If theres one thing Ive learned over the past six years of being a frequent flyer, its that you really shouldnt judge what cabin people are flying in based on their age, appearance, etc. Back when I was 15 and top tier elite with United, I remember frequently being told wrong line, buddy when I…
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OMG Lucky, I thought that was you in the Thai First Class lounge! I should have came-up and said hi.
@ Roxanne -- Were you the one on the flight, or where were you headed? Too bad we missed each other.
@ Ian M -- Hah, close call.
I spotted a similar couple in TK F JFK-IST. I cheat and look at the manifest in the gallery. Sure enough, they were FO (F cabin, O fare basis) like me. Everyone else I saw on the manifests both ways was FF (F cabin, F fare).
I profile the same way. It's fairly easy to tell (sometimes). I strike up a convo and ask how often they fly the product, etc. We're in a metal tube together traveling at 500 miles an hour several miles up in the sky, people tend to talk to you when they're confined.
Oh and Luck, that room in your TG F lounge pic at BKK is usually the one I choose when I'm not in one of the "Slumber Rooms" but the electrical outlets are falling apart and half the time I can't get any MacBook Jewce. Have they fixed them yet?
JRL
Lucky - I was not that woman on your flight. I was heading in the opposite direction.
As an aside, I actually snagged 2 seats in F on the CDG-BKK TG flight as a o/w redemption from the US to SIN DO 2012. I can't wait for the full tr and my trip ...
This entry reminded me of an F award I took a few years ago. (LAX-PHL, an internationally configured 767, my plane/flight of choice at that time) I was in booked in F and waiting to board. Someone who I think saw my boarding pass asked me when I bought my ticket and how much I paid for it. It seemed strange for him to ask, but I told him it was an award ticket. He then marched over to the gate and started yelling about being a "Chairman's Preferred" (USAir) and how he should get my seat because he was such a great customer.
The gate agent came over to me and asked if I'd take a later flight to accommodate a businessman on a tight schedule. He was so loud, I heard the entire exchange. He said nothing about schedule. I asked the agent when the next flight was (2 hours) and if she could put me in F (only standby). I said no, he kept complaining. She came back to me and said that she'd have to move me to coach. I told her I had heard the entire exchange and that no one ever asked me about my status (USAir Gold that year, Chairmans the year before). I told her, loudly and assertively, since that apparently works, that I had my own status and to get a gate supervisor.
That person heard my story, heard the gate agent (privately) and heard the loudmouth CPref. Gate agent walked (was sent?) away, I boarded F, and cPref boarded in coach.
Since then, I've followed "don't ask, don't tell, don't guess."
I use the TG/F lounge at BKK at least three times a year. It's a lot tougher now that UA leaves BKK at 0605 (the lounge opens at 0515), but even at 15 minutes I'm happy 🙂
UA 804 (renumbered from 838) ex-BKK to NRT retimes to 0710 this winter 🙂
@Steve Kalman,
Are you saying the gate agent wanted to take the ticket you paid for and sit you in coach to accommodate a self-entitled moron in getting a free upgrade? Your status should have never mattered! You had a ticket and a boarding pass!