Attitude/presumption from ground staff about travel class (check-in; lounges)
Apr 8, 2018, 10:34 am
#122
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: SAV/HHH
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold (current GGL), HH Diamond
Posts: 1,293
I think part of the problem at JFK is the CCR is the first lounge that CW pax and Golds see when they are using the premium security line. I reckon its been 50:50 whether the person in front of me at the CCR desk gets redirected to the Galleries lounge, so 'travelling First?' isn't an illogical question from the staff. I wouldn't read too much into them asking.
While I have had my presence challenged, I've never thought of it as a barrier.
The attitude staff might have is not directed at me, it's directed at people who are pretending to be me. So when I heard someone challenge my presence, I'm mentally thinking, "Good, I'm in the right place".
Which is of course the best retort.
The attitude staff might have is not directed at me, it's directed at people who are pretending to be me. So when I heard someone challenge my presence, I'm mentally thinking, "Good, I'm in the right place".
Which is of course the best retort.
I don’t take it personally,,and I fully expect that anyone in the wrong queue should be sent to the correct queue. Done properly,,this questioning is a time saver for people who have misinterpreted the requirements.
I have less patience with the DYKWIA passengers who take on this role for themselves.
Apr 8, 2018, 12:01 pm
#123
Join Date: May 2016
Location: London/Frankfurt
Programs: BAEC Gold, Hyatt Gold
Posts: 181
Quite so. I never get dressed up for a first date. Who cares about other people? It's all about me. But when you are as ugly as I, you really need to put your glad rags on :-)
Apr 8, 2018, 12:31 pm
#124
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 189
There's a difference between dirty, tattered, and/or disheveled, and dressing how you feel.
To me it's more about treating people with respect and behaving the way you should behave. If I treat you with respect, you treat me with respect regardless of my class of travel and my attire.
Maybe it's a cultural difference between the posters and flight attendants, but I really don't see this as an issue. When I've received bad service I think it had more to do with poor work ethic and training than any judgment on the part of the service worker. A smile, thank you, and maybe a box of chocolates form the store beside the gate go a long way.
To me it's more about treating people with respect and behaving the way you should behave. If I treat you with respect, you treat me with respect regardless of my class of travel and my attire.
Maybe it's a cultural difference between the posters and flight attendants, but I really don't see this as an issue. When I've received bad service I think it had more to do with poor work ethic and training than any judgment on the part of the service worker. A smile, thank you, and maybe a box of chocolates form the store beside the gate go a long way.
Apr 8, 2018, 2:16 pm
#125
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: York, UK
Programs: BAEC Gold, Honors Diamond
Posts: 1,183
I feel like we need to conduct some science experiments here. Vary parameters for apparent age, dress, and airport, seeing who gets challenged while using First Wing, CCR, Group 1 boarding and turning left on the aircraft.
I volunteer to fly between LHR and JFK in F twice a day for a week, can we get 3-5 more volunteers so we can round out the gender+age variables?
Does anyone know a good foundation that can fund this study?
I volunteer to fly between LHR and JFK in F twice a day for a week, can we get 3-5 more volunteers so we can round out the gender+age variables?
Does anyone know a good foundation that can fund this study?
Apr 8, 2018, 4:16 pm
#126
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Flatland
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold 1MM, BA Gold, UA Peon
Posts: 6,105
It's always interesting to see which places judge on appearance when that's a bad idea. Some places have a high population of people with money and even with power who dress very casually - not even expensive-casual, but don't-care-casual - and treating people badly based on their dress is poor business sense. Some people have very poor business sense.
BA, at least on their home ground, tend not to have poor business sense. For example, the First Wing entry guardians will welcome anyone without much presumption, and turn away the suited yet ineligible equally politely. The CCR guardians are also fairly unjudgemental. Cabin crew, also, tend to treat you much the same regardless of dress. Iberia in Madrid aren't so smart.
Some shops in Knightsbridge will entirely ignore you if they think you're not dressed well enough. No sane establishment in San Francisco will do that - have you seen how Mark Zuckerberg dresses, for example?
I always feel you can rate the business-smarts of any enterprise by whether it is that shallow or if it actually has decided to welcome all customers who are good for their business.
BA, at least on their home ground, tend not to have poor business sense. For example, the First Wing entry guardians will welcome anyone without much presumption, and turn away the suited yet ineligible equally politely. The CCR guardians are also fairly unjudgemental. Cabin crew, also, tend to treat you much the same regardless of dress. Iberia in Madrid aren't so smart.
Some shops in Knightsbridge will entirely ignore you if they think you're not dressed well enough. No sane establishment in San Francisco will do that - have you seen how Mark Zuckerberg dresses, for example?
I always feel you can rate the business-smarts of any enterprise by whether it is that shallow or if it actually has decided to welcome all customers who are good for their business.
Last edited by flatlander; Apr 8, 2018 at 4:37 pm
Apr 9, 2018, 7:03 am
#127
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: ANR, BELGIUM
Programs: DIAMANTAIRE EXTRAORDINAIRE
Posts: 453
Had an issue once at jfk lounge,
Presented my boarding pass which clearly mentioned Ba Gold. The gate agent demanded to see my passport. Which I presented. Didn't wanna make a scene. But imo speaks highly of the lowly Ba service !!
Presented my boarding pass which clearly mentioned Ba Gold. The gate agent demanded to see my passport. Which I presented. Didn't wanna make a scene. But imo speaks highly of the lowly Ba service !!
Apr 9, 2018, 8:00 am
#128
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: New York, NY
Programs: BAEC Gold, Delta Platinum, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, AMEX Platinum (US)
Posts: 18,486
I've travelled enough with BA to know it speaks nothing to their service because it's never happened to me at any lounge.
The only time I've had someone ask for my passport outside of the regulated checks was when there was a mix-up and someone had been issued a boarding pass for my seat, that I was already sat in.
The only time I've had someone ask for my passport outside of the regulated checks was when there was a mix-up and someone had been issued a boarding pass for my seat, that I was already sat in.
Apr 9, 2018, 8:03 am
#129
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,881
otherwise, like Fraser, I have never been asked for my passport merely to access any lounge.
Apr 9, 2018, 9:03 am
#130
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Edi
Posts: 2,203
It's always interesting to see which places judge on appearance when that's a bad idea. Some places have a high population of people with money and even with power who dress very casually - not even expensive-casual, but don't-care-casual - and treating people badly based on their dress is poor business sense. Some people have very poor business sense..........................
Apr 9, 2018, 10:35 am
#131
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Philadelphia
Programs: Rapid Rewards, AAdvantage,
Posts: 120
Good lord, when we went to the dealers to buy my Boxster, the salesman insisted on addressing all responses to my questions to my husband. I nearly got up an walked out. It was only when he realised that I was serious about leaving AND my husband told him that I would take the deal elsewhere that he changed his manner and tone. Couldn’t have been more grovelling after that.
So don’t pre-judge women either.
Apr 9, 2018, 12:15 pm
#132
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: ANR, BELGIUM
Programs: DIAMANTAIRE EXTRAORDINAIRE
Posts: 453
Was not a document check , already had checked in jfk-lhr-bru & had my boarding passes.
It was after the check in & security.
This was at the jfk t7 Ba lounge.
I was dressed appropriately in jeans & a shirt .
It was a guy at the lounge not a lady.
When I presented my boarding pass pass looked down at me & then asked for the passport.
It was after the check in & security.
This was at the jfk t7 Ba lounge.
I was dressed appropriately in jeans & a shirt .
It was a guy at the lounge not a lady.
When I presented my boarding pass pass looked down at me & then asked for the passport.
Apr 9, 2018, 12:22 pm
#133
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,881
Was not a document check , already had checked in jfk-lhr-bru & had my boarding passes.
It was after the check in & security.
This was at the jfk t7 Ba lounge.
I was dressed appropriately in jeans & a shirt .
It was a guy at the lounge not a lady.
When I presented my boarding pass pass looked down at me & then asked for the passport.
It was after the check in & security.
This was at the jfk t7 Ba lounge.
I was dressed appropriately in jeans & a shirt .
It was a guy at the lounge not a lady.
When I presented my boarding pass pass looked down at me & then asked for the passport.
Apr 9, 2018, 12:37 pm
#134
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: LHR, LGW
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 3,409
if it the MIA lounge too. Both asked to see my passport. I thought nothing more of it.
Apr 9, 2018, 3:20 pm
#135
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: Seniors Bus Pass
Posts: 5,528
are you sure she wasn't doing a document check? they do these at check in, but if it isn't done there they will do it at the lounge. Usually involves a quick swipe of the passport to update the system.
otherwise, like Fraser, I have never been asked for my passport merely to access any lounge.
otherwise, like Fraser, I have never been asked for my passport merely to access any lounge.
