Jan 9, 16, 3:50 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
A thread making {gentle} fun of the anonymous "Don't You Know Who I Am" (DYKWIAs) we run across in our travels.
Previous thread DYKWIA stories (Traveling on United Airlines) (Archive)
Previous thread DYKWIA stories (Traveling on United Airlines) (Archive)
DYKWIA stories (Traveling on United Airlines)
Apr 3, 19, 10:42 am
#76
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: VPS
Programs: IHG Diamond, Delta PM, Hilton Gold, Accor Gold, Marriott Silver
Posts: 6,957
I like public shaming when dealing with a self-entitled jerk like that. "I'm sorry you unpacked everything and got yourself settled in my seat but an experienced traveler like you must know that people select seats for a reason. I appreciate the fact you like my seat, I chose it for a reason and it's too bad you didn't select it first but don't give me your song-and-dance or try to bully me, just get out of my seat please."
Apr 3, 19, 11:05 am
#77
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SAN
Programs: 1K (since 2008), *G (since 1990), 1MM
Posts: 3,134
An arrogant German male who expected my female cousin to sit in his middle (2-4-2 configuration) to accommodate his demand to sit in the aisle seat and not his assigned middle seat and took a FA intervening.
A young female who sat in 6D next to me in 6E and commented to me it was a very nice seat (and I agreed). When Mr 6D turned up she tried to persuade him to sit in her window seat a few seats back and then when her female "wiles" did not work asked me (a female) to convince him it would be the gentlemanly thing to do. My response was she should sit in her assigned seat. The FA needed to intervene to ensure Mr 6D got his assigned seat.
I detest seat poachers - irrespective of their gender.
Apr 3, 19, 11:14 am
#78
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: EWR
Programs: UA 1K & Marriott Titanium
Posts: 95
these situations are, unfortunately, all too common on this route. i've observed the same magic by FAs several times - they somehow always manage to calmly find a solution that works for everyone.
Apr 3, 19, 12:11 pm
#79
Join Date: Feb 2015
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 935
There also seems to be a LOT of DYKWIA on this route and many of the summer EWR-Europe routes, with folks assuming expensive tickets=special treatment.
Apr 3, 19, 12:52 pm
#80
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: USA
Programs: UA Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,125
No but if you start off by assuming their status implies a level of experience, you put the monkey on their back of explaining why, as an ultra-elite status flyer, they don't know how to get to the right seat. IMO, take their elite status and turn it into a detriment in this situation because they're CLEARLY being rude and arrogant by taking your seat if they do know better. They can always respond saying they've been up a long time or traveling a while and had a brain fart on which seat they had -- or that they just miscounted rows. It's happened to me a few times so it may even be true.
Apr 3, 19, 1:37 pm
#81
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA MM Plat, UA 1MM, Hilton Lifetime Gold, Marriott Gold, Hertz Gold, CLEAR, AS MVP Gold
Posts: 3,510
So I had almost this exact situation occur on a flight from EWR-TLV a few months back. Poacher was sitting in my seat (I was pulled out for random check upon boarding and ended up with the end of BG1- I am fairly certain poacher was not GS). He claimed "religious reasons" for his need to sit there. I explained I shared his religion, and though I was considerably less observant, I was well aware that there were no valid religious reasons for him to move. He became belligerent, threatening to make my flight unpleasant if he were forced to cede my seat to me. Luckily a FA was close by, and he came over as he saw a brewing confrontation. After another thirty seconds of a standoff, I looked over to FA. He asked to seat BPs, told the poacher he was in the wrong seat and needed to move immediately so as not to hold up boarding. Poacher tried to make his original argument, and FA said that if that were the case he needed to have fixed that prior to boarding and that he could "either move or I'll have to radio to the gate to see what they recommend we do....it's possible that tomorrow's flight can better accomodate your needs if that is necessary". He moved. A few hours in I thanked the FA, and he said that his crew has gotten pretty good at handling those situations. He doesn't escalate, stays calm, and informs them that UA can take care of them.....but it's not going to be on this plane at this time.
Apr 3, 19, 1:46 pm
#82
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: DAY/CMH
Programs: UA MileagePlus
Posts: 2,474
This is a joke right? I am not religious but would someone please explain what "religious reasons" there is for a seat selection?! What is this some "Church of Creative Seat Selection"! I typically board last for reasons previously posted and only rarely run into seat poaching. I typically don't even hassle with speaking to the "poacher" I leave it up to the FAs who always are happy to intervene.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Apr 3, 19 at 4:56 pm Reason: Removed an unneeded characterisation of a community FT 12.2
Apr 3, 19, 2:44 pm
#83
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: CT/NY
Programs: UA 1K/1MM, AA EXP, Marriott LT Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Diamond Amb
Posts: 5,811
I like public shaming when dealing with a self-entitled jerk like that. "I'm sorry you unpacked everything and got yourself settled in my seat but an experienced traveler like you must know that people select seats for a reason. I appreciate the fact you like my seat, I chose it for a reason and it's too bad you didn't select it first but don't give me your song-and-dance or try to bully me, just get out of my seat please."
Fast forward an hour later, the same lady was spotting at my company's office checking in as a visitor. The look on her face, when she saw me, was priceless.
That actually happened to me ex-PDX, where two monks were traveling and they could not seat next to a woman, nor would they respond to the female flight attendant nor the female first officer. Also, they have to have their own row and cannot sit next to each other. It was only when the captain threatened to deplane them before they would accept their seats as is, with the female passengers swapped seats with another male passenger. I believe these same monks were on another UA flight, where the female passenger filed a complaint and it hit national news.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Apr 3, 19 at 4:56 pm Reason: Quote updated to reflect Moderator edit
Apr 3, 19, 4:42 pm
#84
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.96MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 65,117
We were getting far off-topic (DYKWIA) and far beyond the UA related issues, perhaps into OMNI land, so removed some of the OT discisson. -- Hoever, there plenty of FT threads on this topic for those interested in pursuing this farther
ultra-Orthodox Jewish pax refuse to sit next to women on El Al flight JFK-Tel Aviv
El Al Under Fire After Re-Seating Women Away From Orthodox Men
NY-Israel flight delayed by ultra-Orthodox men’s refusal to sit next to women
Passengers Cause Chaos by Refusing to Sit Next to Women on Easyjet Flight
Florida woman sues El Al over gender segregation
Female Traveler Removed from Seat at Request of Pakistani "Monks" (UA forum)
Let's return to our regularly schedule DYKWIA discussion
WineCountryUA
UA coModerator
ultra-Orthodox Jewish pax refuse to sit next to women on El Al flight JFK-Tel Aviv
El Al Under Fire After Re-Seating Women Away From Orthodox Men
NY-Israel flight delayed by ultra-Orthodox men’s refusal to sit next to women
Passengers Cause Chaos by Refusing to Sit Next to Women on Easyjet Flight
Florida woman sues El Al over gender segregation
Female Traveler Removed from Seat at Request of Pakistani "Monks" (UA forum)
Let's return to our regularly schedule DYKWIA discussion
WineCountryUA
UA coModerator
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Apr 3, 19 at 4:51 pm
Apr 5, 19, 1:46 pm
#85
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,010
Just revisiting my earlier post to clarify that I didn't intend to put the focus on GS status, although I can see how it could have looked that way (edited earlier title now). Thus far, I have found GS flyers to be actually the more courteous and mindful ones. I was dismayed by that whole episode, and I was only noting the passenger's status as proxy for the likelihood that he knew exactly how he was doing with that swap. Anyway, thanks for the comments, everyone.
May 11, 19, 11:37 am
#86
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,028
Escorted Passenger CDG *A F Lounge
DYKWIA seems to be the best place for this question. Recently I was in the CDG *A F Lounge - in fact the only passenger. I vaguely noticed a newcomer enter, but did hear "I'll be back for you" from someone near the entrance door. The newcomer and I chatted for a few minutes and then he went about his business. He did share that he was on the UA CDG-IAD flight. Later, a well dressed person came in and stated, in US English, 'I am here to escort you to the gate, sir'. Any ideas as to what would constitute a need to escort a passenger to a UA flight? I am thinking security-related.
May 11, 19, 11:50 am
#87
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: USA
Programs: UA Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,125
Could have been a diplomatic VIP given that leg. Particularly if he was new to the diplomatic service or the government otherwise wanted to make sure his travel went well. If it had been security related, I would expect the escort to have stayed with him at all times whereas protocol can be forgiven for depositing him at a lounge while they took care of other arrangements.
May 11, 19, 9:30 pm
#88
Join Date: Nov 2014
Programs: UA 2MM
Posts: 1,670
DYKWIA seems to be the best place for this question. Recently I was in the CDG *A F Lounge - in fact the only passenger. I vaguely noticed a newcomer enter, but did hear "I'll be back for you" from someone near the entrance door. The newcomer and I chatted for a few minutes and then he went about his business. He did share that he was on the UA CDG-IAD flight. Later, a well dressed person came in and stated, in US English, 'I am here to escort you to the gate, sir'. Any ideas as to what would constitute a need to escort a passenger to a UA flight? I am thinking security-related.
May 12, 19, 12:06 am
#89
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 130
Could also be a celebrity. A friend of mine works in customer service for an airport authority at a mid-tier US airport. For celebrities, they'll provide an escort through security, to a lounge, and then come get them to take them to the gate just before boarding. Not sure what it's like in CDG, obviously.
May 12, 19, 12:36 am
#90
Join Date: Jul 2013
Programs: DYKWIA, But I'm a "Diamond Guest" UA 1K/2MM
Posts: 2,169
DYKWIA seems to be the best place for this question. Recently I was in the CDG *A F Lounge - in fact the only passenger. I vaguely noticed a newcomer enter, but did hear "I'll be back for you" from someone near the entrance door. The newcomer and I chatted for a few minutes and then he went about his business. He did share that he was on the UA CDG-IAD flight. Later, a well dressed person came in and stated, in US English, 'I am here to escort you to the gate, sir'. Any ideas as to what would constitute a need to escort a passenger to a UA flight? I am thinking security-related.
