Looking Young & Being MileagePlus Elite [2015]
May 31, 2015, 9:14 am
#91
Join Date: Oct 2008
Programs: UA 1K, 1MM
Posts: 504
so anyway the experience in this thread seems to indicate - it is pretty much random - somewhat based upon how you dress. sometimes.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; May 31, 2015 at 12:41 pm Reason: Response to OT quote deleted
May 31, 2015, 10:18 am
#92
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Planet Earth
Programs: | *G | STE | HGP ♦ | SPG Au | MR Au
Posts: 3,772
but another observation is:
FT-er Kids: OMG! This sucks! Why are my rights infringed upon! Stop treating me like a kid!
FT-er Oldies: Sheesh, KIDS! Worked up over such trivia matters. I wish I looked 10 years younger.
grass is always greener on the other side.
May 31, 2015, 10:40 am
#93
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 2,881
I profile based on how lost you look.
If you're standing at a self-service kiosk with a boarding pass from home, looking at me like you're annoyed that I'm not walking over to you, then I'll assume that you're not an elite flyer.
If you've managed to find the clearly marked bag drop location with your boarding pass, then I'll assume you either have your .... together, or you fly often.
If you're standing at a self-service kiosk with a boarding pass from home, looking at me like you're annoyed that I'm not walking over to you, then I'll assume that you're not an elite flyer.
If you've managed to find the clearly marked bag drop location with your boarding pass, then I'll assume you either have your .... together, or you fly often.
May 31, 2015, 10:51 am
#94
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: California
Programs: UA GS MM SPG Platinum (Lifetime Platinum)
Posts: 428
It could just be you.
My first year as a 1K I was in my late 20s but very fit and young looking I felt like I didn't fit in. Mind you these were the years when my UDU success was nearly 100%. 7 consecutive 1K years later at 35 (no longer so svelte) I feel a little eye contact and friendliness lets them know you aren't a rookie.
I was flying home from Glasgow to Newark on a F class ticket and I was exhausted wearing sweatpants and a baseball cap and boarded late and the FA's were in the hallway when I tried to turn left, I simply gave them a nice bit of eye contact and they knew i was turning left for a reason...
My first year as a 1K I was in my late 20s but very fit and young looking I felt like I didn't fit in. Mind you these were the years when my UDU success was nearly 100%. 7 consecutive 1K years later at 35 (no longer so svelte) I feel a little eye contact and friendliness lets them know you aren't a rookie.
I was flying home from Glasgow to Newark on a F class ticket and I was exhausted wearing sweatpants and a baseball cap and boarded late and the FA's were in the hallway when I tried to turn left, I simply gave them a nice bit of eye contact and they knew i was turning left for a reason...
May 31, 2015, 11:44 am
#95
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: WAS
Programs: UA 1K MM | Marriott LTT | National Car EE
Posts: 694
I've seen some things, mind you, that give an old curmudgeon like me pause:
Like the time I had a skateboarder speed past me in the international terminal at SFO wearing a full arctic parka (Army issue?), with the fur-lined hood and everything, even though it was very hot. He looked like he hadn't bathed or shaved in weeks. In my mind, I labelled this kid as a "skate punk", and was amazed that it was not only legal to bring your skateboard on an international flight (to NRT, I found out later), but that you could ride on it to your gate without fear of repercussions. When I got to bottom of the escalator, there he was in the front of the Group 1 line, and the GAs were fawning all over him. Since he boarded with the GSs, I assumed he was such. Behind him in line was an older, perhaps 65, gentleman who looked very distinguished and important, and who was wearing a nice suit and a very expensive Blancpain watch. [.....]
Like the time I had a skateboarder speed past me in the international terminal at SFO wearing a full arctic parka (Army issue?), with the fur-lined hood and everything, even though it was very hot. He looked like he hadn't bathed or shaved in weeks. In my mind, I labelled this kid as a "skate punk", and was amazed that it was not only legal to bring your skateboard on an international flight (to NRT, I found out later), but that you could ride on it to your gate without fear of repercussions. When I got to bottom of the escalator, there he was in the front of the Group 1 line, and the GAs were fawning all over him. Since he boarded with the GSs, I assumed he was such. Behind him in line was an older, perhaps 65, gentleman who looked very distinguished and important, and who was wearing a nice suit and a very expensive Blancpain watch. [.....]
as yet another sport/lifestyle market, there's more money in skateboarding than people realize in which you'll see these folks traveling with some frequency.
the industry definitely supports travel. 2 years ago I was flying PDX -> IAH and my seat mate was another scruffy pro skater for Nike Skateboarding flying down in paid F to SJO for demos and photo/vid ops. i guested him and his traveling buddy into the Term E UC when our delayed flight into IAH caused misconnects. anyway if you take a look at the US based SB print and online media, there is nearly constant coverage of outside of US scene, spot and competition reports. the market is ever growing in different locations around the world, and the US based pro skaters (and their funders/sponsors execs who generally are skaters too, but i think that's shifting) are there to promote and drive local sales at these destinations, and support domestic media consumption interest such as through the competitions and photo/vid ops.
for this guy, it's not really being young, but the perception that the guy is a ne'er-do-well. especially if skating through a terminal in an army parka, i'm sure they may expect to be treated differently by the GAs, et al, but they prolly don't give a ____, as skating still has at its roots an outsider/rebel philosophy. doesn't mean they aren't making money though.
on the other hand, my observation is that there are more ex-pat kids growing up with itinerant parents who pick up skateboarding as an activity because you don't need a team in order to participate. for these kids, mix in some teenage angst, rebellion and need for identity and here's your lucrative sport/leisure industry that's partially funded by an already international crowd that's already traveling.
May 31, 2015, 11:45 am
#96
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 304
I think part of the problem is that passengers and airline personnel too often have their fangs out and, in a weird way, look forward to a confrontation so they can "win" it.
I think the public in general look for "gotcha" moments too often. There's probably some psychology about personal satisfaction with one's life somewhere in all this.
I think the public in general look for "gotcha" moments too often. There's probably some psychology about personal satisfaction with one's life somewhere in all this.
May 31, 2015, 12:25 pm
#97
Join Date: Jul 2007
Programs: UA Silver
Posts: 794
Why was I wearing that or why would I have worn something different? Because if I had known I would have been sitting up there, I would've dressed a little nicer so I'm not perceived as a child who doesn't belong there, for all the reasons discussed in this thread. If you're asking why I was wearing that in the first place, then that doesn't deserve a response.
Why?
May 31, 2015, 12:56 pm
#98
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Anchorage, Alaska
Programs: MVP75K, UA Gold,
Posts: 99
Okay I can't feel sorry for you. If you asked like that around me I would think you were a POS and come to the defense of the counter employyee. You're the jacka** that gives the FA, GA and other United employees bad impressions of us younger elites.
Oh and nice subtle brag that you fly 150k miles for leisure.
Oh and nice subtle brag that you fly 150k miles for leisure.
Why I am the jackass when she tried to prevent me from entering before asking me a question vs. just saying Hi, this is for 1K/GS are you one of these premier members?
Having switched to AS I have never once had a bad experience with any of their employees and in return I am very polite to them.
May 31, 2015, 1:19 pm
#99
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Ewa Beach, Hawaii
Posts: 10,909
I don't feel sorry for being treated that way nor do I feel sorry for them. I'm stating my experiences. The point of adding in the leisure part was to explain why I wear sweatpants.
Why I am the jackass when she tried to prevent me from entering before asking me a question vs. just saying Hi, this is for 1K/GS are you one of these premier members?
If the GA's continue to assume and not be courteous upon greetings then I will match their incorrect assumptions with similar remarks.
Having switched to AS I have never once had a bad experience with any of their employees and in return I am very polite to them.
Why I am the jackass when she tried to prevent me from entering before asking me a question vs. just saying Hi, this is for 1K/GS are you one of these premier members?
If the GA's continue to assume and not be courteous upon greetings then I will match their incorrect assumptions with similar remarks.
Having switched to AS I have never once had a bad experience with any of their employees and in return I am very polite to them.
Just because you get an attitude towards you does not mean you have to give attitude back at them. That is just immature. Smile back and say you are 1K (or whatever), show your boarding pass and move on. All being nasty back at them does is make the situation worse. I have seen an attitude change just because I smiled and was polite.
May 31, 2015, 2:10 pm
#100
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,188
If you encounter a bad attitude from an agent because of your young look or down-dress, this same agent is probably going give other people hard time because of other reasons. Races, luggage, food, loud talking...etc, you name it.
It is the awful customer service culture of United to be blamed.
It is the awful customer service culture of United to be blamed.
May 31, 2015, 2:39 pm
#101
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: United Global Services, Amtrak Select Executive
Posts: 4,098
Why was I wearing that or why would I have worn something different? Because if I had known I would have been sitting up there, I would've dressed a little nicer so I'm not perceived as a child who doesn't belong there, for all the reasons discussed in this thread. If you're asking why I was wearing that in the first place, then that doesn't deserve a response.
May 31, 2015, 4:01 pm
#102
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Houston
Programs: UA GS 2.6MM & Lifetime UC, Qantas Platinum, Hilton Lifetime Diamond, Bonvoy Platinum, HawaiianMiles
Posts: 8,694
I got told at UC that all the other people with lifetime memberships are super old. Good times. Maybe because LT membership was (thankfully) GRANDFATHERED in (I had purchased lifetime PC membership back in the CO days). Pun intended. Have a nice day.
May 31, 2015, 4:45 pm
#103
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton ♦ , Hyatt Carbonado, Wyndham ♦, Marriott PE, "Stinking Bum" elsewhere.
Posts: 4,998
any idea who this scruffy guy was? =)
as yet another sport/lifestyle market, there's more money in skateboarding than people realize in which you'll see these folks traveling with some frequency.
the industry definitely supports travel. 2 years ago I was flying PDX -> IAH and my seat mate was another scruffy pro skater for Nike Skateboarding flying down in paid F to SJO for demos and photo/vid ops. i guested him and his traveling buddy into the Term E UC when our delayed flight into IAH caused misconnects. anyway if you take a look at the US based SB print and online media, there is nearly constant coverage of outside of US scene, spot and competition reports. the market is ever growing in different locations around the world, and the US based pro skaters (and their funders/sponsors execs who generally are skaters too, but i think that's shifting) are there to promote and drive local sales at these destinations, and support domestic media consumption interest such as through the competitions and photo/vid ops.
for this guy, it's not really being young, but the perception that the guy is a ne'er-do-well. especially if skating through a terminal in an army parka, i'm sure they may expect to be treated differently by the GAs, et al, but they prolly don't give a ____, as skating still has at its roots an outsider/rebel philosophy. doesn't mean they aren't making money though.
on the other hand, my observation is that there are more ex-pat kids growing up with itinerant parents who pick up skateboarding as an activity because you don't need a team in order to participate. for these kids, mix in some teenage angst, rebellion and need for identity and here's your lucrative sport/leisure industry that's partially funded by an already international crowd that's already traveling.
as yet another sport/lifestyle market, there's more money in skateboarding than people realize in which you'll see these folks traveling with some frequency.
the industry definitely supports travel. 2 years ago I was flying PDX -> IAH and my seat mate was another scruffy pro skater for Nike Skateboarding flying down in paid F to SJO for demos and photo/vid ops. i guested him and his traveling buddy into the Term E UC when our delayed flight into IAH caused misconnects. anyway if you take a look at the US based SB print and online media, there is nearly constant coverage of outside of US scene, spot and competition reports. the market is ever growing in different locations around the world, and the US based pro skaters (and their funders/sponsors execs who generally are skaters too, but i think that's shifting) are there to promote and drive local sales at these destinations, and support domestic media consumption interest such as through the competitions and photo/vid ops.
for this guy, it's not really being young, but the perception that the guy is a ne'er-do-well. especially if skating through a terminal in an army parka, i'm sure they may expect to be treated differently by the GAs, et al, but they prolly don't give a ____, as skating still has at its roots an outsider/rebel philosophy. doesn't mean they aren't making money though.
on the other hand, my observation is that there are more ex-pat kids growing up with itinerant parents who pick up skateboarding as an activity because you don't need a team in order to participate. for these kids, mix in some teenage angst, rebellion and need for identity and here's your lucrative sport/leisure industry that's partially funded by an already international crowd that's already traveling.
He looked like "Noodles" of The Offspring from 20 years ago, with the geek glasses but also sporting a short stubbly beard and short, punkish hair.
May 31, 2015, 6:33 pm
#104
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: WAS
Programs: UA 1K MM | Marriott LTT | National Car EE
Posts: 694
I should have asked the Purser who he was but I am not a nosey person, and I figured he deserved his privacy. He must've been big in Japan, because at least half of the pax that wanted pictures with him were Japanese.
He looked like "Noodles" of The Offspring from 20 years ago, with the geek glasses but also sporting a short stubbly beard and short, punkish hair.
He looked like "Noodles" of The Offspring from 20 years ago, with the geek glasses but also sporting a short stubbly beard and short, punkish hair.
for me, i haven't stepped on a board for at least 5 years, probably more. most of my colleagues are surprised when i tell them of my checkered past as a skateboarder... i just say i've cleaned up well.
May 31, 2015, 7:58 pm
#105
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: MRY - CNX - TXL
Programs: UA 1K / *G / Marriott PE / Expedia Gold+ / Hertz PC
Posts: 7,058
Why was I wearing that or why would I have worn something different? Because if I had known I would have been sitting up there, I would've dressed a little nicer so I'm not perceived as a child who doesn't belong there, for all the reasons discussed in this thread. If you're asking why I was wearing that in the first place, then that doesn't deserve a response.