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Top ten ways to become an obnoxious business traveler

In my many years of travel, I've come across my fair share of completely obnoxious assholes. The kind of traveler that flies mainly for business, on tickets paid for by his or her boss. They usually have a ton of status, but because they never pay for these tickets themselves, they have earned themselves a false sense of entitlement.
You'll laugh at these things - but they are all from real people I've encountered.
"DYKWIA"
Don't just "have status" - wear it!
Don't settle for knowing you are an elite "platinum global services 1K member" - buy a lanyard and wear your elite status card around your neck. This way people can see how important you are. Wave the card at anyone that gets in your way.
Remember the phrase "this is not your cabin"

Once you are settled in your first class seat, pay close attention to people who don't look like they belong in your cabin. Feel free to tell them that the economy class cabin is in the back of the plane. Apply the same logic in the elite boarding line at the gate, or the elite check-in desk. Bonus points for using the phrase "shoo" in your rant.
Always remember that you are more important than the airline staff
If an airline employee gives you a hard time, remind them that you are more important, that you make more money, and that you pay their salary. It is important to make sure these people know their place. The phrase "I pay your salary" is a sure way to remind them that they need to help you.
Always carry too much luggage
Don't settle for checking bags, that is for tourists and people with floral pattern luggage. All your bags belong in the main cabin. Ignore the gate agents talking about how many pieces of luggage you are allowed as those rules don't apply to you.
Boarding first is a sign of how important you are

Being in "group one" is a bit of an insult to you - the airline needs to invent a secret "group zero" for people with your status. So, when you arrive at the gate, be sure to walk up towards the boarding doors and make it obvious that you will be boarding first. The objective here is to prevent being blocked by the status-less riff-raff.
Talk loudly on your phone
Remember that your loud and obnoxious phone calls are another way to show people how important you are. Use lots of big words to confuse the uneducated people listening in on your call.
Also, don't forget to keep talking when you approach a customer service desk. Your call is always more important than their time. Walk up to the desk, hand them your ticket, and use hand movements to explain what you want them to do - but don't stop talking, no matter how unimportant the call may be.
Tell, don't ask
When requesting changes from the airline, always tell them, don't ask them. The commoners "ask" for an earlier flight - you tell the airline what you want, and demand that it happens.
The flight attendant is once again the stewardess
Forget the whole "we are here for your safety" mantra - the flight attendant is actually a stewardess. Think of them as your personal servant. Don't settle for "a coke" - make insane demands. Ask for two and a half slices of lime with your coke. Or a coke with 4 ice cubes. Anything to make their lives just a little more miserable is going to make you feel a little happier with yourself.
Always take your time
Never let anyone rush you. If you are blocking the aisle when everyone wants to disembark, relax for a moment. Take your time to put your jacket on, turn on your phone and check your messages, and don't worry about the 140 people standing behind you. They are nowhere near as important as you.
(opening image: Getty)












Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
MVFlyer Mar 4th 2010 11:58AM
The "do you know who I am" line reminds me of a story: a self-important person pulled this line out on a flight attendant, and she immediately went to the PA system and said: "We have a passenger here who doesn't know who he is. Can anyone help him remember?"
Knocked him right down into place.
Laurel Miller Mar 4th 2010 12:22PM
Aah, Scott. This made my day. Hilarious.
Chris Peck Mar 4th 2010 7:22PM
Ahh - we had one of those in coach awhile back. Just before takeoff the Flight Attendant asked this fellow to please put his seat in the upright position, he said he would when we started taking off. She explained to him twice more to do so, he argued each time, finally he put it up. (I thought for sure she was going to bump him fromthe plane). Right after she walked by he pushed it back all the way again. The funny thing is that another pilot was sitting right behind him, the pilot leaned forward and whispered something in his ear, he immediately turned red and put his seat in the upright position and shut up.
Phi Mar 4th 2010 7:18PM
Absolutely right on, I really love the guys that stand at the gate, so that everyone will know they are going to be first on. They want to be first on so that they can stare at each and every passenger going past them into economy they have that "I am important look" on their face, look at me, I am number 1.
Bert Mar 4th 2010 10:25PM
I'll give you the "I must crowd the gate" guy as being obnoxious.
But a seasoned traveler who has the experience to know that the fist call is for: exit row passengers, group one passengers, Neutron-Unobtanium passengers, etc. is one less person lolly-gagging trying to roll their 3 piece carry-on down the isle of a 737, then trying to pick it up to stuff in to four overhead compartments.
I doubt that anyone who crowds the gate is a true business traveler.
u07ch Mar 5th 2010 2:49AM
ime the real business traveller is in the airline lounge with the champagne and usually last to board the plane never standing in line to be first; must be a budget airline thing.
Phil Mar 5th 2010 2:51AM
Bert,
You are right, but I am with UA and the first to board are the GS and 1K's etc. You always know who most of them are at least 30 minutes prior to boarding as they are hovering the red carpet lane. They have to be "first" into "first" or "first" into bus class so that they can get seated so that they can display themselves that are sitting in economy. I get upgraded once in awhile, I don't hover, and if anything I try and avert my eyes from making contact with others boarding, I am not impressed with myself, why should others.
Village Idiot Mar 7th 2010 1:32AM
The truly obnoxious ones go on TV or radio and try to get themselves compared to the Clooney character. It was awfully nice of American to replace ERJ-145s with a 767-300 every time Clooney's character had a flight.