What does an F passenger look like? Here are some examples.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/blackwy...7603637694275/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/blackwy...7603695181748/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/blackwy...7603858958249/

That's me in SQ, LX and TG.

Now, I didn't look like a typical F passenger. Most seemed to be either in suits or wearing expensive looking leisure clothes, and to be older than me. I guess most didn't have a straw hat or a backpack. But I knew I didn't look like a typical F passenger so I tried to pre-empt any misunderstandings. When people asked me at the F desks which class my ticket was, I replied First Class in a neutral tone, but made eye contact and smiled (not smirked - I was conscious that I was consuming a luxury product in a poor part of the world). Obviously this wasn't what people expected, but I'd hardly call it a reaction of jaws dropping. They simply thought I was in the wrong queue, found I wasn't, and offered perfectly friendly and hospitable service . Except on TG where the cabin crew were surly, but that didn't seem to mark me as being different from any other F passenger.

In terms of lines to get on, I just waited my turn like anyone else. If people wanted to push in, fair enough. I knew that I would have enough locker space and would have a comfortable seat and a drink soon enough.

I didn't get any adverse reaction from other pax, but I hope I was a good and thoughtful fellow passenger. And in terms of cabin crew, on SQ and LX, the cabin crew quickly identified me as someone who was out for a good time without being offensive and set out to deliver a very special experience that I would remember. They seemed to like having a stray from the back...

On SQ, they even posed for me:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/blackwy...7603695181748/