The Young(er) FlyerTalk Members
Dec 21, 2000 | 4:32 am
#18
Join Date: May 2000
Location: WAS
Posts: 1,107
Originally posted by 0524:
The greater agony of profiling can take place in international customs, regardless of country. Young? Long hair? Loose-fitting super-casual clothing? Carrying a back pack, perhaps? Then budget extra time for interrogation, luggage inspection, and maybe worse.
The greater agony of profiling can take place in international customs, regardless of country. Young? Long hair? Loose-fitting super-casual clothing? Carrying a back pack, perhaps? Then budget extra time for interrogation, luggage inspection, and maybe worse.
When entering at PHL in September, I was
1) Young
2) Long-haired (somewhat-it was just falling over the collar in back)
3) Wearing super-casual clothing
My backpack had been torn so it was inside another bag
.I was pulled aside at customs and in addition to having all my bags opened and the contents (mostly my dirty laundry!) emptied and thoroughly searched, I had to spend what seemed like an eternity (but was probably 10 minutes) answering questions about:
1) What I activities I engage in in Europe
2) Why I was bringing in unused stationary (it was a gift for my sister)
3) Why I was bringing in a broken backpack (I explained that I was returning it to the manufacturer)
4) What agricultural products I was bringing in (this had been my only declaration)
5) What my melatonin tablets were for
Finally, they apparently decided they couldn't nail me for anything, so they wrapped up and I had to spend another 5 minutes putting everything back in my luggage. Here's the clincher: after all this probing, they failed to catch the one thing I had brought in which was illegal - a bottle of wine off the plane (only allowed if you're 21, as I found out afterwards, since customs enforces state alcohol laws)
.Update:
Flew into PIT on 12/24 and customs let me through without a lot of probing - the fact that I was relatively well-dressed this time may have helped to make up for the backpack (I probably looked more like an exec at a startup than the detested "student"). Of course, the US Envoy Class luggage tags may have helped as well
.Yonatan
[This message has been edited by yonatan (edited 12-29-2000).]
Dec 21, 2000 | 8:01 am
#19
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AA CK, UA Gold, Bonvoy Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Hertz Platinum, Avis Presidents
Posts: 236
Great Topic!
I have been treated differently on numerious occasions. I am currently twenty and have had Platinum on AA for the last four years and Gold for three years before that.
A couple of years it was worse than it is now. I used to always be asked to see my ticket when using the First Class line. The Admirals Club was particularly difficult with me and I have sometimes been asked for photo ID to prove that I am who I say I am.
I have to say that being young and having status has never helped me. I have never had the rules bent because I had status and was young. It seems that the general the feeling is of resentment.
I have been asked at immigration and customs Why I travel so much? The responce has been I study international relations and that seemed to statisfy them. Had they known that I have a South African passport as well as US they would have been even more shocked.
Age is certainly a factor in the way that I am treated and Iook about my age or a little older
I have been treated differently on numerious occasions. I am currently twenty and have had Platinum on AA for the last four years and Gold for three years before that.
A couple of years it was worse than it is now. I used to always be asked to see my ticket when using the First Class line. The Admirals Club was particularly difficult with me and I have sometimes been asked for photo ID to prove that I am who I say I am.
I have to say that being young and having status has never helped me. I have never had the rules bent because I had status and was young. It seems that the general the feeling is of resentment.
I have been asked at immigration and customs Why I travel so much? The responce has been I study international relations and that seemed to statisfy them. Had they known that I have a South African passport as well as US they would have been even more shocked.
Age is certainly a factor in the way that I am treated and Iook about my age or a little older
Dec 21, 2000 | 8:26 am
#20
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: Various
Posts: 2,155
Wow! I didn't think there was that many young FT'ers around but there are!!
It seems to me that in general young people with FF status get a rough ride with airlines. Is it just me or is it that the staff on board are fine but its the ground satff that normaly cause the most offence with their stereotyping.
I think that all airlines/exec lounges have employees who don't uderstand that there are young people out there that fly business/first class on their own.
I wonder what reception me and my 18-year old brother are going to get on Saturday when we fly to visit our parents in business class!!
Saying that though, I have had more grief from retail staff with my AMEX Platinum card (Is this your dad's card?; this Can't be your card!; Do you have any photo ID?; I have to get my manager; Can I do a Code 19 authorisation; Hi can someone from securtiy come to the cash desk please!) than I have had flying but again its all down to the expectations of a typical FF or AMEX cardmember.
Rich
It seems to me that in general young people with FF status get a rough ride with airlines. Is it just me or is it that the staff on board are fine but its the ground satff that normaly cause the most offence with their stereotyping.
I think that all airlines/exec lounges have employees who don't uderstand that there are young people out there that fly business/first class on their own.
I wonder what reception me and my 18-year old brother are going to get on Saturday when we fly to visit our parents in business class!!
Saying that though, I have had more grief from retail staff with my AMEX Platinum card (Is this your dad's card?; this Can't be your card!; Do you have any photo ID?; I have to get my manager; Can I do a Code 19 authorisation; Hi can someone from securtiy come to the cash desk please!) than I have had flying but again its all down to the expectations of a typical FF or AMEX cardmember.
Rich
Dec 21, 2000 | 9:41 am
#22
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Copenhagen
Programs: British Airways Gold (oneWorld Emerald), Starwood Preferred Guest Platinum
Posts: 1,713
I'm 18 and I only started flying alone this year since I got some credit cards and FF memberships just after my birthday (well "got" might be wrong, I put an effort into getting them).
There's never really been a problem with UA check-in agents or at the gate (they're quite nice) but with SK (speaking my native tounge) it's quite a different matter. For some reason they give me rather bad seats which I then must try and change at the gate.
Once I was stranded in Oslo since the plane was late and my connection had left (last flight) they checked me in at the Raddison aiport hotel.
The next morning I went to the Airport and was told by the extremely rude ticket-agent that my ticket actually wasn't rebookable. I guess he did not care that is was SK's fault that I'd missed by flight. Before I could protest he continued to tell me that the first flight was 7.35 (which would make me late for my job). "What about the 6.55?" I asked. "Too late for that" he told me. The time then was 6.10. I went into the secure area with my boarding pass and got to the travel service counter and asked about the 6.55 fligt. The nice lady there (also SK) told me it was full, but would I try for standby - sure. I made the flight!
On my recent flight to the US one of the FA's (a man again, somehow the women are nicer) asked rather hard where I was sitting when I asked where I could put my jacket. When he found out that I was in C it seemed to change him some.
But overall: quite nice treatment really.
------------------
Goldlust
[This message has been edited by Goldlust (edited 12-21-2000).]
There's never really been a problem with UA check-in agents or at the gate (they're quite nice) but with SK (speaking my native tounge) it's quite a different matter. For some reason they give me rather bad seats which I then must try and change at the gate.
Once I was stranded in Oslo since the plane was late and my connection had left (last flight) they checked me in at the Raddison aiport hotel.
The next morning I went to the Airport and was told by the extremely rude ticket-agent that my ticket actually wasn't rebookable. I guess he did not care that is was SK's fault that I'd missed by flight. Before I could protest he continued to tell me that the first flight was 7.35 (which would make me late for my job). "What about the 6.55?" I asked. "Too late for that" he told me. The time then was 6.10. I went into the secure area with my boarding pass and got to the travel service counter and asked about the 6.55 fligt. The nice lady there (also SK) told me it was full, but would I try for standby - sure. I made the flight!
On my recent flight to the US one of the FA's (a man again, somehow the women are nicer) asked rather hard where I was sitting when I asked where I could put my jacket. When he found out that I was in C it seemed to change him some.
But overall: quite nice treatment really.
------------------
Goldlust
[This message has been edited by Goldlust (edited 12-21-2000).]
Dec 21, 2000 | 4:32 pm
#25
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2000
Posts: 15,859
In 91, I had a Pan Am idiot refuse me entry into the lounge at Heathrow, he stated something like, "you cannot use your fathers card" and was very insistant that my father and I must have had the same name.
To make a long story short, not only was I Plat, but one of Pan As's top 1,000 fliers in 1990. I asked for a supervisor, got in, and told the schmuck that I would make sure that he would not be hired by United when they took over the routes. I wrote a letter to Pan Am, and also to United. Never saw him again!!
To make a long story short, not only was I Plat, but one of Pan As's top 1,000 fliers in 1990. I asked for a supervisor, got in, and told the schmuck that I would make sure that he would not be hired by United when they took over the routes. I wrote a letter to Pan Am, and also to United. Never saw him again!!
Dec 22, 2000 | 2:50 pm
#26
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA Mileage Plus Premier Gold 1MM, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,467
Traveling for work helped me w/ this:
Young-looking: -1 point
dressed weird(geek casual):-1 point
LOTS of expensive computer equipment in tow:+5 points
Of course, I'm not as young as I used to be, but I tend to still look it. Even at 35,
I still tend to get "carded" once in a while
I've just gotten used to having my Premier card out and at the ready whenevr I get into line.
JD
Young-looking: -1 point
dressed weird(geek casual):-1 point
LOTS of expensive computer equipment in tow:+5 points
Of course, I'm not as young as I used to be, but I tend to still look it. Even at 35,
I still tend to get "carded" once in a while
I've just gotten used to having my Premier card out and at the ready whenevr I get into line.
JD
Dec 22, 2000 | 5:54 pm
#27
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Lisbon, Portugal
Posts: 101
I'm a 23 yo student, and I always travel in economy. I dress normaly, with jeans, but on the other hand I have long hair 
I can't say I have problems, except for requests at check-in (like seat row), but that depends: sometimes I request "as much to the front of the plane as possible" and get a "yeah right" look and a seat in last-five rows, other times I get my request fullfiled and smiles... once I was even upgraded in one segment even not having status with the airline (LH), and had no problems whatsoever in seating in 1F.
Let me just add that I fly in average every 1.5 months almost always with Lufthansa, but only within europe so although I get close I never got status with them.
Pedro
I can't say I have problems, except for requests at check-in (like seat row), but that depends: sometimes I request "as much to the front of the plane as possible" and get a "yeah right" look and a seat in last-five rows, other times I get my request fullfiled and smiles... once I was even upgraded in one segment even not having status with the airline (LH), and had no problems whatsoever in seating in 1F.
Let me just add that I fly in average every 1.5 months almost always with Lufthansa, but only within europe so although I get close I never got status with them.
Pedro
Dec 23, 2000 | 5:37 pm
#28
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Munich, Germany
Programs: LH HON, DL FO/MM, Marriott Lifetime Platinum, Accor Lifetime Platinum, Sixt Diamond
Posts: 6,174
I turned 21 in October, and have travelled alone for almost 6 years now - with most trips to the U.S.
Never had any problems so far - except for a young INS agent in BOS last February who wanted to know more about how I can afford to travel to the U.S. so often (5 trips this year...). Never ran into problems with customs so far like yonathan (neither JFK where I usually enter the U.S. or PHL)...
Never had any problems so far - except for a young INS agent in BOS last February who wanted to know more about how I can afford to travel to the U.S. so often (5 trips this year...). Never ran into problems with customs so far like yonathan (neither JFK where I usually enter the U.S. or PHL)...
Dec 23, 2000 | 5:52 pm
#29
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: new brunswick, new jersey and farmington, conn. USA
Posts: 615
I don't get it. I really don't.
Then again, i've been flying fairly often since i was 15, had my first elite card at 17, and now i'm 21 and see more airplanes than Bradley's tower in a year. (Well, maybe not THAT many.)
Anyhow, i'm in my early 20s now, i still look like a teenager, and i've really not had much problem. The worst thing i've ever gotten was some trouble from a CO gate agent in Newark who didn't believe that was my elite card, and a quick flash of the ID (which i'm never asked for, ha ha ha! *grin*) fixed that.
I try to look decent when i'm gonna be in the air; i might be all for the sweats and a matching well-stained t-shirt in class or even at work, but for travel i try to do better than a hoodie and jeans.
I don't know what it is. Admittedly, i have my guesses, and i'm not gonna share them here. I will admit that I do occasionally get a pissy-looking exec next to me, but don't we all? I've also had some very interesting conversations with neurosurgeons, authors, and dot-com execs. (The latter tend to never be that well-dressed. )
I think the worst experience ever, though, was a flight on HP (today is "i hate HP day") back in the day when i was repeatedly referred to as someone's daughter, and he didn't know who the bujeebus i was.
Just be nice, act dignified in the face of poor treatment, and keep track of everything in your head. When you get bad service, complain via the proper channels in a polite, dignified manner, and you'll do much better.
Then again, i've been flying fairly often since i was 15, had my first elite card at 17, and now i'm 21 and see more airplanes than Bradley's tower in a year. (Well, maybe not THAT many.)
Anyhow, i'm in my early 20s now, i still look like a teenager, and i've really not had much problem. The worst thing i've ever gotten was some trouble from a CO gate agent in Newark who didn't believe that was my elite card, and a quick flash of the ID (which i'm never asked for, ha ha ha! *grin*) fixed that.
I try to look decent when i'm gonna be in the air; i might be all for the sweats and a matching well-stained t-shirt in class or even at work, but for travel i try to do better than a hoodie and jeans.
I don't know what it is. Admittedly, i have my guesses, and i'm not gonna share them here. I will admit that I do occasionally get a pissy-looking exec next to me, but don't we all? I've also had some very interesting conversations with neurosurgeons, authors, and dot-com execs. (The latter tend to never be that well-dressed.
)I think the worst experience ever, though, was a flight on HP (today is "i hate HP day") back in the day when i was repeatedly referred to as someone's daughter, and he didn't know who the bujeebus i was.
Just be nice, act dignified in the face of poor treatment, and keep track of everything in your head. When you get bad service, complain via the proper channels in a polite, dignified manner, and you'll do much better.
Dec 26, 2000 | 9:28 am
#30
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: PMI, MDE and less and less LON...
Posts: 5,470
I'm 22 and
BA Exec Club Silver
Virgin FlyingClub Silver
Hilton HHonors Gold
AMEX Platinum card holder
Not amazing, I know, but not bad for 18 months out of uni and definitley potential for the future (where's my black card post IPO this time next year...)
I've never really had trouble, often upgraded in hotels and on Virgin flights even before having status. However BA really p***ed me off the other day...
I fly sometimes once a week, more often 2/3 times a month to Europe in BA C class and even being based on their incredibly mean UK program I managed to get Silver within about 3 months of flying. I think their computer likes me as I always got a seat in the front 3 rows often with no-one next to me even on fairly full flights and once I checked in with a colleague who was flying M and without saying anthing they gave him a seat next to me in C. Anyway, so the computer likes me but it seems the CR staff dont... a day trip to Paris got off to a bad start when the 9oc flight from LHR developed an engine problem and a replacement couldn't be found until the afternoon... waste of time going then so I got off and changed to the next day... at the ticket desk the girl was really nice to me (could see the computer..) and when I asked if they could get me a car back into my office in London she seemed positive and told me to go to the CR desk and speak to the duty manager. I spoke to the girl at the mentioned desk who relayed it to him... now get this... he turned around, took one look at me (I look my age) and shook his head and told her to tell me "no". This guy was like 2 metres away and didn't even have the decency to speak to me. I was mad and gave the girl a piece of my mind but she said I'd have to speak to him, but he wasn't interested... busy dealing with other (much more senior looking) passengers...
I wasn't going to hang around any more but needless to say after wasting half my day and around 40 in travel expenses BA got a nasty letter... still waiting for a response!
BA Exec Club Silver
Virgin FlyingClub Silver
Hilton HHonors Gold
AMEX Platinum card holder
Not amazing, I know, but not bad for 18 months out of uni and definitley potential for the future (where's my black card post IPO this time next year...)
I've never really had trouble, often upgraded in hotels and on Virgin flights even before having status. However BA really p***ed me off the other day...
I fly sometimes once a week, more often 2/3 times a month to Europe in BA C class and even being based on their incredibly mean UK program I managed to get Silver within about 3 months of flying. I think their computer likes me as I always got a seat in the front 3 rows often with no-one next to me even on fairly full flights and once I checked in with a colleague who was flying M and without saying anthing they gave him a seat next to me in C. Anyway, so the computer likes me but it seems the CR staff dont... a day trip to Paris got off to a bad start when the 9oc flight from LHR developed an engine problem and a replacement couldn't be found until the afternoon... waste of time going then so I got off and changed to the next day... at the ticket desk the girl was really nice to me (could see the computer..) and when I asked if they could get me a car back into my office in London she seemed positive and told me to go to the CR desk and speak to the duty manager. I spoke to the girl at the mentioned desk who relayed it to him... now get this... he turned around, took one look at me (I look my age) and shook his head and told her to tell me "no". This guy was like 2 metres away and didn't even have the decency to speak to me. I was mad and gave the girl a piece of my mind but she said I'd have to speak to him, but he wasn't interested... busy dealing with other (much more senior looking) passengers...
I wasn't going to hang around any more but needless to say after wasting half my day and around 40 in travel expenses BA got a nasty letter... still waiting for a response!