Age discrimination when flying in premium cabins?
#16
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: TPA
Programs: AAdvantage 2 million, Marriott Gold
Posts: 960
I was once told by the AA staff at YYZ that this is the business class line. And I replied...good, then I'm in the right line.. I'm 30ish but was traveling with a back pack..I was dressed not to bad..white running shoes, jeans(no rip)& report. Maybe it was the back pack I love to travel light
#17
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2005
Programs: Delta Diamond, Marriott Ambassador & Lifetime Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, United Silver
Posts: 6,334
I can understand what the O.P. is trying to convey here. If I'm in a suit or blazer sans tie I usually don't have much trouble as it conveys some respectability and authority. If I'm casual, I'll be addressed as "Hunny" or "Young Man" by various airport and airline workers while others are "Sir" or "Mr. So and So." I also notice flight attendants (can I please call them stewardesses or stewards?) in first-class won't take your jacket or coat if you're not wearing a sport jacket, blazer or suit jacket. At least that's my experience -- and it's the rule, not the exception for me.
I get upgraded as a Delta Medallion about 55-60% of the time and I find, based on these experiences, the first-class service to be only significantly better perhaps 30% of the time. The service in the other 70% of my experiences are either on par, worse or only marginally better than economy (a.k.a. steerage). I always enjoy the very odd flight when the captain comes out before embarkation and thanks the first-class passengers. This has happened twice since January. Two other flights the captain was at the boarding door greeting each and every flight. Another flight the captain walked the aisle and shook everyone's hands in both cabins.
I get upgraded as a Delta Medallion about 55-60% of the time and I find, based on these experiences, the first-class service to be only significantly better perhaps 30% of the time. The service in the other 70% of my experiences are either on par, worse or only marginally better than economy (a.k.a. steerage). I always enjoy the very odd flight when the captain comes out before embarkation and thanks the first-class passengers. This has happened twice since January. Two other flights the captain was at the boarding door greeting each and every flight. Another flight the captain walked the aisle and shook everyone's hands in both cabins.
#18
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Scotland - ABZ
Programs: Qantas LTG, BA-Blue, KLM -Gold, SAS - Silver
Posts: 2,053
We definitely need to introduce anti-glaring legislation. This kind of discrimination is intolerable. You may mock, but that's because you've never been GLARED at.
#19
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Central California
Programs: Former UA Premex, now dirt
Posts: 6,531
#20
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: PHX
Programs: AA Peon Gold
Posts: 2,915
I was once told by the AA staff at YYZ that this is the business class line. And I replied...good, then I'm in the right line.. I'm 30ish but was traveling with a back pack..I was dressed not to bad..white running shoes, jeans(no rip)& report. Maybe it was the back pack I love to travel light
It's always amusing to have someone walk up behind you in line and have them tell you to "get out of their way, they're in first class" and then you end up sitting next to them in first. I'd be lying if I said hadn't offered a smug, condescending smile to them as I sat down next to them once or twice.
That's really a display of ignorance on their part, as if flying first class is still some of sort status symbol only for the rich and powerful.
#21
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: SFO
Programs: AA, UA lowly commoner
Posts: 780
Boy, there are a lot of mind-readers on this board, able to intuit the malevolent thoughts and psychological motivations of others based only on their "glaring" facial expressions. Kind of reminds me of the time my boss told me that I must be having insubordinate thoughts at a meeting, based on the fact that I wasn't smiling.
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Portland
Posts: 11,569
One of the best threads in Flyertalk, ever, is on this very subject:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/conti...ing-elite.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/conti...ing-elite.html
#23
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Sydney Australia
Programs: No programs & No Points!!!
Posts: 14,222
I was once told by the AA staff at YYZ that this is the business class line. And I replied...good, then I'm in the right line.. I'm 30ish but was traveling with a back pack..I was dressed not to bad..white running shoes, jeans(no rip)& report. Maybe it was the back pack I love to travel light
#24
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Sydney Australia
Programs: No programs & No Points!!!
Posts: 14,222
I love being glared at as I sit in my fancy seat with economy passengers streaming past me to go back to row 2045. That glaring means folks are envious!!!!
#25
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: PHL / NYC / PSA-BLQ
Programs: AA PPRO, Marriott/Hilton Gold, AMX-Plat, Global Entry
Posts: 3,107
It's been a long time since I was in this category but I did start flying (>100k per year) when I graduated college at 20 (in the late 70's). We flew first for business, I traveled with a stack of AA Airchecks (blank tickets you could fill out at the gate).
I may just have been oblivious but I never felt any reaction or difference because of my age (part of it was the FA's were a lot younger then - closer to my age). I guess the oddest moment was when I went to dinner in California with some clients and we had drinks. I was a little nervous as I was still a few months under CA's 21 drinking age but I didn't get proofed (it would have been a little embarrassing).
I may just have been oblivious but I never felt any reaction or difference because of my age (part of it was the FA's were a lot younger then - closer to my age). I guess the oddest moment was when I went to dinner in California with some clients and we had drinks. I was a little nervous as I was still a few months under CA's 21 drinking age but I didn't get proofed (it would have been a little embarrassing).
#26
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2005
Programs: Delta Diamond, Marriott Ambassador & Lifetime Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, United Silver
Posts: 6,334
Now Delta's are mostly moms and grandmothers. The few young ones (under 35) typically aren't that attractive, either. What's with obese flight attendants on small planes? Talk about extra weight and higher costs.
#27
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: PHL / NYC / PSA-BLQ
Programs: AA PPRO, Marriott/Hilton Gold, AMX-Plat, Global Entry
Posts: 3,107
And the under 35 crowd weren't even in diapers
I looked young for my age back then, too. Which is still working for me though - I'm in my later 50's but most people think I'm in my early 40's.
#28
Join Date: May 2012
Location: DCA
Programs: AA EXP Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 229
Age discrimination when flying in premium cabins?
Nothing beats the looks my 2 young kids get when they are occasionally sitting in first, not sure if the looks are envy or dismay...especially by those who felt their upgrade didn't clear because a couple kids took 'their' seat... I wanted to get my kids T-shirts that said WFBF