How Can AC employees tell that you have Altitude Status?
Aug 4, 2019, 3:51 pm
#347
Join Date: Mar 2019
Programs: Aeroplan
Posts: 91
on BA a number of years ago they called for “a doctor of medicine” though my favourite part was shortly after they called that the live maps all showed our destination switch from Heathrow to Iceland before they announced it
Last edited by colombianbrew; Aug 4, 2019 at 3:57 pm
Aug 4, 2019, 4:10 pm
#348
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 492
In some regions “physician” is specialist internist rather than a surgeon for example. My fave story is someone I knew who was an ER doc 25 years ago had a pt collapse with tension pneumothorax and he fashioned an intercostal drain and cannula from a (metal) coat hanger, oxygen tube and a plastic bottle of water on a BA EU flight. 20 something woman, made it home just fine. You need a surgeon or ER doc for that not an internal medicine doc I suspect. 
Aug 4, 2019, 4:13 pm
#349
Join Date: Nov 2018
Programs: AC 50K
Posts: 199
And in order to stay on topic.... I think all of the post-nominals/titles, I think they're a hold over from an era when everyone was address by their title. But those are only my thoughts.
On the other hand, would it be a breach of privacy if they identified the status holder's age? That being said I've never been challenged with AC, even though I am on the younger end of the spectrum...don't know if that's a blessing or a curse...
Aug 4, 2019, 4:22 pm
#350
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: AC E35K, NEXUS
Posts: 4,368
I'm not that kind of doctor, but I worked in healthcare for some time, and I do recall more references to "physicians" than "doctors", even when discussing a larger group that included surgeons. And I'm not sure a surgeon (knowing why FAs page for medical help) hearing that page is going to say, oh, well then they must need an internist. I will stay here and watch the end of PBMC. If FA was concerned that would be the case, they could ask for a "physician or surgeon" then. But I don't think the FA is qualified to determine you're going to need coat hanger surgery, and I would think a dermatologist is better than a PhD of Chinese literature, which is the point of discussing requests for a "doctor". My 2c.
Aug 4, 2019, 4:25 pm
#351
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Ideally YOW, but probably not
Programs: AC SE*MM
Posts: 1,822
Just go with my approach; guy in 40s with Tumi rollbaord and laptop bag stacked on top, tired with a resigned look on your face. Even when I am travelling in shorts and a tshirt (usually) they see you coming from a mile away ;-)
Aug 4, 2019, 4:40 pm
#352
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE100K, Bonvoy Platinum Elite, IHG Gold, Hertz 5*
Posts: 2,132
That's pretty much my look, down to the same brand of bag - but I haven't reached 40s yet. I look about 74 though...
Aug 4, 2019, 6:24 pm
#353
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: LAX
Programs: AC SE, UA S, Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 270
I’m in my early 30s but look a bit younger, and usually fly in jeans and hoodie (I work for a record label so this is business attire for me). Routinely at LAX in the Priority line, I get “Sir this line is for business class and elites” to which I usually reply “I sure hope so” and stand there awkwardly until they pull up my PNR and realize I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be. Haven’t really run into this issue at other stations, just LAX.
Last edited by recreationaltimetraveller; Aug 4, 2019 at 6:37 pm
Aug 4, 2019, 7:34 pm
#354
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, BA Gold, SQ Silver, Bonvoy Tit LTG, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,302
I’m in my early 30s but look a bit younger, and usually fly in jeans and hoodie (I work for a record label so this is business attire for me). Routinely at LAX in the Priority line, I get “Sir this line is for business class and elites” to which I usually reply “I sure hope so” and stand there awkwardly until they pull up my PNR and realize I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be. Haven’t really run into this issue at other stations, just LAX.
Aug 4, 2019, 8:04 pm
#355
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
Programs: UA*1K MM
Posts: 23,293
There are also assumptions made based on skin colour. My (Colombian) wife and I have been SE for most of the last 10 years and we've experienced this first hand, on Air Canada as well as other airlines. When my wife is travelling on her own and takes her seat in J she will sometimes have the FA ask to see her BP "just to make sure you're in the right seat". That's never once happened to me. I don't think it's a coincidence - she just doesn't look, to some people, like she should be travelling in business.
Especially young, dressed comfortably, white wives.
My wife has flown on 50+ airlines with and without me, and the only time(s) this has ever been an issue is during AC boarding.
Like you can't possibly be zone 1!
Aug 5, 2019, 5:00 am
#356
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 492
I'm not that kind of doctor, but I worked in healthcare for some time, and I do recall more references to "physicians" than "doctors", even when discussing a larger group that included surgeons. And I'm not sure a surgeon (knowing why FAs page for medical help) hearing that page is going to say, oh, well then they must need an internist. I will stay here and watch the end of PBMC. If FA was concerned that would be the case, they could ask for a "physician or surgeon" then. But I don't think the FA is qualified to determine you're going to need coat hanger surgery, and I would think a dermatologist is better than a PhD of Chinese literature, which is the point of discussing requests for a "doctor". My 2c.
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...rticle/2719313
Aug 5, 2019, 3:52 pm
#357
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: YYZ / LHR
Programs: AC SE100k
Posts: 262
I was flying TATL a few years ago on AA, and was amazed/impressed that they played a special video on all the video monitors asking for medical professionals to identify themselves to the cabin crew. Made me realize that medical emergencies must happen with some significant frequency for AA to invest in a special in-flight video to ask for medical assistance.
Aug 7, 2019, 12:11 am
#358
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Vancouver / Los Angeles
Programs: AP Altitude E75K
Posts: 30
I’m in my early 30s but look a bit younger, and usually fly in jeans and hoodie (I work for a record label so this is business attire for me). Routinely at LAX in the Priority line, I get “Sir this line is for business class and elites” to which I usually reply “I sure hope so” and stand there awkwardly until they pull up my PNR and realize I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be. Haven’t really run into this issue at other stations, just LAX.
I am in my mid-30's working in tech and fly out of LAX several times each month. This happens almost EVERY SINGLE TIME. Rarely does this happen elsewhere.
Aug 7, 2019, 7:16 am
#359
Moderator, Air Canada; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: YYC
Programs: AC SE MM, FB Plat, WS Plat, BA Silver, DL GM, Marriott Plat, Hilton Gold, Accor Silver
Posts: 16,742
The only place I've really been hassled by AC staff, come to think of it, is at the priority check-in area at YYZ, since they put up that plastic barrier to funnel people in past a screening staff member, where I've had a couple of slightly snooty people comment that this was priority/ask whether I was meant to be there.
I get it from PAX too. Got a 4 minute lecture in the Z1 line at YUL from an upgraded E35 - it included how I was likely in the wrong line, how I could never know as much about the pains of air travel as him etc. Then his wife pointed out my SE tag to him and he got a little awkward.
In truth though, I don't get challenged often. I believe this is due to my hairline and waistline performing opposite phenomenons at the same time.
Very true. My wife is an ER nurse and had an amusing experience on a flight a few years ago where a lady needed medical attention and a middle-aged dermatologist attempted to deal with the situation. It took her longer than it should have to realized that she was not actually very well qualified to handle it and leave my wife to it, but eventually she figured it out.
Jan 3, 2020, 4:24 pm
#360
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: Aeroplan, Amex AeroPlat
Posts: 977
I look anywhere around early 20’s to 30’s (depending on if I have makeup), female and ... Asian.
The number of times I have been “profiled” by AC staff... let me count the ways:
1. FA stopped me from exiting when it’s my turn, thinking I was a PE passenger, told me to wait for business class passengers to exit first... while I sat in 2K the entire trip.
2. When boarding, thought I was with a guy who had two young kids who were boarding before me.
3. MLL lounge staff told me in no uncertain terms that I could not bring my toddler into the lounge without paying a guest fee. I was star alliance G and traveling on points. The lady emphasized the guest fee was $30 or $40 whatever it was. I sighed and left without arguing with her, we went plaza premium and no issues.
Shrugs. I for one would never pay cash for AC J. However my work has an AC-only policy for overseas travel so I don’t care long as I’m not poisoned on the flights.
The number of times I have been “profiled” by AC staff... let me count the ways:
1. FA stopped me from exiting when it’s my turn, thinking I was a PE passenger, told me to wait for business class passengers to exit first... while I sat in 2K the entire trip.
2. When boarding, thought I was with a guy who had two young kids who were boarding before me.
3. MLL lounge staff told me in no uncertain terms that I could not bring my toddler into the lounge without paying a guest fee. I was star alliance G and traveling on points. The lady emphasized the guest fee was $30 or $40 whatever it was. I sighed and left without arguing with her, we went plaza premium and no issues.
Shrugs. I for one would never pay cash for AC J. However my work has an AC-only policy for overseas travel so I don’t care long as I’m not poisoned on the flights.