Has anyone else been physically pushed away from Sky Priority check-in?
Jun 9, 2011, 7:39 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 255
Has anyone else been physically pushed away from Sky Priority check-in?
I may be young, but I do actually have a good job and I travel regularly. Sure, I'm only an FO but that is still FF status, low as it may be. So when I walked into JFK T3, upgrade confirmed, and headed straight for the Sky Priority check-in desk, I couldn't believe some red coat agent physically pushed me back and treated me like I had no idea what I was doing. He asked, "Do you have a boarding pass?" I said no and that's why I need to check in, pointed to the Sky Priority desk, but before I could say anything else he said, "Okay. See those kiosks over there? You need to go over there." I was waiting for him to say something like, "This section is for first class only," to which I could have responses, "Yeah, I'm flying first class. Thank you." But he didn't. I just stood there for a few seconds, confused as to why he wouldn't even ask if I was in FC or explain why he wasn't letting me through. I then just told him I was Sky Priority; he grunted and let me through. Meanwhile, another older couple walked right by into the SP line in front of me.
Usually, if anyone even stops me, which is rare, the first question they'll ask is if I am flying first class. I'll say yes, and they'll let me be on my way. This attitude of patronizing passengers and physically pushing them away from the line they're allowed to use is really unacceptable. Has this happened to anyone else?
Usually, if anyone even stops me, which is rare, the first question they'll ask is if I am flying first class. I'll say yes, and they'll let me be on my way. This attitude of patronizing passengers and physically pushing them away from the line they're allowed to use is really unacceptable. Has this happened to anyone else?
Jun 9, 2011, 7:48 am
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: LAX/BOS/HKG/AMS/SFO...hmm, I need a life.
Programs: United1K, AA ExPlAAt, DL MM/Gold, Hilton Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 13,316
I may be young, but I do actually have a good job and I travel regularly. Sure, I'm only an FO but that is still FF status, low as it may be. So when I walked into JFK T3, upgrade confirmed, and headed straight for the Sky Priority check-in desk, I couldn't believe some red coat agent physically pushed me back and treated me like I had no idea what I was doing. He asked, "Do you have a boarding pass?" I said no and that's why I need to check in, pointed to the Sky Priority desk, but before I could say anything else he said, "Okay. See those kiosks over there? You need to go over there." I was waiting for him to say something like, "This section is for first class only," to which I could have responses, "Yeah, I'm flying first class. Thank you." But he didn't. I just stood there for a few seconds, confused as to why he wouldn't even ask if I was in FC or explain why he wasn't letting me through. I then just told him I was Sky Priority; he grunted and let me through. Meanwhile, another older couple walked right by into the SP line in front of me.
Usually, if anyone even stops me, which is rare, the first question they'll ask is if I am flying first class. I'll say yes, and they'll let me be on my way. This attitude of patronizing passengers and physically pushing them away from the line they're allowed to use is really unacceptable. Has this happened to anyone else?
Usually, if anyone even stops me, which is rare, the first question they'll ask is if I am flying first class. I'll say yes, and they'll let me be on my way. This attitude of patronizing passengers and physically pushing them away from the line they're allowed to use is really unacceptable. Has this happened to anyone else?
Jun 9, 2011, 7:51 am
#4
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: on the path to perdition
Programs: Delta, United
Posts: 4,785
Has not happened to me, that I was physically pushed away. I have been refused cause I did not have my BP nor my medallion card. However, had I been pushed back I would have found a LEO and had him/her explain the definition of assault to the red coat preferably with their supervisor present.
Jun 9, 2011, 7:51 am
#5
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SUX
Programs: BA Silver; HHonors Gold; SPG Gold; Points but dirt with everyone else
Posts: 8,050
Jun 9, 2011, 7:55 am
#6
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Parts Unknown
Programs: DL PM/MM, IHG SA, National EE, Hertz PC, Marriott Silver
Posts: 530
Not young...but once had to rebook a flight mid-route at JFK due to weather. Stood in the medallion line for about an 30-45min (lots of people waiting to get rebooked), was about two from the front when they announced:
"We don't have a medallion line after xx:xx, please go to the other line." Stood in that regular pax line for another hour or two. I finally got rebooked on the red eye to CDG.
"We don't have a medallion line after xx:xx, please go to the other line." Stood in that regular pax line for another hour or two. I finally got rebooked on the red eye to CDG.
Jun 9, 2011, 8:02 am
#7
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: MSP
Programs: Delta PM, Marriott Plat, Hertz Pres
Posts: 3,649
I'm in my late 20's (and if you look at the top of my head, you'd think I'm older), but I had the AZ Business/ST Elite+ agent at TLV give me a weird look when I stepped up to check in there. Apparently people under 40 don't fly business class and aren't ST Elite+ when flying on AZ
Last edited by xolinlevh; Jun 9, 2011 at 8:15 am
Jun 9, 2011, 8:11 am
#8
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 21
Has not happened to me, that I was physically pushed away. I have been refused cause I did not have my BP nor my medallion card. However, had I been pushed back I would have found a LEO and had him/her explain the definition of assault to the red coat preferably with their supervisor present.
Jun 9, 2011, 8:16 am
#9
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: LAS
Programs: PA FT, TW Gold, NW/CO PE, VK Eagleflyer
Posts: 7,173
I may be young, but I do actually have a good job and I travel regularly. Sure, I'm only an FO but that is still FF status, low as it may be. So when I walked into JFK T3, upgrade confirmed, and headed straight for the Sky Priority check-in desk, I couldn't believe some red coat agent physically pushed me back and treated me like I had no idea what I was doing. He asked, "Do you have a boarding pass?" I said no and that's why I need to check in, pointed to the Sky Priority desk, but before I could say anything else he said, "Okay. See those kiosks over there? You need to go over there." I was waiting for him to say something like, "This section is for first class only," to which I could have responses, "Yeah, I'm flying first class. Thank you." But he didn't. I just stood there for a few seconds, confused as to why he wouldn't even ask if I was in FC or explain why he wasn't letting me through. I then just told him I was Sky Priority; he grunted and let me through. Meanwhile, another older couple walked right by into the SP line in front of me.
Usually, if anyone even stops me, which is rare, the first question they'll ask is if I am flying first class. I'll say yes, and they'll let me be on my way. This attitude of patronizing passengers and physically pushing them away from the line they're allowed to use is really unacceptable. Has this happened to anyone else?
Usually, if anyone even stops me, which is rare, the first question they'll ask is if I am flying first class. I'll say yes, and they'll let me be on my way. This attitude of patronizing passengers and physically pushing them away from the line they're allowed to use is really unacceptable. Has this happened to anyone else?
Once someone starts getting physical, it's LEO time. Obviously not much would come of this incident, but I bet Mr. Red Coat would keep his hands to himself next time.
Send DL an e-mail - they'll shower you with SkyPesos and promise not to do it again. "As a Silver Elite, you are among our least-valuable clientele, and I can only imagine your disappointment when our Red Coat shoved you towards the check-in kiosk.
Last edited by Sabai; Jun 9, 2011 at 10:21 am
Jun 9, 2011, 8:18 am
#10
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: AA EP, HH LT Diamond
Posts: 1,001
Why is it people don't want to use the kiosks? I get the feeling that many people here just like the idea of being in the "elite" line, even when it's quicker to just check yourself in. (Not talking specifically about the OP). I know I'd much rather check myself in and not have any more human interaction than necessary.
Jun 9, 2011, 8:29 am
#12
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SUX
Programs: BA Silver; HHonors Gold; SPG Gold; Points but dirt with everyone else
Posts: 8,050
Why is it people don't want to use the kiosks? I get the feeling that many people here just like the idea of being in the "elite" line, even when it's quicker to just check yourself in. (Not talking specifically about the OP). I know I'd much rather check myself in and not have any more human interaction than necessary.
Jun 9, 2011, 8:36 am
#13
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Boston, MA
Programs: DL Diamond, HHonors Diamond, National Executive Elite
Posts: 2,362
Why is it people don't want to use the kiosks? I get the feeling that many people here just like the idea of being in the "elite" line, even when it's quicker to just check yourself in. (Not talking specifically about the OP). I know I'd much rather check myself in and not have any more human interaction than necessary.
Jun 9, 2011, 8:39 am
#14
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 12
I did get the dirty eye and asked "Are you a medallion?" in an unpleasant tone last week while trying to check my luggage at PHL. Of course there was only one TA actually working as the other two were standing by the non-status line talking. Just a lowly FO in his 30's that looks younger that can read and follow directions.
Jun 9, 2011, 8:41 am
#15
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Chicago
Programs: UA 1K, HH Diamond
Posts: 2,055
If there's no one waiting in the Sky Priority line, then a human agent can almost certainly check you in more quickly than a kiosk. The kiosks' response time is embarassingly slow, from the lag between screens to the unnecessary pop-ups ("Your upgrade has been confirmed!") to the delay before the boarding pass prints. Sometimes they even freeze. If you're checking a bag, then you need to see an agent anyway, so why deal with both the the painfully slow kiosk and the bag-drop line? I don't understand the aversion to human interaction.