Upgrades are based on availability. Rude Person
Mar 18, 2007, 3:51 pm
#46
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: SAN
Programs: UA 1P /Starwood Gold/Hyatt Plat/UA RCC
Posts: 1,535
Sorry to hear about your story. The guy is a total idiot and I would never let him look at my boarding pass. Some 1K’s think they own the airplane.
I hope the FA gets special recognition for what she did. This guy should have his status taken away
I hope the FA gets special recognition for what she did. This guy should have his status taken away
Mar 18, 2007, 4:51 pm
#47
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Princeton, NJ; Lviv Ukraine
Programs: UA 3.6MM, AF/KL Lifetime Plat, BA Gold, AA 1MM, IC Spire RA, Kimpton IC, Marriott Plat, et alia
Posts: 2,732
Congratulations to you for refraining from punching the racist, self-centered jerk. You are far more patient than I might have been in that situation.
Seriously, I know travel can be stressful, but ...? There's no excuse for that kind of behavior. I hope that guy isn't an FTer.
Seriously, I know travel can be stressful, but ...? There's no excuse for that kind of behavior. I hope that guy isn't an FTer.
Elite status comes with elite responsibilities.
Noblesse oblige ... Obviously, this 1K does not know how to behave in public. Must be one of those nouveau elites; cretins with more miles than breeding.
Kudos to you, pvtwong and to the GA for handling the situation with distinction. Semper fi.
Mar 18, 2007, 5:25 pm
#48
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: LAX ("QLA" as necessary!)
Programs: UA 1P (residual DL, US, AS), SPG
Posts: 1,357
What a loser. Besides the obvious disgusting behavior on his part, it should be remembered that there is usually no talking sense into people like this.
Not only did he jump to conclusions about your "upgrades," but that you are immigrants. You could be tourists, for all he knew. I would consider his grabbing your father's boarding pass an assault, and should be treated as such.
Not only did he jump to conclusions about your "upgrades," but that you are immigrants. You could be tourists, for all he knew. I would consider his grabbing your father's boarding pass an assault, and should be treated as such.
Mar 18, 2007, 6:29 pm
#49
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 523
post deleted at request...
Last edited by albatross; Mar 19, 2008 at 4:34 am
Mar 18, 2007, 6:38 pm
#50
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Shared Troll
Programs: The Marina. Comic Relief. UA 1K and 1MM. MacBook Pro.
Posts: 1,913
Therefore, I have a a feature request for Randy and the rest of the FT Technology Team:
"Show the users who have read a specific thread and how many times"
No doubt that "Entitled_NYC_1K" has hit re-load more times than the Google Search bot has indexed the updates to this thread.
Mar 18, 2007, 8:19 pm
#51
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Gaithersburg, MD
Programs: UA 1P
Posts: 184
It upsets me when the race card has to be played. Come on, just because you are an elite, does not make you above everyone else. Sorry that you didn't get your upgrade and if you really want that seat, don't be cheap, buy it. Airlines can only upgrade you when there is a seat available. Upgrades are not guaranteed. When you don't expect it, you won't be disappointed when you don't get it. IT is uncalled for when he said all those things. I am sure it was just the heat of the moment but it really hurts. I came to United States 15 years ago. Served in the US Marine Corps for 8 years. I am just as an American as he is. I am glad the purser took the appropriate action and made our flight enjoyable.
I'm impressed with the purser's state of mind and willingness to deny boarding. I'd love to have seen the discussion between this jerk and the Captain. BTW, really nice thing to do for the parents!
Last edited by dgolding; Mar 18, 2007 at 8:26 pm
Mar 18, 2007, 8:26 pm
#52
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: DREAD Gold; UA 1.035MM; Bonvoy Au-197; PCC Elite+; CCC Elite+; MSC C-12; CWC Au-197; WoH Dis
Posts: 52,140
Mar 18, 2007, 8:51 pm
#53
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Southern California
Programs: UA 1KMMGS, EK Skywards Silver, SPG Gold,
Posts: 920
I've posted this story before here, but it so plays into this scene that i have to do so again.
Back in the old days - when you could go to the gate and pick up your boarding pass - I got onto about a ten person line at EWR. I knew i was upgraded, so I was relaxed. At the front of the line was a mid thirties, well dressed, fairly shrill, businesswoman. I knew she was shrill because we all listened to her loudly berate the GA for a solid five minutes plus, in regards to his inability to upgrade somebody as obviously important as she. She tried every trick in the book, but eventually stormed off, stage left, swearing she'd never fly UA again.
At this point, the gentleman in front of me turned towards me and in a voice reminiscent of James Earls Jones intoned, "First Class is the way you live your life - not a seat on an airplane"
Words I've never forgotten and which would whistle from one ear to the other on your protagonist.
Back in the old days - when you could go to the gate and pick up your boarding pass - I got onto about a ten person line at EWR. I knew i was upgraded, so I was relaxed. At the front of the line was a mid thirties, well dressed, fairly shrill, businesswoman. I knew she was shrill because we all listened to her loudly berate the GA for a solid five minutes plus, in regards to his inability to upgrade somebody as obviously important as she. She tried every trick in the book, but eventually stormed off, stage left, swearing she'd never fly UA again.
At this point, the gentleman in front of me turned towards me and in a voice reminiscent of James Earls Jones intoned, "First Class is the way you live your life - not a seat on an airplane"
Words I've never forgotten and which would whistle from one ear to the other on your protagonist.
Mar 18, 2007, 8:52 pm
#54
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Central CT
Programs: UA MM/1K, SPG Lifetime Plat, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Diamond, HH Gold, Natl Exec Elite
Posts: 1,490
Mar 18, 2007, 9:11 pm
#55
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Phoenix
Programs: UA1k;HH Gold;MR Gold
Posts: 6,112
In Yiddish it means - loosely translated - a$$hole
I believe that was the way the poster intended it
Mar 18, 2007, 9:20 pm
#56
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Redwood City, CA USA (SFO/SJC)
Programs: 1K 2010, 1P in 2011, Plat for 2012,13,14,15 & 2016. Gold in 17 & 18, Plat since
Posts: 8,826
Dang, that guy would have made a great lowly 2P. ^ (That's meant as a compliment, which might not be recognized by those who haven't read my posts
)
Mar 18, 2007, 9:29 pm
#57
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: DREAD Gold; UA 1.035MM; Bonvoy Au-197; PCC Elite+; CCC Elite+; MSC C-12; CWC Au-197; WoH Dis
Posts: 52,140
Mar 18, 2007, 9:48 pm
#58
Join Date: Feb 2006
Programs: UA, Starwood, Priority Club, Hertz, Starbucks Gold Card
Posts: 3,953
OP: By the way, thanks for serving our country.
Last edited by sinoflyer; Mar 18, 2007 at 9:51 pm Reason: added comment
Mar 18, 2007, 9:51 pm
#59
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: DREAD Gold; UA 1.035MM; Bonvoy Au-197; PCC Elite+; CCC Elite+; MSC C-12; CWC Au-197; WoH Dis
Posts: 52,140