'I got upgraded on this flight and my boss did not': Boss chastises employee for not giving up his first class seat to her during work trip

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    "She thinks [...] I should've given her the first class seat"
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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 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 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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    gilded_lady 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
  • 07
    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.
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    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.
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    gilded_lady Even better to do this then, because they can continue building a case against this manager. Good luck to you!
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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 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.
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  • 14
    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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    scootindog OP Thank you, yes. Our company lets us use our miles, or personal money, to upgrade the economy tickets they purchase. So,
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    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.
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    Willing_Second 1591. 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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