Age discrimination
#17
Join Date: Jun 2006
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#18
Join Date: May 2004
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Judging from the post (1K status, SFO-EWR) , I would think OP's on a UA flight, not CO (even s/he didn't say it specifically).
I agree. If a GA is in a bad mood (or unprofessional), s/he is in a bad mood (or unprofessional). I assume confrontation on the spot didn't help either.
I agree. If a GA is in a bad mood (or unprofessional), s/he is in a bad mood (or unprofessional). I assume confrontation on the spot didn't help either.
Last edited by lin821; Oct 22, 2008 at 10:36 pm Reason: typo
#19
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 170
As most people have already said, this sounds like yet another case of bad service and not age discrimination (though that may be indeed be a factor).
I am even younger (just turned 22) and look quite young as well. I've been in a few sticky situations and I can safely say that, while it may not help sometimes, being nice and staying calm never hurts. Dressing well probably helps, but being cool gets you so much further.
UA has generally been pretty decent to me in airports worldwide, maybe because I travel quite a bit with my family (dad is 1KMM, mom is 1P).
Take it easy on the OP, people. I empathize, as most of us have been in a similar situation at some point. Besides, MBAs get enough flack as it is. Reminds me of this FedEx ad!
I am even younger (just turned 22) and look quite young as well. I've been in a few sticky situations and I can safely say that, while it may not help sometimes, being nice and staying calm never hurts. Dressing well probably helps, but being cool gets you so much further.
UA has generally been pretty decent to me in airports worldwide, maybe because I travel quite a bit with my family (dad is 1KMM, mom is 1P).
Take it easy on the OP, people. I empathize, as most of us have been in a similar situation at some point. Besides, MBAs get enough flack as it is. Reminds me of this FedEx ad!
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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I'm 23, a Gold on Delta (will be Platinum in 3 weeks) amongst others and have been elite on an airline since 18 (I think). Only once have I ever run into an issue, and that was with a GA in PHX who said I was using my father's Medallion information and that she was doing me a favour by not turning the both of us in. I simply told her "thanks" and boarded the plane, and when I got home shot off an e-mail to DL complaining about this agent and how she treated an elite member.
#21
Former user name: laundrian
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2008
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Oh sorry that my spelling and grammar bothered you. English is my fourth language. Why don't you try to speak your fourth language this good then go talk to me again?
#22
In memoriam
Join Date: Mar 2000
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I call bull. The reason is that if English were really OP's fourth language, and OP
got an advanced degree of some kind, OP'd be more careful about its usage.
Unless the degree was one of those vanity degrees, perhaps.
got an advanced degree of some kind, OP'd be more careful about its usage.
Unless the degree was one of those vanity degrees, perhaps.
#23
Join Date: Feb 2008
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Or unless it was from a university in non-English-speaking country. Like most of the world
#25
Join Date: May 2008
Location: BOS, PVD
Programs: United Mileage Plus (Premier Exec)
Posts: 219
OP, I was on your side in this situation until I saw your arrogant response. Is it possible you're not recounting the story correctly and some arrogance crept into your body language during the exchange? Is it possible that, by your own admission your English is a 4th language, you did not understand what was going on during your verbal exchange? Like I said, I thought you were right until I saw the quoted post showing that perhaps you don't even realize you're being offensive.
#26
Suspended
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Oh gosh, four languagues, this person is obviously superior to me! I only speak three languagues so I should bow to someone that speaks four. </sarcasm>
OP, I was on your side in this situation until I saw your arrogant response. Is it possible you're not recounting the story correctly and some arrogance crept into your body language during the exchange? Is it possible that, by your own admission your English is a 4th language, you did not understand what was going on during your verbal exchange? Like I said, I thought you were right until I saw the quoted post showing that perhaps you don't even realize you're being offensive.
OP, I was on your side in this situation until I saw your arrogant response. Is it possible you're not recounting the story correctly and some arrogance crept into your body language during the exchange? Is it possible that, by your own admission your English is a 4th language, you did not understand what was going on during your verbal exchange? Like I said, I thought you were right until I saw the quoted post showing that perhaps you don't even realize you're being offensive.
#27
Join Date: May 2008
Location: BOS, PVD
Programs: United Mileage Plus (Premier Exec)
Posts: 219
The arrogance was originally displayed in the post OP was replying to. OP replied in a fitting and restrained manner under the circumstances. Frankly, the fact that you thought OP was "right" until you learned English was not his first language speaks volumes and sheds some light on what OP actually experienced at the airport.
My learning about the language situation doesn't "speak volumes" because my point is that, when someone disagreed with the OP, his reaction was harsh. Is it possible that when faced with a rude representative of the airline, the OP reacted in a way that escalated the situation? of course the GA was ghastly wrong, but that doesn't mean that the OP isn't arrogant as well.
Anyway, RPH, I can already tell where this is going. The next response is to call me an 'apologist' for bad bahavior.
#28
Join Date: Jul 2007
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OP: Please tell us that you are a person of color so that PhlyingRPh can REALLY go on a tear. With "discrimination" in the thread title, I knew it would not take long for him to appear.
#29
Join Date: Sep 2001
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Or as others have stated, the GA is just lousy at his job.
#30
Join Date: May 2004
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As I mentioned before, I am not giving excuses to the GA in question. However, I learn from personal experiences if things are handled in a "graceful" way, most of the times, you'll get better results, in comparison with being confrontational.