Today I took my stepdaughter and her lap child baby to the airport. I am a 1K and she was flying on her 1K dads miles.
I had checked her in at home and paid for the 1st checked bag online.

We arrive at the UA ticket counter - she checks the bag ( 42.5 pounds - no problem there) and the car seat.

/RANT ON

She also had a stroller ( to be gate checked); a carry on and a personal item. Oh yes and the baby. I ask for a gate pass. Nope cant do that. Pull out the 1K card and ID and ask again. Sorry she is not disabled you cant go to the gate with her.

Ok I'm a FT'er, I get to the gate with her . At that point ( the flight is full and she is in boarding group 4 I suggest that she take her carryon and get a gate check tag for it ). WE go to the podium and ask for a gate check tag for the bag and the stroller. The agent ( whom I have seen many a time before as this is my home airport and its a fairly small one) YELLS at her that she should have checked the bag.
Me- its a legal carryon ( 21 inch roller). If you wish her to slow up boarding by having to have it taken on the plane because all the bins are full I am sure that is fine, but we just thought to make life easier on all.
Agent- You should have checked the bag .
Me - Fine , can I have the stroller tag then.
Agent - here is the stoller tag and one for the bag.

As she is boarding and having difficulty getting everything ( so yes as a 1K with free checked luggage I would have checked it - but as a GM having paid for 1 bag that was enought for "mom"). The other gate agent starts yelling at her that she should have checked.

At this point mom pulls out the 1K card and says I'm sorry but can you please let her just get on and stop holding up the line. Other passengers actually told her to go ahead of them ( as one said - we are all getting to XYZ at the same time anyway).

If UA wants to keep not only its status passengers but its general population a little common courtesy would not hurt.

Rant over