Originally Posted by ESpen36

I agree with iplaybass. When you are flying F, if you look young, I recommend going to a little extra effort to LOOK THE PART. Agents are expecting to see older people and professional-looking people traveling in F. If you show up looking like a college kid (i.e. jeans, t-shirt, birkenstocks, backpack, etc), the agents might treat you as such, even if you are EXP or flying F. It sounds like the OP encountered this kind of profiling. It's not right, but unfortunately that's the way it is. They see hundreds/thousands of people every day in their jobs, and they start to develop a sense of who "looks right" to be flying in F.

I am in my 30s and look like I am in my late 20s. When I was in my 20s, I looked like a teenager. I ALWAYS still dress up a bit to fly....collared shirt, khaki pants (never shorts), dress shoes (never sneakers). Sometimes a blazer if I'm traveling to/from a place like Europe or Asia where dress standards are more conservative.

Of course, nothing you wear can replace good manners. The OP behaved impeccably in this situation, and the GA looked silly in front of a huge line of pax. I think that is punishment enough for the GA.