A Best Buy executive, Armando Alvarez, was denied first class upgrade at Washington DC’s Dulles Airport because he was too casually dressed for it. He was wearing a track suit.
From Mizozo.com
Best Buy’s corporate vice president Armando Alvarez was flying from Washington DC Dulles Airport to Connecticut on a October 26th 2009 on a United Airlines flight, when he was denied an upgrade request because he was wearing a track suit. He was using his miles to get the upgrade.
When he arrived at the gate and walked up to the counter, the agent told him he couldn’t fly first class because he was dressed too casually. He was wearing a tracksuit. And let’s be clear here: It was a Puma track suit. He says he packs his suits so they don’t get wrinkled during the flight.Alvarez says he isn’t looking for compensation, but wants to call out United for his embarrassment.
“If this happened to me and I’m a United Airlines Red Carpet Club member then I believe it’s happening to other people and this must stop,” Alvarez said on Fox.
A day after the story made national headlines, a United Airlines spokesperson returned repeated calls from FOX 5. A spokesperson says they’ve identified the gate agent and he is a contract employee who works for Air Wisconsin.
The spokesperson says the employee was interviewed and security footage from the terminal is being reviewed as officials for both airlines investigate the incident.
United says there is no passenger dress code, but they cited two rules. Ticketed passengers can not be barefoot and must be clothed.
Aren’t airlines already losing enough money to get bad rep? Maybe next time I will have to wear a suit and tie while flying to Hawaii?
