United Says No Track Suits In First Class
How casual is too casual for an airplane's first class section? If you paid for first class, and a bald guy in a Puma running outfit sat down across the aisle from you, would you honestly feel short-changed? United seems to think it's inappropriate.
MyFox Atlanta DC says that Best Buy vice president Armando Alavarez's first class upgrade was revoked last week, after the gate agent saw he was wearing a Puma running outfit. He said he frequently checks his suits and wears more comfortable clothes for the flight. You can see by the photo or the video clip below that his Puma running outfit was in excellent shape.
For those who don't want to watch the video (are you sure? you'll miss Alvarez talking about his Puma running outfit!), MyFox DC says Alvarez wrote a letter to United to complain about having his upgrade revoked, but he hasn't heard back from them. The network says it contacted their customer service department three times but never heard back, either. I'm pretty sure you have to write a hit YouTube song to get United's attention these days, Alvarez; you might want to see if Best Buy can hold a United Hates Puma Running Suits sale or something.
"Man Denied First Class Seat on United" [MyFox Atlanta] (Thanks to Diasdiem!)
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Comments:
He should have worn some gold chains and talked with a Jersey accent. Maybe she would have thought he was a member of the mob.
Can United enforce some other standards for coach? Like, say, no reeking of horse manure, maybe wear something where the crotch isn't torn open, and pretty please don't put your feet anywhere near me? Pleeeease?
If I were him I would never give United another dime of my corporations money. Who cares what you look like on your flight? You paid for the ticket and are dressed how you feel is appropriate. As long as your privates aren't hanging out and you have shoes on, it's frankly no ones business what you prefer to wear.
...'cause United breaks your balls.
If he was an upgrade, and not a full fare first class, then the gate agent can make that decision. I fly standby all the time (moms a flight attendant)and if I want to get into first on an upgrade then I have to be wearing not even jeans, but slacks and heels. Going standby actually is worse in terms of attire because you can't even get on in coach wearing anything less than dress pants.
This is nothing new on any airline.
Perhaps United is trying to follow in Southwest's footsteps.
(Referring to a woman forced to disembark for wearing "revealing" clothing.)
It's just as well they don't serve meals on flights any more. God help you if you use the wrong fork for your chicken.
I wouldn't know about first class. I'm too busy dealing with the chickens in wicker cages and pet goats back in coach...
Yeah, I think it's commonplace on all airlines that if you're getting a free upgrade, they expect you to be dressed professionally. If nothing else, it's common sense and just a good idea. Look professional, you're more likely to get an upgrade - so they know you won't be disrupting anyone else. The title is misleading though... United isn't going to kick you out if you paid for your first class ticket.
@scgirl212: There you go. If you pay full fare for first class, you can rock the Pumas all you want. When they're lavishing an upgrade upon you, it's a whole 'nother matter.
Flying is so uncomfortable and airports so stressful that is someone wants to dress comfortably for a flight, I think it should not be a big deal.
I'd be happy if they just found a way to pan perfume and cologne on all their flights.
You don't mess with guys in track suits, they break your legs.
@Paladin_11: Uh, *ban*, not pan. Although that works it's not what I intended.
Ability to edit our own posts? Please?
@jamesdenver: well that's not really the point, now is it? I could understand if he was smelly or overly revealing, but how is dressing kind of bummy a reason to revoke his first class ticket? if he's allowed to fly coach with what he's wearing, why can't he fly first class?
@jamesdenver: I'm sorry, but nobody really cares what you prefer to wear. If I paid for the bloody seat AND the upgrade, I'll come dressed as I want and you can come dressed how you want.
Now hygiene? That is a different story. Was he wearing clothes that haven't been changed in a month with stains all over, and stank like a dirty hippy? I don't think so. So leave him be.
@Paladin_11: That would be a relief, far moreso than kids.
And getting seated next to a smoker is usually pretty awful as well.
Welcome to what you're percieved as when you wear comfy clothing on your flights and on the street as well. I don't-scratch that- CAN'T wear nice attire to fly nowadays b/c I am asked to remove all of it and everything else I am carrying (laptop, cosmetics case) to get frisked. Why would I waste my time with a well put together outfit and risk it getting dirty on the floor, on the x-ray machine, etc... I fly looking like a hippie b/c I can get through the line faster. Not to mention I can't wear any jewelery or metal accessories. Ugh!
Funny...I've heard of Best Buy employees refusing cash refunds to those who "look shady."
I don't even own a track suit. Does that mean my dreams of being a VP @ Best Buy have been dashed? Get it...? Track suit...dashed? Wow.
@scgirl212: But you have to pay for the upgrade, and if you pay for it, well come as you are. I've flown standby MANY times as well, and I understand it in these situations...but not when you're paying full price for tix.
I'll second that. I've flown Standby like this, and was instructed to dress up a bit just in case. It also makes a difference because if the only available seat is FC they're not going to sit you there if you're not dressed appropriately, and then you're Stuck in Atlanta.
He paid for a coach fare, and he's complaining that they let him on but sat him in a Coach seat. Waaaaaaah! My huge mansion and expensive suits should be protected before anyone else. I'm shocked this is even a story. Anyone remember when flying *was* an occasion to dress up for? I'm on United's side here (that's almost impossible, so this guy has to be WAY off base).
I can see if this was an award ticket or upgraded because of miles. We get discounts for the major airlines, and we have to dress up to fly, if we come in shorts or sandals we are not allowed to fly till we change. Now if the guy paid full fare, then he should be able to dress how he wants.
I fly a lot of 6am and red-eye flights and often dress in "comfy" clothes, (yoga pants and a sweatshirt.) I had no idea that could effect my upgrades, or that so many people would be judging my attire.
If this was an upscale restaurant or lounge I would absolutely understand, but when you dress for a flight you dress for comfort. A large part of the appeal for business and first class is the extra space provided to stretch and relax. Who wants to be all stuffy in a suit and heels when you're strapped to a chair for 8 hours?
In the age of $300+ jeans and $100+ undershirts, casual clothing just doesn't have the stigma it once did.
@scgirl212: It's not whether or not they CAN, it's whether or not they should. They pissed off a big deal guy from a big company. That's a big mistake.
The airlines are delusional if they think they're anything more than flying Greyhound buses. The 50s are long gone and flying is no longer a status symbol.
Half the reason I fly in jeans and a sweatshirt is that I don't want any of my nice business clothes to get wrecked by their cramped seats full of Pepsi stains and Dorito crumbs.
@logic meme: I think there's an old story of Jimmy Page going to a Rolls dealership at the height of Zeppelin's popularity and getting the semi-brushoff because of his attire and appearance. As I recall, he whipped out a wad of cash, bought a car on the spot, and chided them on making assumptions based on appearance.
This was relayed second hand on one of those VH1 Behind the music shows, so I can make no assertions as to it's veracity.
@diasdiem: My thoughts exactly. I mean, you could get married in this in New Jersey.
/it's iJuicy Couture, dammit!
"Something's happening at the top of the house for them..."
With regards to customer service...
Really Mr Best Buy. Really?
@jamesdenver: If they are going to make the seats smaller and smaller, I am going to dress more and more comfortably to compensate.
Get outta' here. For real??
Granted, I fly coach all the time, and usually on American -- though occasionally Continental -- and I've always flown in a decent pair of comfortable jeans (not like Joey Ramone's), a t-shirt, and either sandals or flip-flops -- sandals or flip-flops because I'm a)usually flying to Puerto Vallarta, and b)I want to get through the goddamn' security theater with a minimum of hassle.
What friggin' nerve. They lose and abuse checked baggage, but they want us to dress like we're going to Grandma's for Thanksgiving? Way to go, United. Keep fucking that chicken.
I had the pleasure of meeting this dude and the getup fits him pretty well.
@Crabby Cakes: And it's not like the track suit he was wearing was all ratty. I really don't get the fuss, you want to be comfortable on your flight.
@RecordStoreToughGuy_IsBeing(pur)SuedByAMonster: I think he went to a competing Rolls dealership and bought one, and then drove by the first one and flipped off the salesman.
@iConsumer writes:
Look professional, you're more likely to get an upgrade - so they know you won't be disrupting anyone else...
Oh, well, I guess that takes care of Mr. Professional Big Shot in a three-piece suit who won't hang up his goddamn' mobile phone while we're taxiing to take off, even after being personally asked by the flight attendants.
The VP of Best Buy is the victim of poor customer service?!
Sweet, sweet, delicious justice!
@scgirl212: For reals? I never knew any of this. Then again I've never been in first class. Then again again, there's probably a reason for that.
@futuresuperbowlMVPJayCutler: I totally agree. Wearing my steel-toe boots is pretty much non-negotiable, for the two reasons of not wanting my feet to freeze off in the cabin and not wanting my toes to get run over by other people's luggage.
Also it brings the lulz at the security lines.
@futuresuperbowlMVPJayCutler: It could be a mistake--or it could have saved them from pissing off their other first class passengers, which is probably the rationale. Is it valid? Don't ask me, I'm in the back making my peanuts last all day.
Very good point about appearances and the resulting customer service treatment.
I guess I'm old-fashioned, but I try to take into consideration that on an airline flight I'm going to be in the presence of numerous other people in relatively small quarters. As such, I try to take my appearance seriously and groom/dress myself such that others won't feel uncomfortable. Nothing annoys me more than folks showing up in shorts, flip-flops, and pajamas for long flights! Equally offensive are the folks that think they need to drown themselves in cologne/perfume (especially "Axe" anything-do little hipster/frat boys really think smelling like that will actually get them laid?!?)-sometimes makes me wish the oxygen masks would deploy!
Right or wrong, how we look often gives the "first impression". If service staff sees you and based upon your appearance, assumes you are a slobby dolt, you really cannot expect "first-class" service.
Also (this is probably politically incorrect and will offend), people who spend the extra cash for first-class amenities also expect a certain ambience, which DOES NOT include being among people who look like they just rolled out of bed. Part of what they are spending extra on is to be isolated from all of the casual/infrequent travellers and the associated sights, sounds, and smells; track suits would seem to be incompatible with this, and I don't fault United for calling him on it. Yeah, this is incredibly snobby and elitist, but that's part of the "first-class" experience that people pay good money for.
You certainly could not get away with looking like that at a high-end restaurant, and someone being kicked out of such an establishment would never even be posted on Consumerist.
This sounds like something from the 1950s!!! Like the time 4 year old me wasn't allowed in a movie theater with my mom to see "The King and I" because I was wearing corduroy pants, and they only let in little girls who were wearing dresses. At the movies. !! My mom even cried, but the manager wouldn't bend the rule, and we drove back home without seeing "The King and I".
But that was 1955-ish. This is the friggin' 21st century! Who knew we were reverting to mandated formality on public transportation? Gawd. Crazy.
@qwickone: plus the fact that his puma running/jogging thing probably cost more that some of the other first classers' clothes, and was probably cleaner and in better shape.
I can see changing into this for sleeping on an overnight flight -- but I would never wear this during the day.
For flying I wear nice jeans, dark shoes and plain shirt, (black/blue) or occasional button down shirt.
I'm not wearing a suit, but I don't look like a slob or like I just rolled out of bed, which usually makes a better starting point should I need to deal with customer service staff.