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Corporate executive not welcome in the United Airlines first class cabin
The United Airlines bad news machine has been working overtime lately - first they were mocked in the "United breaks guitars" video clip, then they screwed up with that same passenger when they lost his luggage. Today's bad news comes from Dulles airport, where a bald man in a track suit was called to the podium to have his first class upgrade revoked. The reason? He was dressed too casually.
Now, this was no regular bald man in a tacky track suit - this gentleman is Armando Alvarez, a vice president with electronics retailer Best Buy.
Apparently, United Airlines suddenly decided that they'd pretend we are all back in the 60's, and that the first class cabin should only be occupied by people dressed for the occasion.
Mr. Alvarez was interviewed by the Washington DC Fox affiliate and told reporters that he was humiliated and embarrassed. When he tried to contact the customer relations department, nobody responded, and even the Fox reporters couldn't find anyone within United Airlines willing to speak on the matter.
The United Airlines contract of carriage only makes mention of barring barefoot passengers, and I've never encountered a dress code. Non-rev passengers (employees and their friends and family) do need to dress in business casual attire, but that obviously does not apply to paying passengers like Mr. Alvarez.
That said, I'm sure a lot of people would love to see a basic level of decency return to the first class cabin, but to be honest, that part of the plane really isn't all that impressive. A slightly wider seat and some warm nuts don't justify having to put on your Sunday suit for a trip.
After the jump, a video clip from the interview with MyFoxDC.com.
Filed under: North America, United States, Airlines
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
erictheolson Nov 4th 2009 9:28PM
Me and my family always dressed up to fly just incase we moved up to first class. Every body knows up front thats the rules lets keep it that way.
Nick Nov 4th 2009 9:38PM
Scott, when you say that you're "sure a lot of people would love to see a basic level of decency return to the first class cabin", I really hope neither you nor anyone else equates wearing casual clothes with indecency! I wouldn't call someone indecently dressed unless the person is wearing skimpy or dirty clothing. United seems to be living in the Victorian era.
Mike V. Nov 4th 2009 10:20PM
Most all the US domestic carriers are complete jokes.
And they wonder why people are opting to fly with Southwest or Virgin America..
Why is it that if you fly ANY OTHER FLIGHT outside the US is better??
We flew United last year to Amsterdam. They fucked up our tickets before we left, and I had to spend a ton of time straightening it all out. This was a package deal through Expedia, and I was under the impression we were flying Lufthansa.. Long story.
Anyway, the flight from here to O'Hare was complete crap on a shitty plane, from O'Hare to Schiphol, it was great. Same on the way back..
Michelle Nov 5th 2009 12:02AM
If this guy is a first class passenger, who cares if he wants to dress comfortably for his trip? This is air travel, not a fashion show. How shallow.
I see nothing wrong with his outfit from the photo. I can't believe United has nothing better to do than play fashion police with paying customers. When revenue is down, the worst thing you can do is alienate a first class customer by telling them they are "dressed too casually" - at least he is dressed.
One more reason I go out of my way not to fly anymore.
ljbad4life Nov 5th 2009 9:53AM
I am so torn on this issue. On one hand it's sad, that people are judging so superficially, a PAYING customer is thrown out for wearing to casual clothing. It's a track suit (a nice looking one at that). That man paid a lot more for his flight than any of the upgraders.
On the other hand, I think he should have just thrown on a polo shirt and some khakis and been done with it. Restaurants can enforce a dress code so why not airlines? You can still dress comfortably and still look "uppity"
I still fault United because they didn't ask him to change into something what they deem more appropriate, he didn't get the chance to rectify the situation. They do that for coach passengers wearing skimpy clothing.
Shawn Nov 5th 2009 10:17AM
Scott gets 2 points for his use of "warm nuts" in a sentence :)
Some united employee should be fired. Some other united employee should make a public apology. Some other united employee should get that man a butt load of free flight vouchers. Pronto!
Tamahome Jenkins Nov 5th 2009 10:33AM
United should just be grateful that someone would pay so much more for a first class ticket.
DJ Nov 5th 2009 11:24AM
I find your remark about a basic level of decency returning to first class, highly offensive. As long as passengers are behaving and not annoying fellow passengers, who cares what they are wearing? Who decides what's decent or not? When flying, comfort is the key, not style. This man deserves a big apology and a free trip anywhere he wants to go, and yes, IN HIS TRACK SUIT, if he chooses.
Dang Nov 5th 2009 3:47PM
Whatever you are a paying ticket holder, upgraded or free tickets on First Class, you are entitled to the same First Class services and treatment.
People get FC upgraded or free FC tickets because there had spent a lot of money and untitled to the First Class perks and respect as the one who pay FC fare. The paying FC ticket might be a one-timer FC when the upgraded or the free FC ticket holder are the loyal long run customers.
Dress code or hygiene behaviors must be unforced the same whatever the class of travel.
Here, I can guess it's more a case of racial stereotype profiling because of the name of the Mr Alvarez.
By experience UA Red Carpet Lounge personnel provide the worst service of all the partners Airlines of Star Alliance. UA should send them other Star Alliance partner Airlines to learn how to provide service. Here those are the best : THAI, Asiana, Singapore Airlines, Swiss, Lufthansa.
Carol Nov 5th 2009 6:19PM
I think this was a major misunderstanding on the part of the gate agent. I would bet the agent was new, or not experienced in gate procedures, and for some reason thought the customer was on an employee buddy pass. People do make mistakes, and it seems that this has been blown way out of proportion. I agree, the customer deserves an apology, but whats the big deal...a few nuts. Besides, I bet that was a small plane anyway, with no meal service. Save the upgrade for a better flight!!!
Sue Nov 9th 2009 11:36PM
If you read the story correctly it was a first class upgrade not a paid first class ticket. What people are forgetting is that air travel used to be very different. Flying now is like taking a bus. I am guilty of traveling in very casual attire myself. I flew first class to Italy over the summer and wore comfortable sweat pants for the long flight. My ticket was not an upgrade but still I am happy I wasn't asked to move to the back of the plane. If they thought he was too casually dressed, I agree they should have asked him if he had more proper attire rather than being denied his upgrade. They have a right to give upgrades to whomever they want but was it really worth all of this bad PR?
I agree with Carol that it's possible the mistake was actually the gate agent thinking he was traveling on a buddy pass and didn't meet the dress requirements.