Treated differently because of perceived AGE in Polaris
Sep 28, 2019, 12:52 pm
#16
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: BKK
Posts: 6,741
I started flying alone in J/F cabins internationally and domestically when I was around thirteen years old. I am now in my mid thirties, and I distinctly remember one of the first times I felt I was "getting older" was when I stopped getting the same looks or someone's double checking my boarding pass etc...
Sep 28, 2019, 3:18 pm
#19
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 183
I wouldn't take anything personally, although if service is that bad I would complain. Without trying to blame any one party I think the reasoning stems from FA's having to deal with passengers that treat them badly which creates prejudices in their minds. It's wrong to stereotype passengers they have never met, but I can understand why some might do it.
My only real recommendation would be to treat FAs nicely and hope they do the same for you. If they don't, then I would complain especially in premium cabins.
My only real recommendation would be to treat FAs nicely and hope they do the same for you. If they don't, then I would complain especially in premium cabins.
Sep 28, 2019, 3:21 pm
#20
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Tacoma, WA
Programs: UA Mileage Plus, Alaska Mileage Plan, Marriott Bonvoy
Posts: 82
hey FT,
let me first start by saying that this is in no way indicative of all cabin crews on UA. 98.9% of cabin crews I have experienced have been AMAZING and outstanding in their service to myself and my wife.
i debated about whether to start this thread because maybe im just overly sensitive, but my last flight back from ICN pushed me to write this and see if im crazy or if others feel the same.
Ive taken a lot of UA longhauls TPAC primarily, with SFO -TPE/ICN/HKG and back and what I have sometimes noticed is that older flight attendants who are of Asian ethnicity sometimes treat and look at my wife and I like we are undeserving or spoiled to be sitting in the front of the plane. (Maybe i see more asian FAs due to SFO being my hub and going TPAC)
We sometimes are passed over when we ask for PJs but they are proactively offered to others (who look older than us), we get some looks when we ask for mid-flight snacks or a bit of an attitude (where as others dont) and sometimes I just get the good old Asian grandmother look when they get to me with my meal, like, “heres another spoiled kid that I have to serve” Little things like asking for cheese + ice cream sundae has gotten me a weird look, where they dont bat an eye for other passengers who look a bit older than us.
We are both Asian, in our early 30s and we’ve worked extremely hard to get to where we are in life and have been extremely lucky to have great careers. Sometimes the tickets are GPUd, sometimes they are award bookings, and sometimes they are full fare. We dont dress like slobs (we never wear shorts on the plane, sandals, etc - because both sets of our parents worked in the airline industry and we were always taught to dress appropriately for the cabin) we go out of our way to be kind since we know its a thankless job sometimes - but Its something I cant really ignore anymore.
Does anyone feel the same sentiment sometimes? Or am i just being a snowflake? (Its ok if you think i am! I just need a sanity check)
thanks again FT!
let me first start by saying that this is in no way indicative of all cabin crews on UA. 98.9% of cabin crews I have experienced have been AMAZING and outstanding in their service to myself and my wife.
i debated about whether to start this thread because maybe im just overly sensitive, but my last flight back from ICN pushed me to write this and see if im crazy or if others feel the same.
Ive taken a lot of UA longhauls TPAC primarily, with SFO -TPE/ICN/HKG and back and what I have sometimes noticed is that older flight attendants who are of Asian ethnicity sometimes treat and look at my wife and I like we are undeserving or spoiled to be sitting in the front of the plane. (Maybe i see more asian FAs due to SFO being my hub and going TPAC)
We sometimes are passed over when we ask for PJs but they are proactively offered to others (who look older than us), we get some looks when we ask for mid-flight snacks or a bit of an attitude (where as others dont) and sometimes I just get the good old Asian grandmother look when they get to me with my meal, like, “heres another spoiled kid that I have to serve” Little things like asking for cheese + ice cream sundae has gotten me a weird look, where they dont bat an eye for other passengers who look a bit older than us.
We are both Asian, in our early 30s and we’ve worked extremely hard to get to where we are in life and have been extremely lucky to have great careers. Sometimes the tickets are GPUd, sometimes they are award bookings, and sometimes they are full fare. We dont dress like slobs (we never wear shorts on the plane, sandals, etc - because both sets of our parents worked in the airline industry and we were always taught to dress appropriately for the cabin) we go out of our way to be kind since we know its a thankless job sometimes - but Its something I cant really ignore anymore.
Does anyone feel the same sentiment sometimes? Or am i just being a snowflake? (Its ok if you think i am! I just need a sanity check)
thanks again FT!
Sep 28, 2019, 4:21 pm
#22
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: SFO
Programs: Marriott Ti/LTP
Posts: 1,329
As an Asian male, I've never experienced this and I always am boarding in a t-shirt, shorts, and sandals. Usually with a backpack too. People also tell me they think I'm in my 20s upon first meeting me.
Sep 28, 2019, 4:41 pm
#24
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Denver
Programs: AS, AA, UA, Hilton, Marriott, Caesars DE
Posts: 2,070
Sep 28, 2019, 4:59 pm
#25
Join Date: Oct 2013
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Gold, Hyatt Plat, GE/TSAPre
Posts: 251
It didn't happen to me therefore people who complain it has happened to them are overly sensitive? Hm.
With all that this board knows about UA's "high standards of service", I don't at all find it unlikely that there are actual slights, not perceived slights, happening. I would tend more to assume that the difference in how they are reacted to or complained about is more about people choosing to chalk it up to substandard UA service or actually be upset about it.
From my point of view, I will certainly say that I get more annoyed about service issues like this when I've paid for a J ticket than when I'm in economy.
Sep 28, 2019, 5:07 pm
#26
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 183
The only time I recall seeing something like this personally is when a GA initially denied me pre-boarding and asked me if I was military or if I needed more time (as in I had a disability), I told her I was GS and she said I looked so young, and then immediately apologized because she also realized it sounded discriminatory. I didn't really mind though since I was the only pre-boarder on the entire flight and I still got on before everyone else.
Sep 28, 2019, 5:08 pm
#27
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: トロント
Programs: IHG Gold
Posts: 4,820
It's nothing but backhanded bragging.
Reminds me of the posts you see on a site like tripadvisor when someone says their entire trip to Disney World was ruined because some low level employee did not smile with the appropriate radiance they were expecting.
Sep 28, 2019, 5:13 pm
#28
Join Date: Jan 2013
Programs: Mileage Plus
Posts: 186
Like many older Americans, notwithstanding a more privileged than average middle class standing, I was bought up to believe that "coach" class was just fine and it was the cabin of choice for non-pretentious folks traveling on their own dime. Then I started traveling more and got pretty good at gaming getting tons of UA miles with all sort of crazy offers. So my wife and I started taking TPAC and TATL business class Saver Award flights. Then I got older and less flexible and we (older flyers) all know how "economy" got more and more cramped and unpleasant. Now I only fly at the front of the plane whether on my dime or an award ticket--much harder to do these days. I admit when I first started flying international business, I was a bit shocked to see very young adults in some of those seats. I recognize that one of the nice things about American society is there are a lot of items or services where you can pay a huge range of prices and decide what you want to splurge on and what you want to save on. So I may take a seat in the front of the plane with my entire wardrobe costing less than $100, while someone in the back has a $500 wardrobe. We should all enjoy whatever choices we have.
Sep 28, 2019, 5:31 pm
#29
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: AS 75K, DL Silver, UA Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Platinum + LT Gold
Posts: 10,502
No perceptions, no bragging, just actual observation of my own account, more details:
1) FA greeted pax at boarding door, the person before me and the FA started engaging in a conversation. I decided to go around them, mainly not to hold up the boarding process. As I walked past the galley (seated in 5L) and made the turn, the FA shouted and ran toward me: "sir, you are in the wrong section". I turned and told the FA I was seated in the business cabin, FA retreated.
2) On a separate flight, there was a large number of Chinese pax in the business cabin - normal for a flight departing from PEK. There were no Mandarin speaking FA in the business cabin, at least not on one side of the plane. The FA struggled to take pre-boarding meal orders from pax sitting in front of me. When the FA came to me, I gave my first and second choices. The FA commented on how good of English I spoke.
For the record, neither account above bothered me one bit.
1) FA greeted pax at boarding door, the person before me and the FA started engaging in a conversation. I decided to go around them, mainly not to hold up the boarding process. As I walked past the galley (seated in 5L) and made the turn, the FA shouted and ran toward me: "sir, you are in the wrong section". I turned and told the FA I was seated in the business cabin, FA retreated.
2) On a separate flight, there was a large number of Chinese pax in the business cabin - normal for a flight departing from PEK. There were no Mandarin speaking FA in the business cabin, at least not on one side of the plane. The FA struggled to take pre-boarding meal orders from pax sitting in front of me. When the FA came to me, I gave my first and second choices. The FA commented on how good of English I spoke.
For the record, neither account above bothered me one bit.