joshwex90

Not justifying her but I'd hardly call that DYKWIA

DENflyer3

Although we have heard this story many times before, I still enjoy it when I see it happen live.

Yesterday DEN/SFO. GA calls for Global Services. Mid 40's semi-business lady pushes her way right up through the group 2 lane. GA stops her and says, "I'm sorry Global Services only at this time."

"I'm Global! I'M GLOBAL"

GA stood her ground and told her, "No you are Premier Silver, but you might have Global Entry through TSA, unfortunately, that does not apply to boarding on United. Global Entry applies to clearing Immigration on your return from another country. You are in group two, we board by Group Numbers, and we are currently pre-boarding Global Services, you will have to wait until your group is called."

"I'm Global, I'm Global, I bought Global from United."

Then as if on command before the GA could properly respond. "Is this the way you treat your best customers, I am going to pull ALL my business and never fly United Again!" (Or something to that affect). She did wait a least a couple of seconds for the mob to join her in protest to her shabby treatment, but retreated in shame as she realized that no one either cared or thought she was correct.

She had clearly burned the faces of the 3 or 4 of us behind her who did Pre-Board because her glare burned through my soul when she boarded.

Aussienarelle

The best part of this story. The professional way the GA handled the situation and ensured the DYKWIA did not get away with the behavior.

swiftaw

This is why I like the automated boarding gates, they simply won't let you through if it isn't your turn.

(Personally, my view is if you try to board before your turn you should be sent to 'Group 6' and have to wait until everyone else has boarded.)

cerealmarketer

Never thought about how GS and Global Entry could be confused but can see how it happens. Great agent who treated the situation with respect.

WineCountryUA

Have done a bit of "clean-up" and have swept up some dog "accident incidents" discussion to Dog "incidents" in UA terminals; Slow Response Gives Paws {Consolidated]

So this thread can return the more "normal" DYKWIA reports

WineCountryUA
UA coModerator

mr8

While I would like to see more automated boarding gates, it still won't solve the original problem of people and you'll get one or two angry "Global" passengers holding up one of the lines complaining that the machine is broken/defected/doesn't work...

ExplorerWannabe

Bravo to the GA! That would have been worth the price of admission to see ...

JVPhoto

I can see how it happens but I still think Global Services sounds like some branch or division of FedEx/DHL or HSBC.

justsawaufo

Anytime I take the Mrs with me (typically international J or F) she confuses Global Services with Global Entry. I keep telling her that I'm a lowly 1K and both are unrelated

malgudi

Perhaps she was just confused between the two?

I wouldn't call this DYKWIA and enjoying the misery of others isn't cool (esp when she might be genuinely mistaken).

N104UA

So I agree in some instances, however in this case the agent said that the customer was a Premier Silver which means she has flown 25,000 PQM or 30 segments in the past year (and spent $3k with UA), so she should know the boarding process by now.

Aussienarelle

Are GS assigned BG1? I have never been GS and do not know. If it does show BG1, then perhaps the Announcement should be along the lines "If you have BG1 and are GS you are welcome to pre-board at this time". This could save some of the confusion for people with GE.

As to the sentiment about the Premier Silver and whether it was a DYKWIA moment it was not the mistake, it was her response to the GA that was the DYKWIA moment (IMO).

StuckinITH

I only know about international flights where I see GS passengers boarding before BG1 is called. They usually wait on the side (not in the BG1 line) and a gate agent comes to them and asks them to board. I guess the gate agent has already identified them and asked them to stand there as in most of my flights from Asia, the gate agent goes to each passenger to check boarding groups and passports.

And some are brought from the Lounge by another agent.

abaheti

Unless she got status through Marriott, e.g., which means she could be a UA novice who is used to some other airline's process.