Snide attendant comment overheard at HKIA
#16
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: YUL
Programs: AP 50k
Posts: 83
Happened to me when I showed up for an AA J ticket, stood in the priority access line and got dirty looks from those waiting in the regular line because I was wearing sweatpants. I'm sorry I didn't want to get dressed for a 6:30am flight.
#17
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: HKG
Posts: 1,053
#18
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Programs: VA WP, NZ *A SG
Posts: 529
I regularly travel in J and F and while I make sure I look neat, I'm always dressed comfortably and this can be quite casual. I often have staff look at me with suspicion when I enter a certain queue or aerobridge or counter. Their mood quickly changes when I provide evidence of my right to be there.
My favourite was probably at BKK last year when the TG Flounge agent who had escorted me from the lounge literally moved people out of the way in the very long Y queue for boarding so he could whisk me into the F cabin ASAP. I actually overheard someone in the queue say 'who the hell is that guy?!'
I couldn't care less what they think - I'm sure theyd much rather be me than serving me!
My favourite was probably at BKK last year when the TG Flounge agent who had escorted me from the lounge literally moved people out of the way in the very long Y queue for boarding so he could whisk me into the F cabin ASAP. I actually overheard someone in the queue say 'who the hell is that guy?!'
I couldn't care less what they think - I'm sure theyd much rather be me than serving me!
#19
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Location: AU
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#20
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: FLL
Programs: AA PLT 2.7 MM, DL GLD, UA Prem, BW Diamond, PC PLT, HH Diamond
Posts: 1,285
I was clearing the transfer zone at HKIA while connecting flights.
On my same arriving flight was a Caucasian woman and her male travel companion, both of whom were dressed casually - round neck t-shirts and jeans - but nonetheless looking a bit scruffy. She was a bit on the rotund side and her blond hair was disheveled, while he certainly has not been shaving for a while.
As they put their boarding passes and passports into the scanning trays, one of the scanner attendants caught sight of them and exclaimed to her colleague in Cantonese in a slightly incredulous tone "First class? How can THEY be travelling in first class?!"
The attendant didn't realise that I understood Cantonese perfectly. Not wanting to pick a fight that really wasn't mine... I just pretended not to hear the first time.
She then repeated her comment a second time, thinking her colleague didn't hear as well!
After my hand luggage was scanned... I merely walked on.
But should I have pointed out to her not to judge a book by its cover? Or informed the other two passengers that the attendant was scorning and get them to deal with it? Or it really is none of my business what the attendant thought of them, and what they don't know doesn't harm them? What would you have done in earnest?
On my same arriving flight was a Caucasian woman and her male travel companion, both of whom were dressed casually - round neck t-shirts and jeans - but nonetheless looking a bit scruffy. She was a bit on the rotund side and her blond hair was disheveled, while he certainly has not been shaving for a while.
As they put their boarding passes and passports into the scanning trays, one of the scanner attendants caught sight of them and exclaimed to her colleague in Cantonese in a slightly incredulous tone "First class? How can THEY be travelling in first class?!"
The attendant didn't realise that I understood Cantonese perfectly. Not wanting to pick a fight that really wasn't mine... I just pretended not to hear the first time.
She then repeated her comment a second time, thinking her colleague didn't hear as well!
After my hand luggage was scanned... I merely walked on.
But should I have pointed out to her not to judge a book by its cover? Or informed the other two passengers that the attendant was scorning and get them to deal with it? Or it really is none of my business what the attendant thought of them, and what they don't know doesn't harm them? What would you have done in earnest?
Soo you have a problem with prejudice of a GA but you tender you own against a presumable racist, without evidence, GA, that you evesdropped on??
"Paging MR POT .... Paging MR POT.......... You have a call from a Mr Kettle.. He wants to talk to you about oral emotives regarding comparative chromatic densities."
#21
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Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
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Soo you have a problem with prejudice of a GA but you tender you own against a presumable racist, without evidence, GA, that you evesdropped on??
"Paging MR POT .... Paging MR POT.......... You have a call from a Mr Kettle.. He wants to talk to you about oral emotives regarding comparative chromatic densities."
"Paging MR POT .... Paging MR POT.......... You have a call from a Mr Kettle.. He wants to talk to you about oral emotives regarding comparative chromatic densities."
You can't avoid close contact with security staff at scanning machines, they're right beside you, and overhearing their conversation is not something you can necessarily avoid.
That is different from perhaps hanging around the podium to 'overhear' a gate agent.
The OP did not suggest the security staff were racist. The OP only mentioned the race of the passengers because presumably, the security staff made the assumption they wouldn't understand Cantonese. Which they didn't! The OP did however.
#23
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: MDE
Programs: AA-PLT, HH-GLD, PP
Posts: 1,511
Even as recently, I had an encounter while I chatted with an Australian couple while waiting in line during check-in in. They asked where I am from (and I said, "Boston") and it was one of those "where are you REALLY from, or what is your ancestry?" kind of questions. I said I grew up near Boston (but also stated my heritage) to which they say -- clearly impressed -- "wow you speak perfect English" *facepalm* (never mind that my primary written and spoken language IS English, and I went through all the school systems here...)
#24
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Programs: VA WP, NZ *A SG
Posts: 529
I meant theyd rather be doing what im doing than what theyre doing. You honestly think theyd rather be at work than jetting off somewhere glamorous in first class?
Just a few weeks back at MEL immigration the officer looked at my boarding pass and said 'wow- first class. How did you manage that?@'
(In a good natured way).
Just a few weeks back at MEL immigration the officer looked at my boarding pass and said 'wow- first class. How did you manage that?@'
(In a good natured way).
#25
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Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
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I meant theyd rather be doing what im doing than what theyre doing. You honestly think theyd rather be at work than jetting off somewhere glamorous in first class?
Just a few weeks back at MEL immigration the officer looked at my boarding pass and said 'wow- first class. How did you manage that?@'
(In a good natured way).
Just a few weeks back at MEL immigration the officer looked at my boarding pass and said 'wow- first class. How did you manage that?@'
(In a good natured way).
#27
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: SIN/CLE
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Posts: 2,099
#29
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Almaty, Kazakhstan
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Posts: 2,078
And as far as the poster who said it was eavesdropping, if someone is speaking loudly enough so that you can't help but hear it, that's not eavesdropping. tls
#30
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: YVR
Programs: Aeroplan, AAdvantage
Posts: 2,100
It's my favorite pastime to confound people about my financial status. I might be wearing a goofy t-shirt (these days my favorite is this corgi face) and I will be wearing tatty cargo pants -- deliberately. It's good education for everyone from screeners to fellow passengers because I am up front in a lie flat seat, thanks much.
Last edited by chx1975; Jun 9, 2015 at 12:51 pm