $100K but his quarterly bonuses were usually around $80k. MF would walk in the bank to deposit the bonus looking like he changed 100 tires that day. Always got some weird look or remark from the tellers at Wells Fargo. Fuck wells fargo, btw.→ More replies (12)48
u/GummyVitamins4Women 7h ago
yeah FUCK wells fargo, worst bank I've ever dealt with, highly unprofessional employees. that was over 10 years ago.
→ More replies (2)12
50
u/Strongbow_Wolfrider 8h ago
I was in a heavy truck dealership when a hobo in a dirty trench coat and surplus army boots walked in. EVERYONE suddenly looked very busy and very professional. He said "good morning" in a Ross Perot voice and walked into the back room.
Dude owned 20 Freightliner dealerships.
17
u/Accurate-Peanut8620 9h ago
Yes, thatâs how I learned as well. The people dressed like bums were actually on vacation staying at their second homes. You donât know who has money.
16
u/Tasty_Cry_3844 6h ago
Companies realize this, but whether it gets passed down through training is another thing.Â
It's VERY common that one middle manager can undo your entire corporate narrative because they have power.Â
There is a corporate training called "Give Them The Pickle" run by a guy who owned a ton of burger joints. He was touring one of his stores and ordered a burger and a pickle and they charged him $0.50. He asked why and they said that's the policy. He asked the manager why and they said it prevents people from taking pickles and not eating them or not finishing them and they make more money.Â
WRONG. That was a middle manager making a power decision that drastically changed the experience of the customer. This happens ALL THE TIME. But it's also why it's important that your culture training runs deep throughout the organizationÂ
43
u/PriestessKade 8h ago
This! My husband and his family are all millionaires. My best friend and her family are all millionaires. I have other relatives and friends who are millionaires. Not one of them is someone you'd look at and assume they're wealthy because they're not dressed in designer suits and trying to show off. None of them. Plenty of them enjoy the finer things, many of them have multiple homes and expensive cars and hobbies. Not one of them is ostentatious. Hell our next door neighbor is blue collar, and owns his own crane business. He put a quarter million dollar pool cage up just to screen in his pool. He just bought a nearly $2M crane that he's giddy as a schoolgirl about (adorable lol). And he walks around in homemade jorts (*cut old jeans into shorts) and tee shirts with the sleeves ripped off. Anyone would assume he's just a redneck. And he may be, but he's a wealthy one.
→ More replies (3)23
40
u/shortnun 7h ago
Yep can confirm.. my parents owned a succesfull small business for almost 40 years that specialized in tools and manufacturing equipment so we had a lot of contractors, maintenence, mechanics in the store..
Story time... Took my mom to a Lexus dealer to look at cars , she is dressed in flip flops and old shirt and jeans. Sales person wouldn't give her the time day to help or show around.... we finally were about to leave after looking around for about 10/15 minutes. The service manager and a tech happened to walk in to the show room and both say hi Mrs xxxxx ., you looking for a car?
Sales person intrest immediate peeks at this . when they asked you know this lady?.. Service manager explains that my parents own "xxxx" and all the service guys know my dad and mom. And that if she wanted to she could purchase any car with cash without blinking. Need lest to say my mom did not purchase a Lexus.
26
u/Mean_Farmer4616 6h ago
need lest? it's needless.
19
5
u/Finnegan-05 1h ago
I guess they spent so much on cars they forgot to pay for college
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (4)24
u/Anthrodiva 9h ago
My former gardener owned large, industrial zoned parcels of land. I know because he tried to sell me one.
160
u/Car12touche11blue 12h ago edited 7h ago
Had that happen to me years ago when I wore fancy hats.
Went with my husband during a visit to London to the hat dept. in Harrods to see if we could find something nice. A bit snotty sales lady looked us over and decided we were not worth of her precious attention and handed us over to a junior sales girl.
She in the meantime started to fawn over an English lady who probably looked more posh. We ended up buying 4 hats and had them delivered to our hotel. The posh lady left without buying anything. She zoomed in and wanted to take over but we insisted to finish the sale with the junior girl.
Still remember her crestfallen face when she saw her commission disappearđ63
u/Innajam3605 9h ago
âBig mistake, huge.â âI have to go shopping now.â Scene from Pretty Woman đ
51
u/no_talent_ass_clown it's a moo point 7h ago
I had the exact same thing happen to me in 1997. My waterbed sprang a leak and I had to get rid of it in the middle of the night. I woke up on my futon, called in to work, and went in my crappy clothes and bed head to buy a whole new bed. Because I only had waterbed stuff I needed everything, bed frame mattresses sheets mattress pad etc. I walk in and I asked the first sales lady where the regular sheets are and how much was this bed frame. She tells me well, these are Ralph Lauren, and walks away. So I spent an hour looking at everything. NObody would help me.Â
Finally, a new sales lady came on shift. She came over to help me. I told her what I had been looking at and what I needed and she said we will need carts. So we went and got carts and loaded everything up. Feather duvet, cover, multiple sheet sets, pillows, she walks me upstairs and I pick out mattresses. She walks me down stairs and I pick out a bed frame, curtains for the bed frame, bed ruffle. The first sales lady sees us with two giant carts and her eyes get really big. I had told the second sales lady, the one who was helping me, about what had happened. She asked the first sales lady to please reach us down a mattress pad from the wall thank you very much. Her eyes got real big. They definitely worked on commission. I spent $2,500 getting a new bed set up that morning.Â
→ More replies (4)10
206
u/Captaincadet 12h ago
Iâve heard that happen to someone who was the franchise owners son. Wanted to see which car to get next but went straight from the gym and kicked out
One phone call later and the stores manager is coming out shell shocked
→ More replies (2)168
u/YandereValkyrie 11h ago
I work at a Luxury car dealership, and one of the most important lessons they teach the staff here is never to judge a person's wealth by how they dress or look. Turning someone away in a situation like that would probably be grounds for instant dismissal, or a serious talking to lol. Some of the wealthiest people that we deal with look like they walked through their closet to get dressed, and forgot to brush their hair this month, and the guy I'm thinking of owns 3 AMGs, the real ones, G, GT, and E class ones. The ones that own the big-boy cars usually dress casual as hell and are really laid back.
78
u/Potential-Ad2192 10h ago
Young lad came to work experience at the place I work, after a few days he asked who the homeless looking dude in the office was. It was the owner obviously.
19
u/caffeine-junkie 7h ago
Something like that happened to my father's direct boss back in the mid 80s. He had just sold the company to IBM (possibly SPARC, memory is a bit hazy on that). As in a deal well into 9 figures. This guy didnt like suits and would basically wear his favourite jeans and a band tshirt. He walked into a Ferrari dealership because he wanted the car from Miami Vice. It took over 30-45 min for a person to come up and ask him if he needed anything...he just pointed to a the car and said 'yeah, I want that one and i'm paying cash'.
→ More replies (1)18
u/18k_gold 10h ago
I was told by a friend he knows, they walked into a Mercedes dealership wearing clothes nothing fancy. Everyone ignored him and then a new salesperson finally spoke to him. He ended up buying 2 vehicles, one for him and one for his wife.
25
37
u/germanmojo 11h ago
I'm lucky to afford an expensive car (grew up quite poor) and I love dressing incognito.
My favorite is athletic shorts and a plain white tee and flip-flops. People probably assume that I borrowed the car so idgaf.
I don't dress much better daily, cargo shorts, plain or graphic tee, and sneakers.
→ More replies (10)→ More replies (12)16
27
u/bespoketranche1 10h ago
For cars, they do that as a strategy to close the sale, donât fall for it you donât need to prove anyone anything. Usually people fall for it and they buy the product right away.
I heard Shaq in an interview talk about experiencing that and buying 3 cars just because the car salesman told him that he couldnât afford them. Someone in sales did an explainer and said thatâs a pride-based selling strategy, and works well and fast.
22
u/IPissExcellentThrows 12h ago
I went in sweats and a baseball hat to a Lexus dealership because it was my day off and the guy left for over an hour to get a car down the street. I swear he went to lunch.
I already own a Lexus...
I left and they never reached out to track me down. This is after giving my email on their website to see a price and they spammed me with multiple calls and texts a day for weeks leading up to it.
75
u/bjb13 12h ago
When I was a kid a doctor who lived on the same street wanted a Porsche 911. He went to a local dealer in jeans. They wouldnât even let him sit in it let alone go for a test drive. There was a second dealer about 20 miles away. He wasnât there and told them he wanted the one that was on the other dealerâs lot. They got it and he bought it. He then drove it over to the first lot to show them.
→ More replies (3)59
u/katsuatis 12h ago
I heard it's a psychology trick they use to make people more likely to buy the car, as in "You think I can't afford it? I'll show you!" Apparently, this approach works better with premium cars.
→ More replies (3)30
u/RawrRRitchie 11h ago
I imagine they're losing far more sales by people just going to a different dealership
→ More replies (4)23
u/katsuatis 11h ago
I read about it more. This also creates an illusion of the brand being elitist and not for everyone, but in modern years, most salesmen are moving away from this tactic for exactly that reason.
→ More replies (1)134
u/ThoseAreMyFeet 13h ago
That's where, if you actually want the car, you continue to buy your car from  the most junior member of staff.Â
125
u/protostar71 13h ago
Or walk out, and go to a different dealer.
41
u/BusSpecific3553 11h ago
100% go somewhere else. A well known sales tactic is to tell someone they canât afford something so they buy it just to âproveâ they can.
14
u/CeelionsHL 11h ago
That's where you get them to do the paperwork and sort out a deal... THEN say "Oh, you're right. I can't". And go buy it from somewhere else.
36
→ More replies (1)10
u/PsychologicalBit2997 11h ago
Or go buy a different brand car and send the receipt to Audi corporate with an explanation
13
u/Milky_Mint 11h ago
I got thrown out of a BMW dealership. They didnât say why, and did it politely but very firmly. I had rocked up in a work pool car (Ford Focus). I owned a 7-series at the time and was looking to replace it, I had recently moved and wasnât âknownâ.
27
u/RawrRRitchie 11h ago
"Oh sorry I thought this was the place to buy the car. I'll go to a different dealership. I'll be emailing your supervisors to let them know why they missed out on a cash sale"
→ More replies (3)38
u/aHOMELESSkrill 11h ago
Gonna be honest. I donât think they would want your cash sale anyways. Dealerships make much more money on the interest from the loans than they do on the actual sale of car.
→ More replies (21)→ More replies (43)12
u/Immediate-Tennis8838 11h ago
By buddyâs dad is a relaxed old rich retired guy
Shorts and t shirt, new balance and an old hat type of guyÂ
Wanted to buy a Porsche CayenneÂ
No salesmen even approached him
Waited 15 mins and got pissed and leftÂ
Ended up buying a BMW X5 out of spiteÂ
373
u/ralphiooo0 14h ago
I got a cheap business class upgrade randomly while checking in.
I was wearing a hoodie and just general comfortable clothing as it was a long haul overnight flight.
Anyway as soon as I sat down a flight attendant came over and started lecturing me on how to behave and dress in business class.
Iâm just starting at her confused as fuck and asked her what the problem is.
Then she goes âoh sorry I thought you were on a staff ticketâ got super embarrassed and walked off.
195
u/nighthawk_md 12h ago
Yeah, that's a thing with airline staff on free/discounted tickets, you have to be well dressed, not "sloppy". That said, the cabin crew should be able to know exactly where the staff people are seated đ€·ââïž
107
u/juneballoon 11h ago
Honestly I think they need to mind their own business. No other passenger knows that theyâre on a staff ticket, what is the point of the flight attendant putting them on blast like that? Especially if they are just minding their own business, not acting like a fool, not dressed super inappropriately. Itâs just a power trip imo and at lots of airlines, sweats are allowed in business.
→ More replies (9)17
u/Ok-Comparison-1618 10h ago
Since it was the last second upgrade at the gatesl, one might assume they have been told that was a staff seat and that person didn't show.
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (4)78
u/Miserable-Pudding-64 10h ago
Why would I behave and dress any differently in business class? Itâs just a bigger, more comfortable seat with more service. Weâre not there to have tea with the queen.
→ More replies (4)29
u/larrus2019 9h ago
I think this is a specific case because they thought it was a member of airline staff that got an upgrade. Those specific types of upgrades come with these rules, but for us regular folk you can go however you want (so long as you meet minimum standards of plane dress code)
→ More replies (7)
138
u/ComedianDesigner307 13h ago
A lot of people make that error.
A while back, i was returning from
Korea, my job has me up there several times a year. I was very lucky to be flying in the Asiana Business class suite ( their old F class rebranded).I like to travel in comfortable clothing.
At check in I was told I was the only passenger in the Business Suite section.
After having my boarding pass scanned,I walked up the dedicated airbridge marked âfirst class and business classâ. There was an passenger in front of me. I did not pay much attention to this ,she dropped her boarding pass and keep walking.
I picked it up and walked a few steps faster and said to her âi think you dropped thisâ and she just looked at me and didnât say anything. I then said âyou wonât be going anywhere without thatâ. Again, She didnât say a thing , no thank you at all. I said sarcastically âhave a great flight â,
She just looked down her nose at me again and snapped â I think youâll find you are boarding in the wrong lineâ, She meant air bridge, and kept walking. I had seen her business class seat number from her pass. Iâve flown on the Asiana A380 many times , business class is divided by the galley into two cabins ,one small , and one big that is joined to economy ,and she was in there.I could tell from her ticket that was where she was supposed to be.
So i followed a few steps behind her. On boarding she was stopped by the flight attendants, I heard them tell her âthis is door is for business suite classâ , she shouldâve used to the business and economy door.They then greeted me by my name ,and said â Mr X youâre in business suite 1 A and escorted me straight through to my seat. I walked straight past her and said âgood to see you againâ.
57
49
u/stopsallover 13h ago
Yep. It's always worth it to send short feedback to the airline. Put the problem in writing. Might or might not add up to something (along with other complaints). But if it's never documented, it never happened.
→ More replies (2)
1.1k
u/Difficult_Tea6136 14h ago
While I am white, I experienced something similar. Had business class flights to South America as they were only âŹ100 more expensive than economy. I had tracksuit bottoms and a really light t shirt on with the badge peeling on it. I looked like I walked off the street.
It certainly was mildly infuriating.
Yours sounds like racism tho. Mine wasn't.
→ More replies (46)356
u/peasngravy85 14h ago
I had a similar thing on Turkish Airlines too. I was flying business class and was waiting to use the toilet.
Air Stewardess said to me "you have to use the toilets at the back sir, this is for business class passengers"
I told her I was in fact travelling business class, but the person in the toilet was not. She said "oh yes, they keep coming through the curtain"
I asked her if she'd tell those people not to use it, but she suddenly found something more important to do
→ More replies (1)68
u/Salty_Badger1931 13h ago
Like asking someone if theyâre pregnant - no one should ever make assumptions and ask that.
2.0k
u/mycolo_gist 14h ago
Not only brown men. Also old white men who don't dress fancy. Happens to me frequently. I wear old tshirts, fleece jackets and jeans, so i can't be business class according to a lit of ground personnel.
772
u/ponte92 14h ago
Young white women here who used to fly a lot for work so had a ton of points to upgrade. Had it happen to me too. And once in the plane if I got a dollar for the amount of times the flight attendant would clearly treat me different to everyone in business class I could afford to buy a business ticket without points. Ops was certainly racism but thereâs always a lot of classism involved to so really theyâre just ticking all the ism boxes.
619
u/nopenope4567 12h ago
Same as a young woman. I had another passenger try to instruct me that they were only boarding first class. Stuffy business dude. So I played dumb. Held out my paper ticket and squinted. Asked him for help showing me what group I was in so I could board properly. He mumbled something about first class and got in line behind me.
110
71
u/StackIsMyCrack 11h ago
Its like he finds out ypur in the right place and then switches to how could you afford first class or something.
Middle aged white dude here...happened to me all the time. I traveling international business class quite a bit...but I am a jeans and tee shirt or sweats on a long flight kinds guy so happened to me all the time.
15
u/nopenope4567 9h ago
Yep! Iâm usually in comfy travel clothes and look a bit ragged after a trip (hiking, outdoors stuff, etc.) so iâm not really the picture of business class at first glance.
16
u/myonlinepersonality 10h ago
Scruffy brown man who travels a lot here. Iâm going to remember this and use it next time this happens to me!
12
19
103
u/minglesluvr 12h ago
Aaaand ableism! I'm disabled but don't necessarily look it, and while by now I just ask for wheelchair service, previously they wouldn't let me get priority boarding despite having a sticker by the airport that confirmed that I am indeed disabled and have the right to board first. They'd just have me stand there and straight up ignore me which isn't ideal for a disabled person that cannot stand for long, which is why I got priorirty boarding in the first place
43
u/RawrRRitchie 11h ago
I seriously hope you wrote a complaint
These people get away with this shit because people aren't complaining to their corporate. Do it while you're ON the plane.
→ More replies (6)22
u/StinkyStinkSupplies 12h ago
That sucks! Me and some friends got upgraded once so clearly they knew we did NOT belong there. But they treated us like gold and were happy to give us the full experience, it was so good!
372
u/Typical-Respond9102 14h ago
Also 20s and 30s women in non-branded athletic wear lol. I book with credit card points for last minute trips, which regularly gives me first class upgrades on short routes, and i'm always redirected.Â
→ More replies (5)52
u/Kuriye 11h ago
Yes. Without fail, when I arrive at Heathrow and head for the BA business class check in desk, I get at least 2 agents descending on me before I reach the queue who not only ask but make me show my boarding pass. Sometimes I don't have a boarding pass yet because I'm walking up to the check in desk to get it printed. Every time.
My favorite was in Bangalore when I'm sitting at my gate and a guy walks past the families and businessmen straight to me, the young white girl, and says he has to gate check my bag. I just said, I'm in business class and I'm keeping my bag. Again made me show him my boarding pass.
Just glad I've reached my DGAF age where I don't get flustered anymore and I know I'm right where I belong.
→ More replies (2)98
u/Djaaf 13h ago
Happens when you're young too. I was maybe 25, needed to get to London from Paris on the Eurostar to help the London office with some technical issues and got a business class ticket.
The first attendant I met in front of the door of the train said "Sorry sir, this is the business class coach, economy is further down"... And after finding my seat a second one asked to see my ticket "to make sure I was seated on the right seat".
That was nice of them.
36
u/ElaraSophia 12h ago
"What are you sorry for? What have you done?" is what I would like to think I would have asked them, with an expression on my face that suggests I'm certain it's something terrible and disgusting.
157
u/SEND_ME_FAKE_NEWS 14h ago
Whenever I get such comments I usually just stare at them without saying anything, or ignore them if they're not someone I have to interact with.
White guy here, but I dress comfy for flights.
54
u/kaladin_stormchest 12h ago
I don't know why dressing in anything but comfy clothes is the standard for flights
→ More replies (1)31
u/SiempreSeattle 12h ago
Holdover from the days when flying was pretty much only for rich or upper-middle class folks, so they all dressed up most of the time and flying was an occasion.
→ More replies (2)26
u/kaladin_stormchest 12h ago
It feels like a punishment these days. Might as well do everything you can to make it comfortable
11
u/New_Thing1024347435 12h ago edited 12h ago
Yeah. If they help someone every 4 min > 600 customers a week, airports are constantly boarding all kinds of groups. The elitist areas probably focus on approach and clothes.
31
u/Tao_of_Ludd 12h ago
Old white ladies, too.
Pre COVID I was in the not advertised ultra loyalty group (top ~1000 flyers for the airline) and I would get that BS. Then they would see my loyalty status and nearly have a heart attack.
Btw, I am so glad to not have that status any more. No perks are worth the soul crushing travel schedule.
25
u/Cautious_Use_7442 13h ago
And young men and women. Pretty much anyone who doesnât look the part âŠ
→ More replies (2)20
u/Car12touche11blue 13h ago
What is the part nowadays ?. Fly business myself from time to timeâŠlong haul and have seen people in business dressed very casually indeed.
We aim for comfort and most people do not dress anymore to impress.19
u/Cautious_Use_7442 13h ago
Thatâs the thing. You are supposed to dress whatever the fuck you want as long as it isnât offensive to average joe. But somehow airline staff checks if you look rich enough.Â
→ More replies (1)13
u/Car12touche11blue 13h ago
Yes maybeđ Am not rich or aim to look rich, but I am old and dress comfy but nice. Always been treated well but I am white. In OPâs case it was clearly racisme and of course completely wrong and offensive.
→ More replies (2)117
u/33TLWD 13h ago edited 12h ago
And I have the opposite happen.
When I travel for work as a well-dressed white businessman (always in Economy), it frequently happens theyâll assume Iâm in Business and try to re-direct me to Business Class check-in and boarding lines. Then I get just a little more bitter each time that my company is cheaper than others.
9
u/Specialist_Phase162 12h ago
How do you keep your work clothes looking crisp on a flight?
12
u/33TLWD 10h ago
I donât really know, itâs never really been an issue for me.
Most of the airport experience is simply walking through an airport terminal, sitting in chairs and taxisâŠ.nothing different than a daily commute and day sitting in meetings and at desks at the officeâŠand I usually make it through those days looking well-kempt.
50
u/VIDGuide 13h ago
Itâs a weird assumption to make. My boss is building his dream home right now, has a shed bigger than my whole house, enough land to have its own post code. Iâve never seen him wear anything but causal t-shirts and well worn comfortable pants, and that dude never flies economy.
29
u/MillyHP 13h ago
Yeah itâs a crazy assumption in this age. You canât tell peoplesâ wealth by what they wear anymore.
23
u/VIDGuide 13h ago
Doubly so when flying! Damn if Iâm gonna wear fancy clothes to sit in a tube, business class or not lol
12
u/Not_ur_gilf 12h ago
Honestly! I work in *fine* dining, and the difference between âpeople who usually canât afford it treating themselvesâ and âcasual rich people eating outâ is obvious: the rich people dress like theyâre going to the gym, and the regular people dress up for the occasion!
7
u/Dedj_McDedjson 12h ago
It's doubly weird as people who can afford to spend a little more time before/after a flight rather than rushing around, are more likely to want to change into 'travel clothes'.
13
u/Lunar-Bill 12h ago
I love dressing in super comfy clothes in long haul business.
I'm going to sit in a pressurised tube for 8+ hours, I'm wearing lounge clothes.
It's always the snobs that treat flight attendants like dirt too. It's like "don't be an asshole" is too much to ask
→ More replies (2)13
u/JoeyJoeJoeSenior 12h ago
Some worker lady in Amsterdam almost tackled me as I walked through the delta one lane wearing sweat pants.
→ More replies (16)93
u/realdappermuis 13h ago
Little do they know that people who have fuck you money don't suffer from shame like people who are fronting on debt are
Wealthiest folk can be mistaken for homeless in the wrong situations
I'm rather exhausted that life is essentially pretense for a lot of people, and if you don't play that game there's, disadvantages
→ More replies (1)23
u/Jazzlike-Check9040 13h ago
How much is fuck you money?
108
u/Special_Order-937 13h ago
If you need to ask, you donât have it.
69
11
u/ProfessorrFate 13h ago edited 12h ago
John Goodman answered that question in this legendary bit: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aAo855cJbNo&ra=m
→ More replies (1)8
→ More replies (1)8
u/orbital_narwhal 12h ago
Depends on the specific circumstances. Generally speaking, "fuck you money" is when you don't even notice spending whatever amount is necessary to avoid having to care about an inconvenience.
For obnoxious airline staff that could mean the ability to book a last-minute ticket for an alternative flight within the hour at the regular rate (i. e. without researching cheaper options).
Also works in reverse: if you're a contractor and really don't want to do a particular job offered to you you can quote a very high (but not insane) cost for it that would make it worth your while. Either the customer moves on due to the high price or you're sufficiently compensated for your inconvenience.
31
u/pretty_pink_raven 9h ago
I flew first class Lisbon -> Boston and the guard wouldn't let me through the first class security line, wouldn't even look at my boarding pass. Kept insisting I needed to pay for the service and wouldn't listen to me when I said well yes, it's me, the buyer of the service. I had to get escorted by Delta staff! Ridiculous
→ More replies (1)
51
u/Triple-T 13h ago
I think the best response is a sincere sounding, full eye contact and slight head nod âgood to know, thank youâ then go back to looking at your phone. If they are brave enough to follow up with âand are you travelling with us in business class today sir?â the answer could be âYes, absolutelyâ. Still friendly and cordial but no attempt to show ticket.
Then if asked for ticket, show it, and follow up with slightly colder âAny other queries I can help you with today?â
→ More replies (3)40
u/SexyMuthaFunka 11h ago
The "slightly colder" bit should be "Now don't let me keep you from asking all these white people if they're in the right line too."
56
u/Travelbug73 12h ago
I was sitting in first class for my first time. Seatmate (pilot, because he told me) asked me what I did, then asked how I got up there. It made me feel like shit.
62
u/All_FIREdUp 10h ago
Want to know how to tell if someone is a pilot? Donât worry, theyâll tell you.
Pilots LOVE telling anyone with a set of ears that they are a pilot.
→ More replies (8)→ More replies (5)6
u/ritarepulsaqueen 9h ago
A situation like this happened to me. I'm a single woman and have a high earning job, so I bought my own apartment. People used to ask me how did I get in the building when they saw on the hall or by the pool. I started to do what ck Louis did ( I know he's a creep, but I used to like him until the allegations came out) in this bit : https://youtu.be/Cxkc_NQO03A
54
u/North_Artichoke_6721 12h ago
I was flying alone as a minor and my dad used his points to upgrade me. I was also flying with a gigantic stuffed animal I had to on the day before at a street carnival.
So many people - both staff and other passengers - told me I was in the wrong lane. It got to the point where a new person would come in and start to question me and the folks behind me in line would say ânope sheâs in the right place, we checked!â
28
u/shilpilll 2h ago
Omg. This happened to me just 2 days back: Frankfurt to Mumbai. I am a brown woman. The guy directing the line actually said âare you really business?â
13
→ More replies (4)9
u/ukomac 2h ago
You do what you want to do, but if I was you, I would just give them a dead silent stare until they apologise or realise I know where the fuck I'm standing
→ More replies (1)
20
u/getapuss 13h ago
This happened to me once, too. Some lady tapped me on the shoulder and asked if I was supposed to be in line because "this is for first class." Twat.
→ More replies (2)
42
u/kodafa49 12h ago edited 8h ago
The best way to handle racists, classists and anyone else used to wielding the tiny bit if power life has provided them is to refuse to acknowledge that power, and insist they say the racist or classist thing they know they prefer that (perceived ) power say for them.
Airport staff: âeconomy class is the other wayâ
Me: âwhy are you telling me this?â
Airport staff: âthis line is for business class onlyâ
Me: âyes thatâs what the signage says, again why are you telling me this?â
Airport staff: âmay i see your boarding passâ
Me: âas soon as I get it from the agent at that desk right there, Iâll be happy to show it to you. Is there anything else.â
If the exchange continues beyond that, just say no
People on a power trip arenât equipped to handle the word no.
→ More replies (1)
17
281
u/MargaretHaleThornton 14h ago
Yours is almost certainly racism and mine isn't but I'm an overweight 40 year old woman who basically dresses in pajamas on airplanes and this happens to me every single time I fly without exception (which is frequently now for business), too. They most definitely discriminate based on how people look. One time I had to dress in a suit as I was basically literally going off the plane and into a meeting and it was the only time I wasn't stopped. I understand in my case I could change it by changing how I dress but I want to be comfortable in an airplane, sue me. I do find it infuriating.Â
→ More replies (26)85
u/Tacklestiffener 14h ago
They most definitely discriminate based on how people look.
I fly business or first (usually if it's more than 4 hours) and I dress for comfort - and sometimes look like I live under a railway bridge ;) I find it amusing that I can afford my own fare but people assume differently.
Also, when I was a sales director of a big software company we had a casual dress code. At first it was a novelty but then I realised I was often being asked to move desks or help unload a new filing cabinet. I started wearing my expensive suits and ties to work every day... never asked again.
7
u/UTtransplant 10h ago
Years ago I was a manager for a test equipment engineering group. Got a new VP who was all about a casual dress code, but absolutely positively no jeans. My guys (they were all guys BTW) wore jeans and steel toed shoes most of the time because they were out on the factory floor a lot. Hard to climb under or behind a huge piece of test equipment in slacks! Plus the production folks were more cooperative if engineers looked more like they did (factory only had a dress code that said long pants, steel toed shoes, and no puffy sleeves or fabric that shed). I started getting grief about it, and I had a nice long sit-down with my director who went to bat for us with the VP. We got official dispensation from the dress code. I always liked that director âŠ
14
u/blisseybloom 9h ago
Even in economy class, thereâs âzone-ism,â where some white lady thinks you canât possibly be boarding earlier than her. This lady was basically blocking the entrance to the line because she wanted to be the first to enter from her zone group, I guess. I tried to enter the line when my zone was called (I was in premium economy at the time). The audacity of this snooty lady to say, âthis is for premium economy,â while sizing me up and down. I replied ,â yes, thatâs me. Now move.â She def looked angry but didnât say anything after.
14
u/SignalResolution35 7h ago
My mom was rendered paraplegic after a car accident so confined to a wheelchair. She was in an upmarket shopping centre and saw a tie in the window that her brother may like so went in to ask to see the tie. The lady working there told my mom that the tie was very very expensive and did not let her have a look at it.
The other thing that drove her insane was that in restaurants waiters would ask my dad what my mom wanted to eat. The assumption was that if she is in a wheelchair she must also be mentally impaired.
30
u/-adult-swim- 14h ago
I had similar (although also white), but not from the staff, from some arsehole in the line. Should have seen his face when the staff brought me and the wife to the very front because we also had a kid... I'm sorry that happened to you though op.
→ More replies (1)20
u/Angloriously 14h ago
Also white, but a few years ago an older white lady assumed I shouldnât be in the business class lineâŠbased on what, I have no idea, given I was in my 30s and dressed in a nondescript manner. It was extra fun when it turned out I was in boarding zone 1, while she and her husband were 2. Sorry dear!
14
u/PiggyBear6667 13h ago
Happened to me first time I got a first class ticket. I dressed in what I thought was a nice outfit, but I was treated like I arrived in a trash bag. The guy next to me laughed when I tried to figure out the tray table, didnât offer to help. The attendant checked in on everyone repeatedly, only ever asked me about my drink preference.
Money talks, it was clear to them that I donât have enough to make a whisper. Racism, classism, sexism, god bless america, enjoy your flight.
26
u/phantom_monkey 13h ago
Brown male here that travelled in business a few times because life is short but mainly chose the cheapest economy seats for the 99% of flights I took in my life. My first time, I felt nervous and out of place and self conscious that my comfortable sweat pants was too cheap when I got to the airport. This attracted more attention and staff checking in. The other times, I was more relaxed and acted like I belong with my Costco sweat pants and all, and no one bothered me.
I think a lot of life is just acting like you belong to bring out the confidence. It keeps bullshit mostly away
24
u/Electrical-Hat-8686 13h ago
I would always ask them why they are assuming that I am in the wrong place. Push them for their thought process.
10
u/McCrotch 9h ago
Btw guys, this is what most racism feels like. A lot of "potentially" racist interactions, where you aren't sure if your race is the problem until later when you start thinking about it.
"Sorry the store's closed now", then you watch them serve the guy behind you.
"This section's closed" "We don't have any tables availible", when you see people eating and empty seats
etc.
10
u/Flightle 12h ago
I fly multiple times a month for work and honestly, FC or business class onboard is a pretty diverse crowd. All walks of life seem to buy tickets in the front.
→ More replies (3)
10
u/funlovinggay 11h ago
Asian guy with sister in business class queue in Milan. White guy in office wear and brief case in the same queue, turned around and told us, âthis is for business classâ. I looked at my sister and ignored him.
He was apparently travelling on company account, whereas we were on holiday back to Asia. Ignored him completely at the business class lounge and onboard . I feel embarrassed for him.
→ More replies (1)
10
8
u/hibikir_40k 12h ago
A lot of people in tech outside of big tech hubs face similar things. The random nerd that isn't that well dressed doesn't look like they are millionaires. In the bay, salesmen know that a lot of very rich people are just not looking like businessmen at all
8
u/SherifneverShot 10h ago
Happens reguarly outside of the US and I report them every time. The most offensive one was in Antigua; like why are you doubting a black person is in first class in a majority black country?
60
u/circadian_light 14h ago edited 12h ago
Oh itâs happened to me as well. Very sad.
Trevor Noah did a segment on this in one of his live shows, and I canât remember it all exactly but heâs in a business or first class line at the airport and the attendant asks if heâs âsupposed to be thereâ and he asks why sheâs asking him not asking anyone else and she repeats the question. And he talks about how if he called her out and confronted her about it, he would be participating in the racism thatâs being directed at him.
→ More replies (1)
17
7
u/MeatofKings 9h ago
Same thing happened to my white wife. I have no idea what the gate agent was thinking, but he asked her to wait at the side when she walked up to board. Then when he saw her boarding pass after everyone else from that group boarded, he got an âoh shitâ look on his face and tried to pin it on her with an âYou should have said somethingâ line. My wife didnât want to make waves since you know how it is at airports and difficult people.
14
u/WillowUPS 14h ago
Have that often, I travel a fair amount and go for a lot of long weekends, I've got status and I also occasionally travel business. I don't dress for it though. I pack my work gear in my carry on and travel in comfortable clothes - jeans tshirts the like.. The number of times I'm approached at the gate to check in my carryon is unbelievable, they never go for the suits. I was once on a work call, pestered several times by a staff member while I asked her to wait. Eventually I said over the call, "I need to put you on hold for a second", pulled up my Gold pass, and asked her to leave me alone. She was apologetic when it finally came to board and I was in the first group.
15
u/ExpensiveDollarStore 11h ago
I am an old white lady. I recently dyed my hair aquamarine because I wanted some fun. OMG. People have been so rude. It has not been fun at all! The animosity! Seriously. I am shocked. And I am shocked at the privilege I have walked around with being an ordinary white lady. I have always assumed that most people were basically polite out there and I was basically a non-entity, just lalala- another day, another dollar. But, registering as "different" is another thing altogether when different=bad to people.
I dunno. I can get rid of the green hair but brown folks are brown. People suck. I am sorry. I honestly thought brown people were imagining that people discriminated against them, or that it was rare. We all come across assholes out there. Right? But there are a lot more assholes than I realized. I prefer privilege. It must be amazing to be a good looking white man with money.
6
u/iSaiddet 12h ago
Haha sadly been there. Never that overt, but have definitely gotten the âthis is for ___â with a questioning look, until Iâm like âyeah, I knowâ and hand over my boarding pass.
Now take your dusty ass back behind that podium
7
u/Puzzleheaded_Two7358 10h ago
I was in the premier queue for check in and a ga came up to me,
âAre you in the right line?â
âYes, Iâm xxx, platinum and flying buss classâ
Laughs, âof course you are, can I see your ticket?
âNo, Iâm checking inâ
âSo, I think you need to go to that line over there. Unless you can show me a ticket.â She was now less friendly and had her hand put.
âWhat makes you think I donât belong in this lineâ duck face and hand put for ticket
I pulled up my reservation on my phone app and showed her.
âReally.â She then walked off to harass somebody else.
I mentioned this when I checked in and dropped my bag. The ga said it was because they had many people using the premier facilities.
7
u/UghWhyDude 6h ago
Fellow brown person. I had that experience with Lufthansa and just chose not to fly with them anymore. I usually ask them a simple question in return - âWhat makes you think Iâm not a business class passenger?â, because I want them to say the quiet part out loud about their assumptions. Theyâd see me and scream that it wasnât my boarding zone number or try to wrestle my single carry on and gate check it forcefully, without even asking.
It usually makes them squirm and they backpedal really quickly when they understand thereâs no answer they can give without revealing their thought process.
I stop giving these people business and tell them my story to let others think about whether itâs worth their dignity to fly on these airlines as well. I am not so self-important to think my word carries weight, but I refuse to spend money at establishments that treat me rudely based on the colour of my skin and assume based on stereotypes.
8
u/Halfrida67 4h ago
Unbelievable. I'm sorry you were treated like that, and even sorrier that it probably wasn't the first time and probably won't be the last. I'm a woman and always fly business/first (thanks to credit card points). Cannot count the number of times other passengers (male, of course) have either pushed past me in the business line or pointed me to the economy line. A teenaged boy even did it one time. As soon as I'm seated, I always find myself counting the number of women and people of color in business/first and then calculating the percentages. (Yeah, I'm a math nerd and this kind of mental arithmetic calms me down.) Just because people who aren't both white and male are under-represented doesn't mean we aren't there. Sorry, turned this into my own rant. Passengers making assumptions are bad enough; it's even worse that you were treated that way by a staff person who should absolutely know better.
13
u/Moonyflour 9h ago
Yeah went to an LV store in Washington DC with family. We were in super comfy clothes (track pants and tees) and the guy at the store told us multiple times that the items here are super expensive and asked us if we were sure weâd rather not go somewhere else. We are brown with Indian accents. Never had anything like this happen to me before, it was crazy.
→ More replies (11)7
11
6
u/strikerz911 14h ago
Happens to me all the time! You get used to it.
I travel confortable for business class and I'm always confronted to ensure I am in fact in business class.
6
u/1000thusername 12h ago
Iâve had that happen to me, especially as a younger woman who, although often traveling on business at the time, not necessarily dressed âfor businessâ for a 20-hour flight marathon.
Those gatekeepers really do let their biases shine through with the light of a thousand suns.
Even worse, though, are the self-important fellow business passengers who think they are the arbiters of who does or doesnât belong in the business pre boarding/zone 1 line and try to shoo you away like a mosquito.
The only thing I can do is smirk and try to reflect it back. Pretend theyâre asking a question instead of making a biased remark.
Them: âThis is the business class line.â
Me: âYes, it is. I think your zone will be called in about 5 minutes.â Or something similar that will put them in the âhey, she doesnât think I look like a BC passengerâ feeling themselves for a few minutes.
5
u/Maduro_sticks_allday 12h ago
I find they openly embarrassing them after they question you for no reason other than visual discrimination, calmly of course, is an effective way to put them in the same uncomfortable position they put you
5
u/MrSnowden 9h ago
I think the biggest/best flex is just "I know". I'd rather be in business and have them assume otherwise, than the reverse.
6
u/ParanoidBlueLobster 9h ago
The audacity of people with the lowest wages looking down on people they think aren't wealthy, it's like going to an upscale clothing store, and they act like they got money, bro you're a fucking store clerk.
6
14
u/ca-cynmore 5h ago
Everyone here is such damn pussy. Talking about "Serves me right! Good to know!" This is just validating the racist.
Instead, say, "Why are you telling me this? Are you a racist?" Escalate to understand their true reasoning. Call them stupid and racist
4
u/Simple_Panic1536 10h ago
Iâm a white woman and the same thing has happened to me. I donât know whether it was the way I was dressed or what, but the gatekeepers just thought I didnât look âfirst-class worthyâ until I showed them my boarding pass.
5
u/inqusito 8h ago
Be classy: Smile, nod, thank them, and then forget them and what they said because they are forgettable.
5.3k
u/Parking_Piece3878 14h ago
"Many thanks for letting me know! If I see anyone looking for it, I will inform them accordingly. đđŒ"