It looks like someone at CO is tracking who is young and elite ---just got a happy birthday letter from them (albeit almost a month late) and they thanked me for flying with them as a CO Platinum.

But no birthday gift was inside http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

Is it possible we have fathers and sons with the same names flying on the same One Pass number

FYI, the receptionists at the P-Clubs do not check IDs for pax entering with an Amex platinum, presumably because they also have to show a boarding pass, and that's enough to verify identity (since the ID was checked 3 times in the security line). "Real" P-club members don't have to show the boarding pass (but you know that).

This could potentially explain the "discrimination" you've experienced.

PS, I'm 29 and have been elite about 5-6 years, and have never encountered this discrimination, when either dressed in a suit or shorts & a t-shirt.

Perhaps they think you are an unaccompanied minor?

Great point! This whole thread made me wonde what it's like 2B Black & elite (& maybe young 2 boot!) Especially when boarding in parts of the world with a strong history of racism?

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Play the travel game 3 vacations into the future!

Seriously, I favor the comeback offered above: "Great! (Nice to know) I'm in the right place!"

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Play the travel game 3 vacations into the future!

Well had a slight encounter today heading back to college after break back home...was on US 183 PHL-DEN...dropped off at the airport allright, and headed in to use the e-ticket machines to check in...for whatever reason the machines wouldnt let me check in so I moseyed on over to the First/Preferred line to deal with a real agent...there was about 4 people ahead of me, and 1 agent working, which made it somewhat slow but not intolerably slow...first, the guy that was 2 people ahead of me was a coach non-elite pax, and the agent sent him away to the coach line without checking him in, then the guy in front of me headed to the podium. There was no one else behind me at that moment but a lady was entering the line, and the agent stared at me and stated "Ladies and Gentlemen, this line is for First Class and Dividend Preferred members only" without looking away. Im sure my dress attire of an Eagles #2 David Akers jersey and Eagles hat (it was game day and I had to show my football colors of course) didnt help, and I felt the guy was being just a little discriminating with that...needless to say he checked me in without a word...'

N674UW

Sometimes it's appropriate to reinvigorate these classic threads to spice up our board a little bit and to get some new comment on people's experiences.

Well I don't have elite status on the airlines, but I do speak Fluent French, and am a HH gold member. I just turned 20 last week.

I was on a delta/air france flight from ORD-CDG. I tried to upgrade using delta miles, and was told that was not possible, then I tried my Air France miles, I was short of 20,000 miles, but the flight was overbooked in coach. I spoke French to the nice French check in lady, et voilà, I got an op-up to coach. Got rejected in the lounge in Chicago, they knew it was an op-up, but I got a lot of comments from other passangers in coach, what is that guy doing in Business...etc. I was like, because I know how the system works. After I got to Chicago, I used my business boarding pass to get into the Air France lounge, not a problem. The flight was great, even got extra Godiva Chocolates for my girl friend.

Lots of surprising looks at the Hilton Palmer House had a guaranteed upgrade to Junior Sweet and came as a gold. A lot of people gave me strange looks in the lounge, one even asked the attendant if the elvater was keeping non executive floor members from the lounge. The suites aren't all on the top floor. All that for a $67 studio room rate. Wonder what will happen when I go to the Cavalari Hilton in Rome, being a 20 year old gold staying there for a week on points.



Timo

That's what it's all about! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

I've been platinum with CO since i was 15 (am now 21) and will remain so for life. I just recently broke 1m with AA, so we'll see how much weight that gives with them in the future...

In my experiences, CO has always treated me with respect & dignity from day one. I don't particularily dress-up to travel, but travel so much that i know many of the crews and airline personel quite well.

Added, a smile and a warm demeanor can do wonders for HOW people treat you. Long ago when i was Silver & Gold, i scored some serious confirmed upgrades at the gate (over Platinum at times) just for a good attitude. It works, trust me.

I suppose the only time i experienced any ageism when flying was my one & only time on Air France's Concord. I was sitting in the first cabin (which some say is the 'most exclusive') and the F/A asked to see my boarding card. She just seemed hellbent on sending me to the back of the jet.

I just shrugged it off. You must realize that some people are BORN JERKS. It's not worth expending energy, stooping to their level and acting just as childish.

Karma will eventually take its toll on them anyway... Always does.


Chi

I had a similar Concorde experience. I decided to book a flight soon after the retirement announcement. I was 27 at the time, but I look quite a bit younger. I decided to go and booked the flight with BA. I went the cheapest way possible: JFK-LHR in a 744, and back on Concorde. I'd figure the lounge experience in LHR would be better than JFK. Anyway, during the whole flight, I got sub-standard service from the crew. After my meal was served, they waited quite long after I was done with the food to retrieve the service items. I made a small request to one of the FA, and he had forgotten about it. When I reminded him of the request, he seemed quite annoyed. They also forgot to collect my order form for the in-flight goodies that they did not have on board.

Of all things I expected, which was superb service from the cabin crew, since that was one of the things that flying Concorde was famous for, I was disappointed. I had great service and attitude, from check-in to the lounge. Even saw Paul Simon in the lounge and took a "sneak pic" of him reading. The Molton spa was great, and the people there served me without attitude, and responded very nicely to all my requests. I requested a shower, followed by a back massage, and everything was perfect. I felt like I was treated as I should flying on a 4000 dollar ticket. The only exception was the inflight service. Anyway, enough of my rant, that was probably the 1st and last time for me on BA anyway.

It seems wrong to me to question someone just because of his age. Airlines do have the right to protect themselves from a father/son or mother/daughter sharing the same card. However, they have to build their own defense system -- such as having your birthdate on your record. Its wrong to just assume a 21-year-old isn't Silver/Gold/Plat. They need to do a little checking.

As for the passingers -- hey, let the employees sort out who is in the right line and who isn't. Its none of your business. Whether the guy is 16 or 60 in front of you, if he is in the wrong line, its going to delay you by the same amount of time.

I think all this boils down to "perceived social economic class." I am 56 with longhair and beard. When I dress Levi casual, I am not perceived as being Platinum (or belonging in the PC) and often initially treated accordingly. If I dress LL Bean casual, or even have my beat up Travel Pro roll aboard and laptop brief on the hook, passengers and staff assume a higher class.

My favorite perceived status story came from a friend I gave a FF ticket to as a gift. One of his parents was from a native band in British Colombia. He dressed Levi casual. His business drag seat mates were barging to him that they were expecting a battle field promotion and that they had "Status" with the airline. They were really patronizing.

His seat mates spotted the FA coming back with a boarding pass. The guy in the middle practically ordered my friend to get out of his isle seat and step to the rear. The FA addressed my friend as, "Mr. ___ " and escorted him up front. He chose not to look back, although he said he was tempted.

My experiences traveling young:

My parents expected me to travel on my own at a very early age both locally and long distance. They thought it part of my growing up and education. It was of great help to my parents to have me pick stuff up downtown on the trolley bus. Occasionally I would be stopped by someone asking where my parents were. Assertive me, just told them to, "Go away." They were always a bit taken back and did go away

At the time (the 50's), there were no unaccompanied minor rules on the railroads or airlines. If you needed help "Travelers Aid" filled the roll. I always knew Travelers Aid was there if anything went wrong but never had to use them.

I felt sorry for the Bell Hops who were older, often disfigured men, who were expected to carry extraordinary amounts of luggage to the room without setting them down, even in the elevator. On the long distance trains, there was no place for the dinning car staff to sleep or sit except for the tables, which were often used late at night. Soiled table cloths for sheets.

I full well knew the significance of some older black men (in the North) addressing me as "Master (first name)," rather than using my first name and that they expected me to address them by their first name. I was uncomfortable with both.

If I was around someone in a service position for a long time I would express my discomfort, especially with the "Master" stuff. Most often the men would drop the mask when no one else was around and tell me to go along with it and that it would not be that way in the future with my children.

Kind of off topic but how do you people become elites at such a young age?