It's called a dress code, and it's in the terms of service on his frequent flyer plan.

If he wants to sit in First Class in a track suit, he can buy a damn ticket.



/family of non-rev flyers

Track Suits are First Class, biatch. Ya Feels Me?

I routinely fly in first class in a t-shirt and beat-up jeans, wearing a baseball cap. Like, every time I upgrade. WTF?

John Paul Jones: WTF?

You may not have a funny sounding non-"American" name.

Like every other airline, United has its rules:

Employee and other entitled travelers while traveling on passes/ business or reduced fare are expected to dress in accordance with standards of good taste including being neat, clean and well groomed. If attire meets this criteria and is not included in the following list of unacceptable attire it is considered acceptable.

Unacceptable attire in all classes:

* Any clothing that is worn, torn, frayed has patches or holes
* Sweat clothing or workout attire such as sweat shirt, sweat pants, leotards, tights and jogging suits
* T-shirts
* Bare feet
* Bathing suits
* Beach sandals - flip flops and thongs
* Bare midriffs
* Extreme mini-skirts
* Halter and bra tops
* Sheer or see-through clothing
* Tank tops, sleeveless or muscle shirts
* Undergarments worn as outer garments

All the rules about entitled traveling are here.

And don't start with the BS about "that's for 'Employees' only" - - any time you're flying and you're not paying for the upgrade, that's "entitled travel" at the discretion of the airline. Go wear your sweat pants back in coach, Orville.

DarthBrooks: Unacceptable attire in all classes:

* Any clothing that is worn, torn, frayed has patches or holes
* Sweat clothing or workout attire such as sweat shirt, sweat pants, leotards, tights and jogging suits
* T-shirts
* Bare feet
* Bathing suits
* Beach sandals - flip flops and thongs
* Bare midriffs
* Extreme mini-skirts
* Halter and bra tops
* Sheer or see-through clothing
* Tank tops, sleeveless or muscle shirts
* Undergarments worn as outer garments

Wow. Lame.

Kyro: Wow. Lame.

Understand it only applies to *upgrades* - - you can get on a plane wearing pretty much whatever you want if you bought a ticket.

But if you want the upgrade, you're going to have to dress the part. Or you can be self-righteous in your t-shirt back by the lavatory in row 33.

He must have been being a dick somehow. I've traveled first class on award upgrades in T-shirt and shorts. It wasn't United Airlines, however, so there is that. Comfort is key when you are making long distance flights.

DarthBrooks: Kyro: Wow. Lame.

Understand it only applies to *upgrades* - - you can get on a plane wearing pretty much whatever you want if you bought a ticket.

But if you want the upgrade, you're going to have to dress the part. Or you can be self-righteous in your t-shirt back by the lavatory in row 33.

Read my post. I upgrade in a t-shirt and elderly jeans all the f*cking time.

John Paul Jones: DarthBrooks: Kyro: Wow. Lame.

Understand it only applies to *upgrades* - - you can get on a plane wearing pretty much whatever you want if you bought a ticket.

But if you want the upgrade, you're going to have to dress the part. Or you can be self-righteous in your t-shirt back by the lavatory in row 33.

Read my post. I upgrade in a t-shirt and elderly jeans all the f*cking time.

He was probably acting like an entitled jerk or there was only one seat left and the check-in attendant had a friend on that flight.

Dulles to Connecticut? That's what, an hour? Domestic first class isn't worth getting all hot and bothered over.

_{/flew DTW-IAH first class late last year, was upgraded for free by the airline, was wearing a t-shirt that hadn't been washed for a few days}

AntiNorm: Dulles to Connecticut? That's what, an hour? Domestic first class isn't worth getting all hot and bothered over.

You say that until your trapped on the tarmac for 12 hours.

AntiNorm: Domestic first class isn't worth getting all hot and bothered over.

FTFY

DarthBrooks: Understand it only applies to *upgrades* - - you can get on a plane wearing pretty much whatever you want if you bought a ticket.

I hear what you're saying, but that "all classes" angle frustrates your point. It would seem that the policy says if he used points for his ticket, he couldn't wear a t-shirt even back in by the lavatory in row 33.

John Paul Jones: Read my post. I upgrade in a t-shirt and elderly jeans all the f*cking time.

And read my post: it's at the discretion of the airline. If you're dressed in a t-shirt and they've got an empty plane and the gate agent thinks you're okay, you may get the upgrade.

Wearing a tracksuit on a full flight and coming across like you're owed something is *not* the way to get a better seat.

Diogenes: I hear what you're saying, but that "all classes" angle frustrates your point. It would seem that the policy says if he used points for his ticket, he couldn't wear a t-shirt even back in by the lavatory in row 33.

If he was flying standby, that would apply for coach.

He had a paid-for ticket in coach, so he gets on the plane as revenue coach passenger. He's not entitled to the first class seat, or even a business-class seat, if he's not dressed properly.

I'm feeling 'democratic' today. I'll have a glass of the wine they are serving in coach. Oh... they dont serve wine back there? Never mind then.

DarthBrooks
Understand it only applies to *upgrades* - - you can get on a plane wearing pretty much whatever you want if you bought a ticket.

But if you want the upgrade, you're going to have to dress the part.

Not only is it stupid to have such a more restrictive dress code for first class, it's double extra bonus stupid to only apply it to people who upgrade. It's a double standard that says, "the rich folk can do whatever they want, but if your poor ass wants the privilege of mingling with them, you better wear your best."

I only support the airline in this instance if the man was wearing crocs.

And the airlines are completely clueless as to why they are going tits up.

I suppose it all boils down to this:

Does UAL have an official, published dress code for first class? Do they make a reasonable effort to inform their customers of this dress code? Also, does the airline have a policy of consistently enforcing the dress code?

The passenger should have been told the real reason he was denied an upgrade -- probably because he was being a douchebag.

hmmm, i didn't know the VP lived in Gaithesburg...why there and not Potomac? Normally, i would feel badly for someone in this situation, but having shopped at Best Buy, i have to say HA! HAHAHAHAHHAHAHA!

Bukharin: Oh... they dont serve wine back there? Never mind then.

Fail - They serve wine anywhere you can afford it.

/Had wine with my meal on all my flights last month.

if you care what a fellow passenger is wearing while in first class, you have a seriously farked up set of priorities. people are farking dumb.

lol people fly United

EvilEgg: He must have been being a dick somehow.

Did you watch the video? His personality IS "dick".

On another note, people with the job title of "executive" are pretty much golfing buddies with the people who actually can do things at corporate. And they keep them around just to take the fall when shiat goes south. This guy is corporate ballast.

You tellin' me I can't wear my tracksuit in first class?! Farking skanks! Let's get some jager bombs up in this biatch. Jager bombs you farking skanks!

oi_piss_me_off: hmmm, i didn't know the VP lived in Gaithesburg...why there and not Potomac? Normally, i would feel badly for someone in this situation, but having shopped at Best Buy, i have to say HA! HAHAHAHAHHAHAHA!

I had a corporate apartment in Gaithersburg for a year when I was consulting to NIH. It's fields and business buildings. I don't know why anyone would want to live there.

They break guitars too, right?

On the one hand, it does suck that he got denied first class for something so stupid, even if it was in United's rules. On the other hand, I'm having a difficult time caring about how a Best Buy exec (or any exec) didn't get his upgrade to first class.



Seems to me the answer is obvious. He should suggest to all other Best Buy execs/employees flying on the company's dime that they not use United. Capitalism ftw.

/laughed at subby's reference to the double standard. There are all sorts of hilarious "customer service" stories about Best Buy. Not that this guy is the problem, just sayin

Gee, some douche at Best Buy can't sit up front and he goes to the press about it? Oh, the humanity!

This guy looks like he's trying to emulate Style from The Game. I'm betting "douchebag."

DarthBrooks:

BEST.
TROLL.
EVER.

Sir, I salute you. You have done a spectacular job in your trolling attempt, capturing everyone who has entered the thread.

I bow to your mastery.

I have never heard of such nonsense. I fly for work a lot and 95% of it ends up in FC because of status/miles upgrades. Since I usually fly at night for morning commitments, I am usually in shorts and a t-shirt, or jeans and a sweater if cold. Never had anyone say anything.

To make matters worse he had lost his boarding pass and the flight attendant wouldn't let him leave without making a little Sharpie mark on it.

I also hope the attendants asked him "you flying everything ok today?" every time they passed.

Let me get this straight. If you pay full price, you can dress however you like, but if you upgrade you have to meet some stupid dress code?

On one flight, as I was filing past first class on my way to the cattle section and noticed a guy sitting in first class. Looked like a real Guido. Middle-aged, poufy pompadour, tracksuit, thick gold chain, large flashy watch. If he was dressed appropriately for first-class then I'm sure this Best-Buy exec was dressed appropriately.

DarthBrooks: Wearing a tracksuit on a full flight and coming across like you're owed something is *not* the way to get a better seat.

Always be polite to airline booking agents at the airports, nurses, sergeants of any kind, and admin. assistants. These are the people who can grease the wheels to help you out, or really screw you on a personal level.

stevetherobot: Let me get this straight. If you pay full price, you can dress however you like, but if you upgrade you have to meet some stupid dress code?

On one flight, as I was filing past first class on my way to the cattle section and noticed a guy sitting in first class. Looked like a real Guido. Middle-aged, poufy pompadour, tracksuit, thick gold chain, large flashy watch. If he was dressed appropriately for first-class then I'm sure this Best-Buy exec was dressed appropriately.

As others have said he was likely an asshole and they used a technicality to give him a hard time. When I worked retail it was the only way for us to get back at an asshole and keep our job.

quizzical: DarthBrooks: Wearing a tracksuit on a full flight and coming across like you're owed something is *not* the way to get a better seat.

Always be polite to airline booking agents at the airports, nurses, sergeants of any kind, and admin. assistants. These are the people who can grease the wheels to help you out, or really screw you on a personal level.

My rule is similar but more broad: Treat those who provide any service for you with respect.

Granted I don't always follow my own rule.

Bizarre.

For me, how well I'm dressed is usually inversely proportional to the class I'm in.

When I'm flying for business? I'm in a suit and I'm in coach. Maybe in another 10 promotions the company will be willing to put me in 1st class, but not today.

When I upgrade my seat, generally I'm on vacation and dressed casually. Who wears a suit on vacation?

Heh. I can picture it now:
"Don't you know who I AM?!?!?!?"
Yeah, I know who you are, jerkoff. You're the asshole I'm about to bounce from this flight.

More than likely the guy was being an asshole, but it's certainly not beyond the realm of possibility that the United employees were just being dicks for no reason at all. They are United employees after all. Not exactly a name that is often paired with the phrase "good customer service".

What a disgrace to Best Buy. They should can this ahole for giving their company a bad image.

First that the exec if flying 1st class in this time of woe.. secondly, for being such a pussy.


I've flown United countless times and if you aren't an ahole, they aren't aholes. They are one of the better ones in my mind.

Riche: Does UAL have an official, published dress code for first class? Do they make a reasonable effort to inform their customers of this dress code? Also, does the airline have a policy of consistently enforcing the dress code?

If they have a policy, they certainly don't enforce it. I've upgraded to first on United before and I was wearing a tshirt, cargo pants, and sneakers. I didn't get a second look.

I normally fly AA first (upgraded) and unless I'm coming directly from work on friday, I never dress up. I've never had a problem in a t-shirt.

Kyro: AntiNorm: Domestic first class isn't worth getting all hot and bothered over.

FTFY

You sound short.

/6ft tall, appreciate leg room
//fark United, worst airline experience ever

Tom_Neyman: I've flown United countless times and if you aren't an ahole, they aren't aholes. They are one of the better ones in my mind.

Haven't flown on UA through ORD much, eh? After the last incident involving a gate agent not letting me board the last plane home 45 minutes before takeoff when UA had put me on the flight, thereby forcing me to sleep at o'hare for the night, I'm never flying them again.

FTFA: '"I was humiliated and embarrassed," Alvarez said.'

As well he should have been.

Dude, you're a corporate executive and you dress in a farking TRACK SUIT when you travel?

Grow up, numbnuts and act like a responsible adult instead of some dirtball on a chartered flight to Cancun.

What casual attire may look like.

DarthBrooks: Like every other airline, United has its rules:

Employee and other entitled travelers while traveling on passes/ business or reduced fare are expected to dress in accordance with standards of good taste including being neat, clean and well groomed. If attire meets this criteria and is not included in the following list of unacceptable attire it is considered acceptable.

Unacceptable attire in all classes:

* Any clothing that is worn, torn, frayed has patches or holes
* Sweat clothing or workout attire such as sweat shirt, sweat pants, leotards, tights and jogging suits
* T-shirts
* Bare feet
* Bathing suits
* Beach sandals - flip flops and thongs
* Bare midriffs
* Extreme mini-skirts
* Halter and bra tops
* Sheer or see-through clothing
* Tank tops, sleeveless or muscle shirts
* Undergarments worn as outer garments

All the rules about entitled traveling are here.

And don't start with the BS about "that's for 'Employees' only" - - any time you're flying and you're not paying for the upgrade, that's "entitled travel" at the discretion of the airline. Go wear your sweat pants back in coach, Orville.

what about clothing made from human skin?

Wow I won't make plans on flying on that airline anytime soon! Seriously as long as the clothes aren't too revealing dirty or have profane language on them who gives a crap?

And while I do not own a tracksuit if I did I would wear one as it would be comfy (especially for along flight).

My cousin's company fly him twice a week to a work site and then back home always in first class (company with lots of moolah). When his daughter was a toddler (like one or two) he would constantly bring her with him on the overnight trips and still fly first class. He has great stories of rich snobs being biatchy about him flying with his daughter in first class.

/Rich people hate kids