DYKWIA | 2019 edition
Jan 1, 2019, 4:39 am
#1
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges and Environmentally Friendly Travel
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: London, UK
Posts: 22,212
DYKWIA | 2019 edition
This thread is a continuation of the ever popular DYKWIA | 2018 edition thread.
Airports are funny places. While they are increasingly designed to both complement and positively influence human behaviour, some of our fellow passengers do on occasion suffer a complete loss of composure and/or self awareness. This thread celebrates those amusing lapses of, well, lets call it social etiquette.
Airports are funny places. While they are increasingly designed to both complement and positively influence human behaviour, some of our fellow passengers do on occasion suffer a complete loss of composure and/or self awareness. This thread celebrates those amusing lapses of, well, lets call it social etiquette.
Jan 2, 2019, 3:33 am
#2
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Mexico
Programs: BAEC Gold / Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,543
Mexico to Miami flight on AA. Guy with boarding group 9 (last of 9) arrives at the priority lane (groups 1-4). Asks why he cannot board. Is explained to (in both English and Spanish) as to why. Then asks again, and again and again to board early as he paid a couple of hundred dollars for his ticket (cheap tbh). Is explained to that he cannot board until the end group. Starts to get upset and rude with the gate agent. Keeps escalating it and explaning that it's unfair that he's boarding group 9 having paid for his ticket. Gate agent remains calm throughout. He continues to moan, getting in the way of other passengers. Says something incomprehensible in Spanish (I'm bilingual but did not pick up on what he said). Gate agent tells him clearly, "sir, sit down and be quiet or you're not getting on at all". Man sits down in corner like a kid being punished at school. I boarded and never noticed him boarding the plane, so guessing he must have been offloaded by the gate agent.
Jan 14, 2019, 6:15 am
#3
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Surrey, UK
Programs: BA Gold, *A Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 654
In the lounge yesterday, and it was pretty quiet - to the point where I was the only person in there for a good 15 minutes or so. Along comes two other guys, and plonked themselves down at the next table over from where I was sat. With it being so quiet, I could easily hear the conversation between them, especially as the DYKWIA wasn't being particularly quiet. It became apparent that one had guested the other in, as he made quite a few references to being his guest.
The conversation continued, and the guester definitely mentioned his BA Platinum card, and how it enabled him to bring as many guests as he liked into the lounge. I thought maybe he could have said Premier, and I'd misheard, until he mentioned his BA Platinum card a few more times. He was reeling off all sorts of benefits that he gets courtesy of this card: Personal concierge to arrange event tickets etc, reduced price flights (which I guess is feasible with Avios), personal escort through security when its busy, and his personal favourite was the bright orange priority tags they attached to his bag at check in - meaning he doesn't have to wait around at baggage claim, he can simply get off home and BA will forward his check luggage on to his home later in the day.
I jumped up to grab a drink and on the way back, I noticed the tag on his bag. It certainly was platinum coloured....
The conversation continued, and the guester definitely mentioned his BA Platinum card, and how it enabled him to bring as many guests as he liked into the lounge. I thought maybe he could have said Premier, and I'd misheard, until he mentioned his BA Platinum card a few more times. He was reeling off all sorts of benefits that he gets courtesy of this card: Personal concierge to arrange event tickets etc, reduced price flights (which I guess is feasible with Avios), personal escort through security when its busy, and his personal favourite was the bright orange priority tags they attached to his bag at check in - meaning he doesn't have to wait around at baggage claim, he can simply get off home and BA will forward his check luggage on to his home later in the day.
I jumped up to grab a drink and on the way back, I noticed the tag on his bag. It certainly was platinum coloured....
Jan 14, 2019, 6:28 am
#4
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Brexile in ADB
Programs: BA, TK, HHonours, Le Club, Best Western Rewards
Posts: 7,067
Was it another silvery coloured metal perchance?
Jan 14, 2019, 6:52 am
#5
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Mexico
Programs: BAEC Gold / Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,543
Platinum is a chemical element with symbol Pt and atomic number 78. It is a dense, malleable, ductile, highly unreactive, precious, silverish-white transition metal. Its name is derived from the Spanish term platino, meaning "little silver"
Wikipedia couldn't have put it any better...
Wikipedia couldn't have put it any better...
Jan 14, 2019, 7:08 am
#6
Join Date: Nov 2004
Programs: BA GGL, LH FTL
Posts: 3,578
Some of the benefits come as part of Amex Platinum - maybe he was referring to that? That also includes priority pass and I believe CX Sapphire?
Jan 14, 2019, 7:11 am
#7
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: WAW ✈ LHR ✈ GLA
Programs: BA GfL/GGL/CCR, HH Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 2,498
Jan 14, 2019, 9:12 am
#8
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Munich, Algarve, Sussex or S.F Bay Area
Programs: Mucci, BA Gold, A3*Gold, AA Plat, HH Gold, IHG Plat Amb, Marriott Plat
Posts: 4,163
I have a (non BA) Amex Platinum and did recently receive a nice platinum luggage tag with a platinum coloured leather sleeve. Of course, all of those benefits might be available to the passenger if he is prepared to pay for them.
Jan 14, 2019, 9:43 am
#9
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: UK
Programs: BA Blue, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond
Posts: 303
I really hope the guy actually believes that to be the case, and would love to see the customer service rep's face when he calls to ask when his luggage is being delivered.
Jan 14, 2019, 10:03 am
#10
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 7,233
Well, if Platinum guy was 3 and referring to the bright orange RTAD tag on his stroller/buggy then he would be partially right and, if he considered the "node" of a gate to be his home, he'd be fully right!
Jan 14, 2019, 11:26 am
#11
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Surrey, UK
Programs: BA Gold, *A Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 654
Certainly was!
He definitely mentioned BA Platinum - and his bag tag had the familiar looking blue ribbon on it. Although I guess its not entirely out of the question that he has both and is simply mixing and matching the benefits.
He definitely mentioned BA Platinum - and his bag tag had the familiar looking blue ribbon on it. Although I guess its not entirely out of the question that he has both and is simply mixing and matching the benefits.
Jan 25, 2019, 2:48 am
#13
Join Date: Nov 2017
Programs: BA, Hilton
Posts: 2,091
One from last weekend, evening flight from LHR up to GLA.
Pre-boarding announcement made and we all dutifully traipse into our allocated group lanes, at which point nothing happens. Announcement made that boarding is going to be delayed, greeted with the expected general groans. It's clear that something is amiss, but the gate staff don't seem to have all the details. Shortly thereafter it is announced the inbound aircraft has a passenger with a medical issue and we can't board until an ambulance arrives to assist the passenger with disembarkation. Most people accept these things happen, and are probably grateful they are not the ones waiting on medical assistance.
Except for one middle aged lady who seems to take these turn of events as a personal affront. She constantly complains while we are waiting, and when in due course we land at GLA (only 30 mins behind schedule) by the time I've stood up in Row 1 as the belt sign goes off, she has already rushed passed me to collar the Purser and starts to grill him about the delay and the passenger. The Purser (who was excellent as an aside) was professionally non-committal in his responses, saying that he only knew as much as she did and that a female passenger had taken ill, and obviously they had to ensure she was OK.
At which point Mrs DYKWIA delivers her parting shot: "Well, I hope she realises how much inconvenience she's caused us all"
Pre-boarding announcement made and we all dutifully traipse into our allocated group lanes, at which point nothing happens. Announcement made that boarding is going to be delayed, greeted with the expected general groans. It's clear that something is amiss, but the gate staff don't seem to have all the details. Shortly thereafter it is announced the inbound aircraft has a passenger with a medical issue and we can't board until an ambulance arrives to assist the passenger with disembarkation. Most people accept these things happen, and are probably grateful they are not the ones waiting on medical assistance.
Except for one middle aged lady who seems to take these turn of events as a personal affront. She constantly complains while we are waiting, and when in due course we land at GLA (only 30 mins behind schedule) by the time I've stood up in Row 1 as the belt sign goes off, she has already rushed passed me to collar the Purser and starts to grill him about the delay and the passenger. The Purser (who was excellent as an aside) was professionally non-committal in his responses, saying that he only knew as much as she did and that a female passenger had taken ill, and obviously they had to ensure she was OK.
At which point Mrs DYKWIA delivers her parting shot: "Well, I hope she realises how much inconvenience she's caused us all"
Jan 25, 2019, 3:10 am
#14
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Glasgow
Programs: BAEC Silver, Sixt Platinum, HHons Diamond
Posts: 927
One from last weekend, evening flight from LHR up to GLA.
Pre-boarding announcement made and we all dutifully traipse into our allocated group lanes, at which point nothing happens. Announcement made that boarding is going to be delayed, greeted with the expected general groans. It's clear that something is amiss, but the gate staff don't seem to have all the details. Shortly thereafter it is announced the inbound aircraft has a passenger with a medical issue and we can't board until an ambulance arrives to assist the passenger with disembarkation. Most people accept these things happen, and are probably grateful they are not the ones waiting on medical assistance.
Except for one middle aged lady who seems to take these turn of events as a personal affront. She constantly complains while we are waiting, and when in due course we land at GLA (only 30 mins behind schedule) by the time I've stood up in Row 1 as the belt sign goes off, she has already rushed passed me to collar the Purser and starts to grill him about the delay and the passenger. The Purser (who was excellent as an aside) was professionally non-committal in his responses, saying that he only knew as much as she did and that a female passenger had taken ill, and obviously they had to ensure she was OK.
At which point Mrs DYKWIA delivers her parting shot: "Well, I hope she realises how much inconvenience she's caused us all"
Pre-boarding announcement made and we all dutifully traipse into our allocated group lanes, at which point nothing happens. Announcement made that boarding is going to be delayed, greeted with the expected general groans. It's clear that something is amiss, but the gate staff don't seem to have all the details. Shortly thereafter it is announced the inbound aircraft has a passenger with a medical issue and we can't board until an ambulance arrives to assist the passenger with disembarkation. Most people accept these things happen, and are probably grateful they are not the ones waiting on medical assistance.
Except for one middle aged lady who seems to take these turn of events as a personal affront. She constantly complains while we are waiting, and when in due course we land at GLA (only 30 mins behind schedule) by the time I've stood up in Row 1 as the belt sign goes off, she has already rushed passed me to collar the Purser and starts to grill him about the delay and the passenger. The Purser (who was excellent as an aside) was professionally non-committal in his responses, saying that he only knew as much as she did and that a female passenger had taken ill, and obviously they had to ensure she was OK.
At which point Mrs DYKWIA delivers her parting shot: "Well, I hope she realises how much inconvenience she's caused us all"
Jan 25, 2019, 6:13 am
#15
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Silver
Posts: 88
One from last weekend, evening flight from LHR up to GLA.
Pre-boarding announcement made and we all dutifully traipse into our allocated group lanes, at which point nothing happens. Announcement made that boarding is going to be delayed, greeted with the expected general groans. It's clear that something is amiss, but the gate staff don't seem to have all the details. Shortly thereafter it is announced the inbound aircraft has a passenger with a medical issue and we can't board until an ambulance arrives to assist the passenger with disembarkation. Most people accept these things happen, and are probably grateful they are not the ones waiting on medical assistance.
Except for one middle aged lady who seems to take these turn of events as a personal affront. She constantly complains while we are waiting, and when in due course we land at GLA (only 30 mins behind schedule) by the time I've stood up in Row 1 as the belt sign goes off, she has already rushed passed me to collar the Purser and starts to grill him about the delay and the passenger. The Purser (who was excellent as an aside) was professionally non-committal in his responses, saying that he only knew as much as she did and that a female passenger had taken ill, and obviously they had to ensure she was OK.
At which point Mrs DYKWIA delivers her parting shot: "Well, I hope she realises how much inconvenience she's caused us all"
Pre-boarding announcement made and we all dutifully traipse into our allocated group lanes, at which point nothing happens. Announcement made that boarding is going to be delayed, greeted with the expected general groans. It's clear that something is amiss, but the gate staff don't seem to have all the details. Shortly thereafter it is announced the inbound aircraft has a passenger with a medical issue and we can't board until an ambulance arrives to assist the passenger with disembarkation. Most people accept these things happen, and are probably grateful they are not the ones waiting on medical assistance.
Except for one middle aged lady who seems to take these turn of events as a personal affront. She constantly complains while we are waiting, and when in due course we land at GLA (only 30 mins behind schedule) by the time I've stood up in Row 1 as the belt sign goes off, she has already rushed passed me to collar the Purser and starts to grill him about the delay and the passenger. The Purser (who was excellent as an aside) was professionally non-committal in his responses, saying that he only knew as much as she did and that a female passenger had taken ill, and obviously they had to ensure she was OK.
At which point Mrs DYKWIA delivers her parting shot: "Well, I hope she realises how much inconvenience she's caused us all"
I don't know how this lady missed it because it was obvious that most of tour group were visually impaired and were accompanied by friends/carers who were assisting them. Lady continued to moan to me (or other people in the vicinity) so I just said "I think they just needed some assistance in boarding." Either she just didn't notice or she didn't care.
Mrs DYKWIA on your GLA flight definitely falls into the latter group.