ginger_lord

Was once asked to "return to my paid cabin" when visiting a friend on the UD 747, admittedly was the first time I'd ever flown CW so asked what they meant and after showing my boarding pass they were very apologetic.

Only other incident was a YYC flying back to LHR with my wife and had to desk staff get up and come have a word with us to make sure we're in the right place. Showed her the mobile boarding pass with 1A/1C and she was very pleasant after.
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Often get looks when going into the business check in queues as I'm often alone and 20 years younger than everyone else in the queue.

KeaneJohn

Davvidd

I had a couple of incidents. One was on QR from DOH to YUL. I was decently dressed in that long pants and long sleeve Polo shirt but also joining from a connecting flight. They called for business class boarding and I had queued up as the line was going through and when it came to me the guy turned around and said we are boarding business class from this line and took the boarding card of the guy behind me. Not only was I on business class but a gold on QR at that time. I said I am in business class and he looked at it and gave a reluctant sorry.

Another incident a few years back when KL was flying the 747 3 class. From Atalanta to AMS I was sitting in 3A in the first. At boarding they had no issue, check my boarding card and told turn left and 3A is on the right. I always sit there when I am flying. Sat there and put my hand luggage up and then another FA comes and asks me where is my seat? I said 3A, Then she insisted on checkin my board card before she would let me sit there. I did complain and the Captain did come and apologize to me.

The worst I saw was to another passenger. This was at Swiss counter at Zurich. They had the business counter and the first class counter next to each other. Me and a colleague were at the business counter when an old African gentleman who wore a crumpled suit looked as if he does not know where he was and what he was doing. He was fiddling inside his jacket trying to get out his ticket or whatever he was trying to get out. He found himself in front of the first class counter. The staff observed him for a while and then tapped on the counter top and when he looked up at her, pointed to the Sign above which had "First Class" on it and told him "first class only". He pulled out a first class ticket and put it on the counter. I just could not help burst out laughing.

SF1K

IntVic

After 7 years of BAEC membership, I have just reached Gold but I refuse to use the gold bag tags... I prefer to be pre-judged than feel like a d#*k-head. (I am not saying those who use them are... it is just how they make me feel).

LCY8737

MarkFlies

And isn't there a certain pleasure in being pre-judged and then trumping the staff member with your shiny card/boarding pass? I mean that's what this thread is all about. Having the gold cards hanging off would deprive you of that.

T8191

Personally we’re happy to be Gold-tagged and thus avoid embarrassing the staff.

SkyTeem

I don't mean this in an argumentative way, but "what about staff embarrassing the customers?"

lost_in_translation

I hereby submit this entire thread as an entry in the "DYKWIA thread"!

adrianlondon

Well, at least we have an answer. "No."

T8191

Oh, indeed, of course they shouldn’t. “Think before you speak” would be a good mantra, although perhaps difficult when thousands pass your work-station every day.

I know we’re challenging, being in our 70s and thus inevitably deemed semi-senile or at best incompetent! But at least we dress ‘smart-casually’ (but appropriately!) and try to demonstrate to the unknowing that we know what we’re doing, and are at the right place and at the right time. Add the Gold bag-tags and we seem largely (although not exclusively) immune to these awkward interventions.

trb10

I had a bizarre experience on LH in May travelling from LHR-SIN via FRA. Never flown from Heathrow before but was flying 1st. Go to terminal 2 and ask an agent there how I check in, she tells me all economy passengers should use self check in. I explain I'm in first class, she still tells me I have to check in via the machine. Get to the lounge, ask for the code to the Senator lounge and am told it's only for status holders or 1st class passengers. I explain I'm flying 1st, she double checks my BP and apologies profusely and escorts me to the lounge and even picks me up for boarding!

The other strange thing was flying home, sat on the tarmac at Singapore and decide I want to see what premium economy looks like so head down the stairs of the A380. I'm immediately reprimanded by CSD for a) using the stairs as I shouldn't be and b)Should stick to my own cabin. I explain I was just curious and wanted to see what a PE cabin looks like and she replies "Why would someone in first class want to see premium economy? I can assure you your seat is far better!"

Cw novice

As mentioned elsewhere I had this in LUX last year. Arrived early for the first flight to get breakfast.

Usual flying attire of shorts t-shirt etc.

Desk Agent looks up and says that they're only open for CE/Status at this time. With a smile I replied that was row 2 not in CE today. We both took it in good humour.

Opposite in LHR last summer needed to check in a bag, self serve was chokka so trying to find the club desk at the south end. Same attire but the opposite reaction. Club desk had a massive queue but on spotting the silver tag a Customer Service agent opened up a desk just for me. Part of me was somewhat embarrassed, the other glad I didn't have to wait half an hour.

lorcancoyle