'I got upgraded on this flight and my boss did not': Employee gets shamed by boss for not giving her their first class upgrade

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Jul 22, 2023 2:00 PM EDT

Where does it say in this employee's contract that they are obligated to give up their first class seat to their boss? This is the kind of nonsense that infuriates workers and causes them to lose trust in their places of work. Sure, it's pretty expected that most workplace environments have a hierarchical structure. That's reflected in the structure of teams, the division of responsibilities, and, of course, pay. However, there should be no rule or implied rule stating that this sense of hierarchy should extend to other dynamics out of the office. Even if the employee and their boss are on a business trip together, the difference in their seat numbers should have absolutely nothing to do with their level of status at work. 

 

This is especially true in this instance because the employee booked their flight on their own. Because they are a frequent traveler, their flight status was upgraded to first class. Their boss was not too happy about this situation and decided that the two of them needed to have a talk after the flight about respect for the work hierarchy, as if the boss was somehow entitled to that first class seat. Yup, you read that correctly. We believe that there is absolutely no way this boss is going to get away with this completely entitled perspective, as there is no way the employee's contract says anything about giving up their personal seat on a flight. Regardless of what happens, we also recommend that the employee start looking elsewhere because this work hierarchy is wildly outdated.

 

For more stories like this, here is another post about an employee who was unjustly dismissed by a power-tripping manager. 

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  • 01
    Font - "The entitlement of your boss is astounding."
    via Suhyeon Choi
  • 02
    Font - AITA for not giving my boss my first class seat? Not the A-hole Yesterday, my boss and I were flying home from a conference. We were on the same flight, but our original seats were not next to each other. I'm a frequent traveller on this airline and use their credit card, so I often get free upgrades to first class. I got upgraded on this flight and my boss did not.
    via u/scootindog
  • 03
    Font - After the flight, when we were collecting our bags she said she wanted to talk to me about my "lack of respect for protocol". She thinks that because the company paid for my original ticket, and she is more senior than me, I should've given her the first class seat.
    via u/scootindog
  • 04
    Font - I think this is absolutely insane. While the company paid for my seat, it's my own personal credit card spending, and frequent travel that earned me the upgraded seat. Is this some sort of corporate standard I'm not aware of? AITA?
    via u/scootindog
  • 05
    Font - gilded_lady. edited! NTA. If you want to cya going forward you can always email HR and ask "X happened while on this trip and Manager Y advised that I should have done Z. Can you point me to where I can review the protocols so I know going forward?" It documents the incident without being accusatory and lets you be able to cite chapter and verse if there's a next time. 19.8K Share
    via u/scootindog
  • 06
    Font - scootindog OP. This is a really helpful suggestion. Thank you! She has retaliated against other employees who have raised concerns about her attitude with HR before, so this tact feels a little more comfortable to me than an outright complaint. 10.7k Share
    via u/scootindog
  • 07
    Font - gilded_lady. Even better to do this then, because they can continue building a case against this manager. Good luck to you! ✩ 4.1k Share
    via u/scootindog
  • 08
    Font - indiajeweljax Yep. She seems like the vindictive type. 463 Share
    via u/scootindog
  • 09
    Font - idontcare8587. obvious NTA. Is your boss 5? What protocol says you have to give gifts to your boss?? 3.2k Share
    via u/scootindog
  • 10
    Font - jrm1102 NTA - this was your upgrade, not a company upgrade. I'd keep an eye on this boss from here and document anything in case of retaliation 2.8k Share
    via u/scootindog
  • 11
    Font - neoncactusfields. NTA - you got upgraded. YOU. The upgrade was connected to your own personal credit card use. Your boss is a bully and she is being completely inane about this. If she brings it up again, I'd just tell her that she is wrong and leave it at that. Document this too, in case you need to take it to HR. 831 Share
    via u/scootindog
  • 12
    Font - Not Creative AtAll16. NTA. The entitlement of your boss is astounding. As long as the company allows you to use your card for miles (not all do), you've done nothing wrong. You could have used those miles on whatever. She could have paid extra for the upgrade, as well, but she CHOSE not to. 675 Share
    via u/scootindog
  • 13
    Font - scootindog OP. Thank you, yes. Our company lets us use our miles, or personal money, to upgrade the economy tickets they purchase. So, yes, in theory she could've paid with her own money to upgrade. I just happened to get an upgrade because of my status with the airline and their credit card. 656 Share
    via u/scootindog
  • 14
    Font - Willing_Second1591. NTA. Your boss is entitled, ask her to show you the protocol where it says you have to give up your first class seat to your boss 327 Share
    via u/scootindog
  • 15
    Font - IamIrene 5 mo. ago she said she wanted to talk to me about my "lack of respect for protocol". I hope you said, "Sure, as long as we can also talk about your entitlement issues." She's a ballsy one, lol! ΝΤΑ. 244 Share
    via u/scootindog
  • 16
    Font - madelinegumbo. ΝΤΑ I've been in this exact situation (I was upgraded, boss wasn't). It never even occurred to me to offer him my seat and neither did he seem to expect it. 181 Share
    via u/scootindog
  • 17
    Font - 1/455 B AgileBuy8439. NTA boss probably felt their sense of self importance attacked because you got upgraded and they didn't. Stand your ground without being confrontational, you did nothing wrong so don't let her push you around with her "little talk" 158 Share
    via u/scootindog

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boss aita workplace-stories upgrade employee work stories toxic-workplace job first class ticket work flight toxic-boss Horrible Bosses reddit thread Reddit airplane toxic-work-environment
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