US Airways Dividend Miles (Pre-FlightFund Merger) - Youngest CP?

Increasingly frequent comments about how I "can't possibly be a Chairman's Preferred" because I'm not an "old bald guy in a suit" from US employees has got me wondering: how old are the youngest CPs? How many under 30? Under 25? What about US2 or US3? I would hope US looks at this kind of info to determine marketing strategies, etc., but figured this board might have some anecdotal info if nothing else.
Thanks!

Made CP at age 18, now 19 and regularly questioned by agents/FAs about my status ("How come you're not 50 years old? Where's the grey suit?")

22 here, and while this is my first year as a US1, I have been a US2 since I was 17.

Well, I suppose that's a good thing. Since they haven't acquired a taste for gin and vodka yet it'll leave the limes for us old geezers. :D

US2 @ 20, made US1 @ 21. Questioned all the time, carded for drinks.

I am currently 22 and US3, give me till the end of July and ill be US2. Id love to be US1 by the end of the year, but....I think im gonna be a few short. :( Even as a US3 i get funny looks, maybe it has to do with the fact that I look 4 years my junior.

US 1 - 27

and I get issues about it all the time, asking how old I am for drinks, once on a transatlantic flight they asked if i was using my Dad's status.

They should go through an age sensitivity training class.

US2 & US3 since I was 21, made US1 two years ago at 26

Just turned 31 :eek: Made US 2 and AA Plat at 29. US 3 since 27. AA/TW 3 since 25. Still get carded for drinks.

Yay! I'm so glad I'm not alone! Made US1 when I was 23, and while most US employees are great about it (just a few humorous comments and the occasional carding for drinks) other pax could certainly use some "age sensitivity training."
The best in when I'm "cut" in line, pushed out of the way by some stodgy self-important old man. When I politely ask what the hell he thinks he's doing I get the "They called First Class" response. Then he realizes he's sitting next to me for the next 3 hours. :cool:

^ that has happened to me so many time, it kinda cracks me up. Or the looks older coach passengers give you as they board the flight, like why the hell is he sitting there.

I have a friend who always tells me, and I think he is right, that in terms of trying to meet people on planes or when traveling, that you are better off in coach, or in the regular hotel bar since most people in F or clubs or hotel club lounges are older, etc. This leads to a secondary question I suppose which is is travel a good place to "meet people.

I have a friend who always tells me, and I think he is right, that in terms of trying to meet people on planes or when traveling, that you are better off in coach, or in the regular hotel bar since most people in F or clubs or hotel club lounges are older, etc. This leads to a secondary question I suppose which is is travel a good place to "meet people.


I do think that coach passengers are more chatty. I, for one, do not usually talk to my seatmate.

The youngest CP I know is in his early 20s (but looks 16) flying out of my home airport. The local agents are friendly, but he has encountered bewildering looks, etc elsewhere. Quite common is the GA asking, "Are you flying on your father's card?" and the FA asking, "May I help you find your seat?" as he's getting ready to sit down in front. Worse, he's been told, "That bathroom is only for 1st/Envoy pax only" by FAs who do not take the time to recognize their Cabin pax . He wrote once to CA to complain, but nothing really changes.....

Aaah, the joy of being older and portly......at least FAs recognize that we belong up front :) I once had a FA come up to me asking if I could break a big bill, and I asked, "Why me?". Well, she replied, "Honey, you look like the type with money...." Ha!

As I noted in the earlier CO thread at http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=48208 , I don't think I know any top-tier elites over 30.

My 20 year old daughter was a US3 at 17 and has been a US2 for the past 3 years. She has been challenged by both flight attendants, "Honey, you gotta move, that's a first class seat" and the Philly Mainline types who make rude comments as they go to their seats in the back. She makes certain her boarding pass is within easy reach until the doors are closed.

US3 at 19, US2 at 21 now for 2 years running. Will get it again this year. Almost all travel is paid for by me (not my parents). I've never been given a hard time by anyone working for US when sitting in first. A couple passengers have walked by me and made comment about how spoiled I must be having Daddy pay for First Class. My friends give me a bit of hell, but then they walk by me with drink in hand.

Interesting note about the carding process, I was never carded when I was under 21. It wasn't until I was over 21 that I was carded, and now it happens on almost every flight where I order a drink. As for the gin and vodka comment, I love gin, hate vodka. But I still use up some of your limes.

I'm 34, but can pass for mid-20s. I once had a TSA agent at PHL try to point me in the direction of the regular security line as I was entering the Preferred security line.

I could have made SP or UA Premiere when I was in my mid 20s, but I was stupid, & didn't consolidate my travel on one airline.

My son was comped as a US3 when he was 8 year old as the result of all the travel (including Hawaii) we did on TWA when we lived in St. Louis. I was a US2 at the time. He was extremely proud :D of his card and showed it whenever we flew. You can imagine the looks he got when he showed it. :eek:

I can imagine the looks the family will get from other pax next month when we burn our DM miles to fly to LGW in First and Envoy en route to a Scandinavian cruise. ;)

I made US3 at 15. And YES I alwayyyys got remarks and looks from flight attendants. Flight attendants used to look at me and wonder, and of course, I always heard the grumbles as other pax made their way back to coach, and the looks as if I was out of place, and I still do occasionally. Now I'm a bit older and get less of the looks and grumbles, but occasionally I still get some of that from flight attendants.

If we still get 1.5x EQM for C class tickets on LH, my 3 year old son will be US2 by the end of 2004 (at which time he will be 4 years old).

First made it at 23. I was once commented by a CSR at the Club that she had never seen a CP this young...

I guess it is good that I am not the only one and there are plenty who made CP younger than I was. :)

I'm 30 but look 18. I totally agree that everyone needs age sensitivety training (FAs, gate agents, passengers, etc.). They can be plain rude at times-especially the older couples (in their 60s on up) who run you over because they have first class tickets. They always ask me what rich family I'm from (like I'm Paris Hilton or something!). When I explain to them that I booked coach and was upgraded (at no additional cost), they freak out because they paid some crazy $2,000 fare to be there. :D

GP right now at 29. Been either Silver or Gold since I was 22.......

US3 at 19. US2 at 19. US1 at 20.

I'm 22 and am a GP thanks to lots of transcon travel for work, a couple of weekend mileage runs, and the DM Visa triple miles promo. I've got 94,000 YTD preferred miles in my account right now so will easily make CP by the end of the month.

Fortunately, I look older and usually dress business to business-casual when flying, so no one has ever seemed surprised that I'm a Gold and/or US Airways Club member at my young age.

graduated hs and college early, started consulting at 20, made cp

Well, I suppose that's a good thing. Since they haven't acquired a taste for gin and vodka yet it'll leave the limes for us old geezers. :D

I don't know about that. I've been putting a dent in the supply of First Class gin for almost 20 years and I'm only in my early 40s. :)

I don't know about that. I've been putting a dent in the supply of First Class gin for almost 20 years and I'm only in my early 40s. :)

I'm forty too but reading all these posts about "kids" making CP in their late teens and early twenties makes me feel old.

P.S. Save me some of that gin, I need something to wash down my Geritol.

I'm forty too but reading all these posts about "kids" making CP in their late teens and early twenties makes me feel old.

P.S. Save me some of that gin, I need something to wash down my Geritol.

Save me some Jack and vodka instead. I'm also 40 and was riding upfront since the late 80s. I used to get lots of dirty looks from those old codgers riding up front on full fares, whereas I'd be upgraded on (at the time) roach coach fares.

I don't fly as much as I used to (only SP now). I'm glad to see we have a group of young studs carrying on the tradition. :)

I don't fly as much as I used to (only SP now). I'm glad to see we have a group of young studs carrying on the tradition. :)

Let's not start being sexist now too! ;) To be female, 24, and getting called up from coach for the last upgrade seat on flight with a plane full of businessmen is pretty 'studly'. If looks could kill...

I think Maineflyer16 has the record...he was 16 when he GOM'ed his way to the top as a US1.

I became US3 at 22, US2 at 24 & 27 & 28. Looks like back to US3 for 29 :(

I still get the old people "FC shove" in the jetway now and then, mostly out of PHL. What's the big rush, we can't leave until everyone is seated!

What get's me is the people who turn down the isle, look at their seat assignment on their BP and then look at the row markers. Like 24B is going to magically appear in the front!

I was a co silver at 17 and become gold at 18.Im now a us 2 at 20 and yes I get the your too young to be an elite comment alot :)
-howie

I first made DL Gold @ 21. Then, I "wised up" and made US2 @ 22. US1 @ 23,24,25,26,and this year, @ 27. Will be lucky to make US2 for next year.
I am working on DL Platinum for this year. Seems I've come full circle...

US3 at 21, US2 and US1 at 22. Didn't learn the pleasure of free airplane alcohol till after I became American elite, so USAirways got away easy while I was elite and sitting in first :)

I earned "Priority Gold Plus" status at 25 the hard way--had to fly 50,000 actual butt in seat miles (segments didn't mean squat).

My account balance erupted to 1,000,000 by 28. I received a nice set of tan leather luggage tags (one large and one small) in the mail stamped with "US AIR MILLION MILE TRAVELER" along with a letter signed by someone important. I recall the luggage tags arriving in 1996 shortly after Delta started recognizing million milers. I think US was reacting to what DL did. My understanding is that US hasn't recognized this elite group of customers since this one-time mass mailing in 1996.

Interesting note about the carding process, I was never carded when I was under 21. It wasn't until I was over 21 that I was carded, and now it happens on almost every flight where I order a drink. As for the gin and vodka comment, I love gin, hate vodka. But I still use up some of your limes.

Has anyone seen a passenger carded in F? Never have, personally.

Has anyone seen a passenger carded in F? Never have, personally.


No.

As I previously stated, I am 22 but look 19, so I have on several occasions been asked if I was old enough, but it usually seemed as if the FA didn't really care one way or another. Sometimes the FAs will say something like "As long as you're old enough" or "You are 21, right." The FAs have always been friendly and kind about asking, and they have always taken my word for being old enough, never asking for ID.

In fact, on one ocassion, when I was not yet 21:

Upon requesting a rum and coke the FA asks "Are you at least 21?"

Stupid me says "No."

FA says "Sorry, I did not hear that. I am going to ask again, this time just nod. Are you at least 21."

I reply "Yes, of course, just had a birthday" :D



So based on my limited experience, I have never been carded in F.

Has anyone seen a passenger carded in F? Never have, personally.

Yes, I'm 24 but depending on the time of day can look from 17-21. Half the time they actually ask for the card and the other half they just want me to reconfirm that I'm at least 21.

Were both US3 at age 3 and 6--

But the circumstances were not so nice, it was because their grandfather got ill and later died in Germany, so we had several trips over that year

They got 2 years with of upgrade coupons (the good old days) and the whole fam sat Envoy for 2 trips the next year....

AHHHH

Im 35, US2

Cheers!

Has anyone seen a passenger carded in F? Never have, personally.

I have seen this happen one time.

Has anyone seen a passenger carded in F? Never have, personally.

It's only happened to me twice, and I've never seen anyone else carded. The most recent was just last week on my way to LAX. I gave her the "you must be kidding" but nonchalently obliged. The guy next to me gave me the often heard "one day you'll appreciate looking young for your age..."

The guy next to me gave me the often heard "one day you'll appreciate looking young for your age..."

He's right!

Does the FAA mandate a minimum drinking age on airplanes? Or is it stricly company policy?

Certaintly, state law doesn't apply because it's completely preempted.

I'm curious. :cool:

Does the FAA mandate a minimum drinking age on airplanes? Or is it stricly company policy?

Certaintly, state law doesn't apply because it's completely preempted.

I'm curious. :cool:

Of course; it's in their contract of carriage, that they are not allowed to serve alcoholic beverages to anyone under age 21. But on international flights, the drinking age is determined by the country in which the carrier holds its contract of carriage. Say on British Airways, the drinking age on flights is 18, because that's the legal age in Britain.

I think Maineflyer16 has the record...he was 16 when he GOM'ed his way to the top as a US1.

Indeed, I've been doing mileage runs since 16. A trip to Chicago, San Francisco, and Seattle got me there in the summer/fall of 2002.

Made CP at age 18, now 19 and regularly questioned by agents/FAs about my status ("How come you're not 50 years old? Where's the grey suit?")

Hey bring your young blood to Lincoln Financial Field on August 7th for RoachFEST '04. Food, Fun & a chance to meet US Airways Management.

Look for details at www.us-cockroach.com very soon

US3 at 24, US2 at 25, and US1 just this week at 27, all of it being tickets I pay for. It would have happened a few years earlier had I not been in a relationship with someone that never wanted to travel.

Never been carded, and never been questioned when I go to a seat. I find it odd that others get a question because I always show up with a big traveling backpack and throw it into the overhead, many times wearing a t-shirt and shorts, and unshaved for the past several days.

I made US1 when I was 23 5 years ago and I've had it ever since. Was also Platinum on AA for a while.

I made US3 at 15 US2 at 16 and US1 at 17. After a while the agents in SDF recognized me and started treating me better. I have always had problems with agents in PIT about my status they always seem to think i must be under my Dad's FF # (He's US4) I also still get told constantly things like these overheads are for F pax only or "sir you need to go to the lav in the rear of the aircraft" I've even had a few FA's want to see my BP when I sat down in my F class seat. As I've gotten a little older (I'm 18) it has gotten better though on my last flight the FA inquired to whether I was old enought to sit in an emergency exit. I would be interested in exchanging stories with other young US1's,2's, or 3's e-mail me... lcoope3@lsu.edu
---SDFlyer