Imagine paying for first class, only to downgrade yourself to a lower cabin due to bad service. That’s allegedly what happened to a traveler on a recent transatlantic American Airlines flight.
Continue reading: Vogue Editor Downgrades Herself From American First Class Due To Bad Service
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
There are a number of conclusions to be drawn between this event and those of other ‘influencers’ of the same persuasion. However, one could not possibly highlight the similarities due to the prejudices directed towards ‘older white gentlemen’. One thing I would like to add is that this influencer will never need to be afraid of being called a Lady.
Not defending American Airlines necessarily here, but JFK-MXP is operated by a 777-200ER which doesn't have Flagship First. The only aircraft that have this cabin are the 77W and A321T and the cabins and product are on their way out, as 77W mods get underway and the A321T is converted to domestic configurations, replaced by XLRs.
Also, JFK-MXP isn't AA's sole route to Milan. The airline flies PHL-MXP seasonally, launched in 2025.
I really not surprised the level of service in the premium cabins on AA is now appalling as is the food.
I've stopped reading at "micro-aggression". If these people really seem to have a problem with white people, why don't they move to a country without whites?
It is easy for one to deduce from this situation (in common with other influencer complaints in a similar vein), that the story has more holes than and smells worse than a Limburger cheese.
Not at all surprised. I am a 5’ woman, albeit white, and I consistently receive lesser service in premium cabins than my male counterparts.
Lucky, the cesspit of comments on many of your posts are, of course, great for engagement, views, and ultimately your profit. It’s pronounced on these posts that generate rage and frustration, particularly about identity issues and political ones. I’d challenge you on this: as you think about the world you want for your family, is the profit/engagement gained worth the trade-off allowing the anger and vitriol, the pure unabated hatred of some of online trolls to fan the flames of division in society?
I’d respectfully ask you to consider removing the comments section altogether on posts like this and posts that mention the topic du jour from the FAA/DOT. Those comments sections are just so hate-filled in every direction, it’s painful to watch.
Flight attendants are there for safety not for service.
If she got there in one piece she should be grateful.
With that kind of attitude no wonder they treated her poorly.
The crew aren't paid enough to put up with her tantrums.
*Insert other excuses here*
Abk, apparently like you my own dear wife is vertically challenged and a most frequent F or occasionally J passenger. She has never commented upon being subjected to a “Lesser service”, than me. In point of fact she enjoys the attention of many of the male FA’s, especially on SQ and our recent AF LP trip. Could it be the non-U.S. airline FA’s are much better at the whole customer service experience?
@Aero
As expected. It is telling that every comment from you on a story about a minority - they are always in the wrong. I will repost this comment that you have just made when the story is about a non-minority.
Sean M, one must take issue with your comment “Flight attendants are there for safety not for service”. An FA’s job description describes a number of critical skills required and “Service” is most definitely one of them, yes?
Justin, I have just taken time out to login (a tedious process) so that I might give you a helpful vote. Thank you for the grin on this wet Sunday morning.
AA has by far the industry worst flight attendants. They barely do the job. Two days ago, I flew Virgin Atlantic in premium economy from JFK to LHR. The crew was simply outstanding. There is a true service culture and they genuinely care about the passengers. But I’m sure the same applies for UA and DL.
If you want good service on a US carrier in a premium cabin, you had best come on board with a $10-20 box of chocolates. Provide the box of chocolates to the crew immediately after boarding and you will receive excellent service. It's that simple.
David, I cannot help but smile at your comment above. May I simply say that comments mean clicks for Ben’s business. Clicks mean points and points equals flights. As for flights, most look forward to reading the flight reviews.
The bottom line is simple …. No comments = No flight reviews, yes?
Stopped reading the moment she mentioned the skin color of others. Let’s hope she gets the help she needs.
Justin, has it not occurred to you that the women actually protest too much. The protests are always in the same vein, on very similar topics and almost consistently directed towards Caucasian individuals.
One is simply pointing out the obvious regular patterns which are underlying factors in most cases. It is always about ‘them’ being slighted and ‘their’ need to “Protect (their) emotional and mental well being”. Always the victim and never the cause, yes?
My wife says that she has absolutely no dress sense …. I couldn’t possibly comment!
I'm sorry, but this story is so flimsy, on several fronts:
1) There is absolutely no mention of American Airlines in her tweet. In fact, one of the media reports about this clearly admits this: "It was not immediately clear which airline Karefa-Johnson flew with" - https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/vogue-editor-gabriella-karefa-johnson-first-class-plane-b2928339.html
2) She offers absolutely no detail about what really happened, just her overall interpretation/conclusion. C'mon man. How about a factual point by point detailing of everything that went wrong, and then we can draw our own conclusions about whether this was in fact a case of discrimination, or maybe just normal AA surliness, or perhaps (just perhaps) her being a diva....
I understand Americans having to fly US-based carriers for domestic flights but why even do so for international flights??? Suckers for punishment????
Ah, yes, the young Black woman "should be grateful." Thanks for showing us who you are.
How do we know which airline she's talking about? Is there an image? Is there more text?
I flew JFK-MXP on AA in December in J and am not surprised. No hello at the door, FA came by with pdbs and didn’t say a thing, I didn’t notice her since I was sending a text, and then she barks “hurry up and pick one, cmon.” Then I requested the express service meal so I could maximize sleep, same FA says “it’s all express.” Ok. Then, over 2 hours after takeoff (on a 6.5 hr flight time) she finally plonks a tray with the main, starter nuts and drink (so no seperate initial drink service either). I ask her not to wake me for breakfast. 2.5 hours later she’s pushing me almost violently saying “ breakfast, breakfast.” So yeah, pretty much no sleep either. While my flight was on a 77E without F, I’ve had some horrible experiences on the 77W and 321T Fs too, especially the transcons which are de facto non-rev class. And sadly AA is the only Oneworld option that does nonstop to Milan.
Ridiculous, you pay for a service.
If people dont want to be in a service role, pick another job.
Assuming it was a non-stop flight and AA doesn't run the 77W on that route, could it have been Emirates?
Given the actual historical reason that black people came to the US in the first place, this is maybe one of the most hilarious, uneducated, ironic, laughable comments i've ever seen. congrats!!
"Former" Vogue reporter says it all. Another moron that hasn't realized the younger generation really doesn't carry about their overpriced fashion magazine or the pompous empty spaces that used to work there.
In a response to a commenter, she says the flight where incident occurred was to London segment as she specifically took that segment as it’s one of the few that still have first. https://www.threads.com/@gabriellak_j/post/DVK53dvDhL6?xmt=AQF0L-j-7gTWgVaPrKae7e6-9rYvZdvxYntmQ1f4KgeDequ0BqvkscKiChiQCLn_gmkUwhc&slof=1
And she also mentions she’s a concierge key member.
Ben, you need to slow down on volume and improve on quality. Many of your recent posts, including this one, is simply garbage with zero backup. You clearly are not a journalist but rather a pedestrian blogger with a wide reach. How do you live with yourself trashing companies with zero to no backup? Do some work beyond puking up somebody's crazy post on your blog.
Ben, gonna criticize you here.
I expect more from you. Do a better job of researching before you post.
I went to the actual post. The author clarifies that she was on AA JFK-LHR which does operate with FC. She is responding to comments from others. It was a two minute search. She also claims that she is concierge key. This would have been relevant.
You are the only av blog I follow. Don’t make change that
Understood. The flight crew would absolutely have known she was a CK.
In the absence of a J FA coming forward to assist with F service, that's been single-FA service since COVID started. When it's single-FA service, it accentuates the capabilities of the FA. It might not be attitude as much as it is the capabilities of the FA. Having been in F on that route many times, as a CK, I've had FAs who simply aren't up to the job when it's been single-FA service. And, when they're stressed, it comes through in their demeanor. I've experienced it. Same on transcon.
In the end, it is a management decision that has precipitated the scenario.
Emirates flies first class ON AN A380 nonstop New York to Milan. Service is usually top notch (even in economy).
She conpletrly ost my respect for flying awful AA via terrible LHR.
Well we found our next civil rights icon, a black woman flying in international first class that isn't fully satisfied with the service. If there was ever a more tragic case then I never saw it. How much money do we need to pay her to make our collective white guilt go away?
Throwing-shade at JFK-crews and NYC in-general... so, you can't handle our DIRECTNESS. LOL.
As a Passport Bro, you must know more than her (and all of us normies).
Please, do re-educate us, Dr. Toboggan.
I’m white. I carry no guilt for the way other white people have treated black people today and in the past.
Recognizing that black people suffer racism today and in the past doesn't require you to feel guilt about it. Unless you are one of the white people being racist.
It’s simple; if you as an individual are not racist and don’t exhibit racist behavior, you don’t have anything to feel guilt about.
I’m assuming she mentions that because she observed that their treatment was different to her own. I didn’t read her comment and think she was attacking them for being white.
Five of six passenger were white… what does she want, racial quotas in first class? One seat for hispanics, one seat for asian pacific, one seat for native americans, etc?
Maybe since she is a ‘former’ Vogue editor she only has the ability to look at pictures, not write anything of substance.
It seems to me this post just inherently sympathizes with her based on claims of "microaggressions" without identifying a specific action.
Claims of microaggressions might be valid, but they also might be in the head of the person alleging them. I once had someone complain that I wasn't using eye contact because they were Muslim, when in fact I struggle with eye contact with everyone.
Anyways, frankly I find this entire post to be a microaggesssion against me. I will hereby downgrade myself to TPG.
😉
If that's true, then it reminds me of US tipping culture. "Don't expect me to do my job with a smile unless you give me something extra."
I bring a $50 box of chocolates on the JAL flights for the staff to / from Tokyo, and I am flying in first.
If first was full, business class was full. How on earth did she "downgrade" herself from first to business? One cannot move around from seat to seat or class of service to class of service. The flight is an 8 hour flight. The last time I flew first international on AA I went to sleep immediately and didn't bother with the food or service.
Sorry, but I am not on her side without more explanation. I kept reading to find an expanded version of what actually happened, but none came. WHAT DID HE ACTUALLY DO TO YOU, MY DEAR?
She clearly flies this route in F on AA often, so the service must have been notably worse than usual. This wasn't a kneejerk reaction, unlike some of the comments...
hi - you mean on OMMAT or some place else? I don’t post much outside of commenting occasionally. Thanks!
"Micro-aggressions"? Bitch, please. If you go through life desperately searching for things to cry "racism!" about, then sooner or later everything seems racist. An increasingly large number of people are sick to death of these insufferable, hyper-woke, Park Slope-dinner-party types who see the entire world through a lens of oppression. Grow up, lady. You're not a college kid anymore.
Is it possible to get terrible service in AA F? Absolutely. But let’s hear specific examples about what happened instead of vague “microaggression” complaints. Reads like a DYKWIA with potentially unfounded racism accusations sprinkled in, unserious and unnecessary.
Out of curiosity, how is it decided on the day who works the most premium cabin on AA long haul flights?
Is it just someone that puts their hand up? Is it randomly allocated?
Does AA have different 'categories' of crew? For example, many airlines have crew that have to do further training (which is often an application process) to work in First and/or Business Class?
I agree with others. I think when people want to use a high profile platform to complain they should at least be specific with details of service failures. Feelings don't always equal facts.
So what was poor about the service
Avoid words like rude etc as I that is someone’s perception whether justified or not
Tell us what was said or what was done substandard
Giving us conclusions without supporting evidence confirms why the person is a former editor
Perhaps someone’s sense of entitlement was not fulfilled to their satisfaction
Not everything is about race
How dare you ask for evidence?! She's a strong, independent black; sorry, Black; woman who's aggrieved, and that's all the evidence anyone needs that the FA was a racist misogynist. Educate yourself. (/sarcasm.)
These comments are so predictable it's hardly shocking anti-Black microagressions and racism continue to permeate US life. Sigh.
Right...because calling her "bitch" isn't a micro- , or even macro, aggression, right? lol
AeroB13a, has it not occurred to you that you actually post too much. The posts are always in the same vein, on very similar topics and almost consistently directed towards other readers.
There is a reason Kanye described her “This is not a fashion person”.
She's just trying to create controversial contents.
Her Wikipedia page also notes that,
"In October 2023, Karefa-Johnson left Vogue due to the discomfort she felt at Conde Nast as an outspoken critic of the Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip."
Being around anyone who disagrees with you is an existential threat. Shame on Conde Nast for not providing her with a psychologically safe work environment! I do wonder how she's still a Concierge Key member, since she's now a "nobody". AA might want to look into that.
Why not go ahead and say those things on here? Say it with your chest you little bitch.
Did you fail reading comprehension? Maybe read the article start to finish and ask yourself again if this is what she was after.
Possibly but I have experienced it all over the world. Honestly, the biggest perpetrators are usually female FA as opposed to male.
Now Crybaby! For your information, right ….
I am a “White” person and I use this comments page. However, just for the record like many others, I am definitely NOT crying.
Like the other “White people” who find the behaviour of women like the subject person suspicious, your post is extremely offensive. It smacks of racism at its heart. The use of the victim card, the accusation of being a privileged white person card and the all too common race card, is becoming tedious. You are sounding tedious actually.
Get over whatever is eating at your conscience, take time out to adjust your moral compass, furthermore, stop accusing others of that which they are clearly not, yes?
so what exactly are micro-aggressions in this case? i would probably just call it insolent, rude behavior. Guess speaking with the chief purser on board wouldn't help, as with her status they should have been falling over her whenever they could in appreciation for her loyalty. glad i stopped flying American years ago and never intend to ever fly them again. why pay to be insulted?
ah the comments by all men. as one of the women who always flies first class (when I HAVE to fly commercial) - I can 100% echo her experience. I am nearly always one of the only women in first or business..when there are others they are often the partner of the primary flier as one can tell by the conversation or by the way they clearly don't fly often (although even allowing for the potential that they are the primary fliers, there are rarely many other women)....and the flight attendants ROUTINELY treat me less well than they treat the men....or even my husband when he flies with me. I expect service - not luxury service - but not craptastic, attitude filled junk service , which is often reserved for women, even while the men get some decent level of bland. In return, I am a well behaved passenger who is generally completely self reliant, never presses the call button, and is prepared and doesn't slow down the usual processes. Call out this blatant misogyny mixed with racism. Its gross and annoying, and you clueless (thats the nicest thing I am willing to bother to call you) men in the comments can go pound sand.
Hey EskimoBot, thank you so much for giving me this opportunity to respond to your troll. The old saying of ‘the kettle calling the pot black’ comes to mind, don’t you know?
Yes you are correct, I sometimes do post quite a lot. I believe that it is my civic duty to aid Ben, in his quest for clicks. Because ExkimoBot, clicks mean points and points mean flights. Following Ben’s flights one can enjoy the reviews …. Yes?
The “Vein” of which you refer to …. could that be my comments about narcissism expressed by the likes of the subject U.S.‘influencer’ types who make an exhibition of themselves when flying? Or could it be my comments about those who pull out the victim, racism or antisemitism cards …. Yes?
No EskimoBot, what you are really posting about is the fact that you dislike that I do to you that which you do to others …. Again a big …. Yes!
Your micro aggressive comment really troubles me. You are invading my place of privilege.
Sorry but she comes across as racist and entitled. Micro aggressions?? Honey, life is filled with all sorts of people who say what they want. Sounds like you spent too much time in your college safe place. Clearly had you spoken to the FA you’d have gotten whatever it was you wanted. The rest is drama
As a Concierge Key, she should know better than the rest of us that service on AA is less than fabulous and that the only thing you get in first on the 777 is a bigger bed (not better food or service). While I believe that she had poor service and that it included a micro-aggression (or 10), I don’t see the need to bring race into conversation. If she had asked the other passengers, chances are high that they had a similar experience to her… they just wanted the bigger bed and wrote off the rest.
While I appreciate your thoughts on unfriendly flight attendants on American, I think you discounted her experience especially the micro aggressions she experienced. She clearly flies this flight frequently and is well versed in this route and the American airline unfriendly service out of jfk. She wasn’t complaining of just bad service but tiny insidious remarks/ actions against the color of her skin. Apparently it was so bad, that she needed to remove herself. Bad service doesn’t necessitate removal of oneself from a situation, but racism sure does.
When stupid idiots were created you were first in line. Now go kiss your hero DEI Kammys ass and put your skinny jeans on you little bitch.
Hmm.... firstly I'm sensing a strong hint of DYKWIA, a touch of the princess syndrome, and implied, but not spelt out, racism'.
On the other hand it was rotten luck for her that it was 5 white dudes and her making up the cabin, with a horrible FA.
Self-downgrading to business was drama queen stuff though.
Different circumstances
I did the same when my seatmate in first class was very sick in first class coughing up blood sneezing and vomiting
I assumed wrong American would give me credit or a confirmable flight upgrade on a future flight
They told me because I downgraded on my own to stuff it 🙁 I thought wrong
She Lost me at "micro-agressions." I’m guessing DYKWIA.
But I did have my own experience, when I was flying solo on Corcorde at 15yo. At checkin, 2 agents tried to tell me I was in the wrong line. I didn’t go to SM to whine.
As an AA Frequent Flyer, she should know that AA First Class is not worth it. Not to mention the LHR transfer from T3 to T5. No thank you.
I am tired of all the "offended by everything" attitude. I've had great service and poor service. Same with my minority wife. When something doesn't go right my wife doesn't play the race card. Sounds like she either had an attitude that caused issues with the Flight Attendant, and race baiting because she was the only woman in first. Sounds like she has a bit of racism herself. She needs to get over it.
I understand AA has given up on First Class and will be getting rid of it entirely. Last time I travelled in First on AA, you get your meal on a cafeteria tray. Really? Subpar service is standard.
There is honestly not enough info for me to be outraged or to defend. I'm certainly not going to go from zero to venom so easily. But that's the world we live in where we think everyone needs to know our opinion and business. She can certainly handle this on another way if it's that important and people commenting and should keep it zipped until they have more info.
I take Ben to task to be so negative toward AA staff with so little information provided by the ex-Conde Nast employee. Who knows or doesn't know that this person has a perennial chip on her shoulder towards any and all persons or situations that runs counter to her personal sense of well-being. I stay away from such persons for such a demeanor.
I have a good friend who I adore who is an AA FA out of JFK. I love her, but wouldn't want to fly with her if she weren't my friend. The way she talks about pax is hysterical when you're on the ground, but not if she's providing your service. The best part is that her husband is a DL Diamond. He won't fly AA, even on a pass.
Despite the many snarky comments from likely white men here, anybody who has a bit of melanin expressed in their appearance knows how weird US-based white folks can be towards them, and weird often drifts into offensive, condescending, denigrating, etc. From there it's a short distance to unacceptable or intolerable.
The ones with a lot of privilege don't notice this because it doesn't affect them and empathy isn't an American trait (to say the least). An easy test is if they say they're "color blind" then you know it's all privilege...
Anyway, more than even odds that she got some treatment that was past her personal threshold for racist behavior that day. Maybe normal for that route and FA base like Ben suspects? I don't know, but the Snarky White Guys battalion don't know either.
This pax impressed two things upon me.
First, her "story" smacks of privilege. First class, NYC publishing, Concierge Key, etc. It's hard to have any sympathy with her over phantom micro-agressions.
Second, her reference to the race of the other F pax coupled with her general attitude demonstrates just how insecure she is. Obviously, she thinks so-called Whites are actually better since they received superior service, in her opinion. She's the one elevating others based on their race.
Excellent comment. This young lady is deeply insecure, and has no idea who she really is. Intensive exploratory psychotherapy is required.
Nobody can make you feel inferior unless you let them. If you're walking around with a huge chip on your shoulder, you'll see racism and generalised bigotry everywhere. So much for the myth of the "strong, independent (B)lack woman".
The problem is that doing this will only get attention as done with articles like this and people talking about it. The truth is the AA attendants on the flight and/or the other staff do not care so downgrading yourself will not make them consider the situation. If she is really high status with AA then she probably knows how AA treats their customers. If she's based in NYC, an AA hub, she likely obtained that status because of using them for work for many years.
“Microaggression” = I did not get showered with attention that I deserve as a Kween. Ooga booga (*munches bananas and rice in despair*).
Don't think too hard about the practicalities of this person downgrading themselves, otherwise you might start to realize it's complete BS. I'm sure she got bad service. Everyone gets bad service on AA. The FAs simply do not care enough to discriminate. They don't think about you at all. They're horrible to everyone.
I am based in DFW and have worked for a DFW-based company, so many of my colleagues also fly AA. Because of its dominance in DFW and its convenience, we fly AA a lot. We all agree that one consistent truth in AA is general disappointment with service. I also have a close acquaintance who is a very "sassy" personality and veteran AA flight attendant (10+ years) - I would not want to be in a cabin serviced by her, based on personal observations. Anyways, the point being, given the subject's position and status, I would imagine she had options and elected FC because she is likely a bit of an elitist (slum it in biz class with the corporate plebs??), since anyone who flies AA knows you aren't going to AA for service, and in many cases, the hard product either, so you kind of get what you get. AA can change, but years from seeing any consistency, if it happens at all. Until then, fly something else and stop complaining.
I encountered an AA FA yesterday at JFK airport, on the ground. I had just arrived on BA and the AA FA has also just arrived into the immigration area. The AA FA's attitude was hostile. She expected passengers to get out of her way and she acted as if she had the right of way. Unbelievable.
She downgraded herself for her own well-bring not as a protest move to influence flight attendants.
Your comments in this thread suggest you are an incredibly intolerant person who believes his truth is universal truth. Get over yourself.
Another black female victim story, quite old and dumb argument. Nobody believes them anymore, next
I tend to roll my eyes when someone uses the term micro-aggression but in this instance I am somewhat willing to think she has a point, especially after reading the comments. I've flown in executive cabins dressed like a bag of sh*t and still received first class treatment and I have noticed the same FAs treat others differently. I'm a middle aged white dude. Is that why? Can't be sure but I've never once felt like I was being profiled. To be fair I've never flown American in my life, so could be an airline thing.
I can’t believe this woman actually posted this. Wow. If ever there was a case of racism…she just personified it. What a privileged, ridiculous, horrible person she is. She should be ashamed of herself…she “downgraded herself to business class”, lmao. You just can’t cure stupid. What an ignorant, self centered, completely un- self aware person.
This post has some peculiarities . . and some further info is in order.
1. Was the FA the purser, or just assigned to work that cabin? If they were not the purser, then why wasn't the purser involved? CK is generally accorded the highest level of individual attention and service, so there is a ball that was dropped somewhere.
2. How many of the other five passengers were also CK? A friendly query of at least a couple of the other PAX in the cabin might have turned up some interesting info/perspectives. Maybe they would even prove to be a comrade that would have followed your lead into Business Class (I suspect the minicabin just behind First was fully occupied, so that would have also posed another twist; who would really want to change cabins with TWO PAX? Something weird is going on, and now the whole minicabin is alerted to some kind of issue.
3. If the issue was indeed a single individual FA, did our CK get the FA's badge number? That move alone will have a profound ripple effect especially up the management chain.
4. If the primary goal is sleeping in First Class, then it's time to simply change to Emirates. JFK/MXP is a longstanding route, and the onboard showers aren't too shabby either. . .