Recent experiences with F9as Diamond:

BUF-MCO

Friendly ground crew. 2 hours delay due to late incoming plane and also because they wanted to fill the last two seats with standby pax 🙄 (1.5 hr real delay and half an hour delay by F9 basically to make a few more bucks) No board first, just the elite military etc.

Had stretch seating at booking. Very friendly crew, had a nice chat with the i/c. Captain also friendly, a bit too much! let kids take photos inside the cockpit and all before t/o. It did give me a bit of flashbacks of SU593 though to be honest.

Luggage took a good 40 minutes to come out at MCO which was terrible.

MCO-BUF

Friendly ground staff at bag drop. On time boarding and early departure. No board first, just elite and military etc. Had stretch again at booking. I checked my roller carry on so I was left with what would be considered my personal item. As I tried to put my “personal item” up in the overhead one of the FAs told me to put it under the seat for now till all the rollers are onboard. I was a bit confused as to why is she asking me this. I said no of course and that as a Diamond I have the benefit of over head included. She backed off eventually after a few rounds of us arguing. It was truly off putting. But just before departure it dawned on me what had happened. She obviously thought that’s my personal item. Later in the flight I went up to her and shared my hunch and she confirmed my suspicions and asked if I had paid for a carry on. So I explained again that as a Diamond I get 2 checked bags and a carry on and I often just check the carry on. The 💡 finally went off and she thanked me for explaining it all. I overheard later one of the other girls asking her something and she responded she truly thought it was my personal item. Couldn’t fault her for trying to keep the overheads empty for rollers but she could have approached it a bit differently I think without upsetting both of us.

Early arrival by about 10 mins. Bags were out in less than 20 mins. at BUF.