Employee gets upgraded to first class on business trip, leaving furious boss in coach: 'She thinks [...] I should’ve given her the first class seat'

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Feb 10, 2025 2:00 PM EST

The strict hierarchy that might exist within a workplace environment does not extend to life outside of work. So while one may defer to their employer during meetings and in the office, one does not necessarily need to extend that same courtesy when it comes to ordinary activities such as air travel.

This boss would come to learn that sobering reality the hard way after she was denied a first-class seat upgrade that, frankly, was not hers to take in the first place. Keep scrolling below for the full story and for the best reactions from folks in the comments section.

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    Cheezburger Image 10465353984
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • Before we get into the employee's account of the whole situation, let's begin by clarifying that based on the demeanor and behavior of this difficult boss, the employee had already dealt with her bizarre superiority complex throughout their business trip together. So when he received a first-class seat upgrade because he uses the airline's credit card, he deserved the opportunity to enjoy his own upgrade and have some time away from his boss after an arduous trip. Unfortunately, she felt very differently about the upgrade situation and would later shame him for not giving it to her…

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    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
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    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.
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    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
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    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.
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    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?
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    Cheezburger Image 10465355008
    via Unsplash+ (Wesley Tingey)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • Several members of the online community shared their reactions to the employee, who seemed concerned that he had violated some sort of unspoken work policy when, of course, he had not. Here's what they all had to say about his boss!

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    gilded_lady. NTA. If you want to cya going forward you can always email HR and ask "X happened
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    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
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    documents the incident without being accusatory and lets you be able to cite chapter and verse if there's a next time.
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    idontcare8587. obvious NTA. Is your boss 5? What protocol says you have to give gifts to your boss??
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    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
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    neoncactusfields NTA - you got upgraded. YOU. The upgrade was connected to your own personal credit card use. Your boss is a buy and she is being completely inane about this. If she brings
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    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.
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    NotCreativeAtAll16. 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.
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    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
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    IamIrene 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! NTA.
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    madelinegumbo NTA 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.
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    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"
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    Larfbarg61 Report to HR. This is a sign of things to come with boss and better you get your side of the story out there first. Otherwise company is likely to side with boss just because she's boss.
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    Dipping_My_Toes. NTA - What an entitled piece of work your boss is.
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Tags

workplace-stories employee toxic-workplace first class ticket work toxic-boss Horrible Bosses airplane entitled people toxic-work-environment
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