Here’s a broader question than the specific case on hand: is it reasonable for airline staff to ask you if you are in the correct line or flying first class?
R&B Singer Lyfe Jennings Questioned By American Airlines – When Is This Appropriate?
I started flying significantly as a teenager and in those early years, I was asked often if I was in the correct line and on several occasions, told I was in the wrong line. I’ll never forget one time my (younger) brother and I were flying from Los Angeles to Chicago in first class and the United check-in agent insisted we were in the the line and that this line was only for first class passengers. She could not believe that we were traveling in first class, even after we checked in.
As I’ve gotten older, that rarely happens. There have been many times I’ve been asked if I am Premier or first class when checking in for a flight, but more often than not nothing is said at all. Same at the gate when boarding.
Despite the many shapes, sizes, and colors of the American traveler, it seems I still fit a stereotype of a first class traveler and I recognize that “privilege” as such.
R&B singer Lyfe Jennings recently complained on social media that he had been singled out three times by American Airlines, who wondered whether he was in the right line and really flying first class. Hardly a kid, he’s 43-years-old and claims it only happened to him because he was black.
View this post on Instagram
I’m not going to dismiss that, though perhaps it was less so his skin color and more the way he dressed? His full outfit is not clear, though it appears to be quite casual. There was one time when I showed up at the Lufthansa First Class Terminal in gym clothes and unshaven with a friend looking equally grungy. We got a lot of stares like we did not belong (and more stares after I showered, shaved, and put on nicer clothes; a metamorphosis) and were immediately asked for our passports so they could verify we did indeed belong.
I think we can all agree that asking someone whether they are in the right line on the basis of skin color is unacceptable. But how about based upon dress? Frankly, the way in which premium cabin travelers dress down these days, I simply would not ask at all in the boarding line. Why expose yourself to charges of racism that go viral on social media? That said, I’ve seen many white people questioned as well when wearing sweat pants and trying to board with first class.
The computer will beep if you are not boarding with the correct group and most agents will scold you and send you to the back of the line. That I see happening quite a bit. But better that than profiling people you believe do not fit and proactively talking to them.
As for the threats in this video above, I wish there was more context. Some gate agents are just plain mean and seemingly looking to pick a fight. Was Jennings cursing like was in the video? Was he making threats? It would be helpful to have a bit more context, though I know full well airline employees can sometimes be nasty even when you are polite…
CONCLUSION
Obviously, I cannot fully understand what it means to be black in America. I don’t blame Jennings for being upset if all the white passengers were not asked if they belonged in the first class line while he was. That’s unacceptable. But I bet clothing played a role in this situation, as frustrating as that still is.
If I were American Airlines, I’d simply stop asking people if they are in correct boarding lane. If the computer beeps, send them on a the “walk of shame” to the back of the line. But asking if someone is in the correct lane leads to immediate offense when a passenger feels (or is) wrongly profiled for not belonging.
image: lyfejennings / Instagram
People often base a lot off someone’s clothes and attitude. I know because I tend to dress casually (nothing extreme) I get looks at some nicer places.
Years ago I was waiting for my car to get repaired just outside of Baltimore city. I was sitting there and this guy leans towards me and says “There is a place just down the road where you can get your shoes resoled for only a few dollars”.
I was a bit puzzled and then realized I had my legs crossed and happened to be wearing my old tennis shoes that I used while playing tennis. I had a habit of dragging my left foot and would wear a hole through the sole near the big toe. Once I did that I relegated the shoe to house tasks but happened to be wearing them and I guess he thought I was hard up for money and was trying to be polite since the shop was in a lower end area.
I just said thanks and moved on.
In this case if the guy was actually asked 4 times that would annoy me as well. Maybe once but not more than that.
Matthew, a lot of times you just demonstrate complete naivete. It’s not just you- I see this with a lot of my well-meaning white friends. You just can’t believe that the people/institutions that treat you so well could exhibit racism, that you seek any angle (in this case, the clothes he’s wearing) to attribute the poor treatment he received. While you leave open the possibility that this is race-related, the fact that you’re positing another explanation is itself demonstrative that you doubt or want to doubt that this could happen. What is so hard to believe about this? Ask literally any person of color whether they get treated the same as a white person in this country, and they will all give you example after example like this…Believe people when they tell/show you stories like this. Don’t go looking to blame it on something else.. And by the way, his clothes aren’t grubby or unkempt like your personal example. At worst, he’s more casual than a stereotypical businessperson. And even there, most people’s idea (myself included) of what a first class person “should look like” is almost certainly based on a white-normative concept. They had twenty different ways of checking whether this passenger belonged in first class, yet they chose the easiest and most alienating way to do so. That should tell you something
I certainly agree concerning the your last two sentences and don’t really disagree with anything you have written. Consider this an expose on my own biases as well, as is every story I write. I still find it hard to believe even a racist agent would ask him if he was “going to behave” right out the blue. I’ve witnessed very bad racism–
https://liveandletsfly.com/review-mountain-inn-mbabe-swaziland/
(that was probably the most blatant instance)
I’m just not sure how to get to the point where I just believe the other person, or even whether that is appropriate response.
But I don’t think this man was treated well and he should have been even if he was rude.
“Very bad racism”? Versus what,very good racism.?
Any naivete demonstrated here is only a symptom of Matthew’s personal experiences as a white man and general desire to consider everything objectively. I don’t think it’s indicative of a failure to recognize that race is often a primary factor in how people are treated in day-to-day life.
If anything, I’m encouraged by this article for the following reasons:
1. The author specifically recognizes that even subconscious displays of bias are a manifestation of “privilege” and doesn’t shy away from using the word, even if it’s surrounded by quotations.
2. There’s a theme that applying differing biases toward one type of individual versus another is intrinsically wrong, rather than a forgivable offense.
3. There’s a logical alternative behavior suggested (i.e., simply avoid asking the question if it doesn’t impact the boarding process) that would both eliminate the cause of the offense yet still meet the airline’s business needs.
This type of reaction is PRECISELY what I’m hoping to see more of. Acknowledge that the experiences of persons of color or of women are inherently different than that of white men, and that form of inequality is a type of privilege. Then, come up with a reasonable solution that addresses ways to reduce the gap.
If companies like AA want to address systemic racism, the most effective way will be training employees to recognize why “harmless” situations like this can be a problem and not by doing things like allowing flight attendants to add BLM pins to their uniforms.
Come on… The obligatory reference to “privilege” reads as less than sincere by placing the word in quotation marks, thus diminishing the concept.
If this article encourages you, perhaps you’re starting with low expectations… Because a line like “though perhaps it was less so his skin color and more the way he dressed?” clearly delineates Matthew’s opinion. Drawing a comparison between Jennings’ outfit and his admittedly “grungy” clothes further points the finger at Jennings. A black person dressed casually but cleanly (let’s be frank- the vast majority of front of the plane passengers aren’t exactly wearing their Sunday best) is compared to a white person who is “grungy”. That says it all…
Then read the first paragraph of the Conclusion- Jennings has a valid beef IF all the passengers weren’t asked if they belonged. There’s not a chance in Hell that every single passenger was asked this, bc it would’ve been the first such flight in history if it were. The final line of this paragraph is further victim-blaming, “But I bet clothing played a role in this situation, as frustrating as that still is.” You have no difficulty looking at this man and trying to come up with a reason for why he would be treated this way that doesn’t involve his skin color…
Matthew, I think you’re a thoughtful guy, but reread this article and ask yourself if you truly are looking at this objectively. Then ask yourself if a thoughtful person like yourself is this blind, what is the rest of white America like
Perhaps you’re right. My expectations ARE low.
However… most of the discourse I’ve witnessed so far has been that “privilege” is a buzzword and a charged term. People react viscerally to it. The point almost always devolves into a “Well… I can’t be privileged because I worked hard for what I have, therefore it’s not my responsibility to change my outlook.”
Instead, here I see an acknowledgement that a specific problem exists, which is difficult enough in it of itself to obtain half the time. It’s followed by some degree of empathy and a suggestion for behavior change that’s very reasonable and effective.
This could’ve easily ended with “Gate agents have a stressful job, and I’m going to turn a blind eye to this alleged infraction, because I don’t see color and trust others don’t either.” But… there was more of an effort made than just that.
This is absurd. I have flown in business for decades and I dress about as casually as a person can. Nobody has ever asked me if I am supposed to be in business, nor has anybody even looked sideways at me. I am happy to give anyone the benefit of the doubt, but this is absolutely because of his skin color. The difference between how I fly and how he does is that I am a white man and he is not. We are even about the same age. I will never understand the twisted logic white people use to convince themselves something isn’t racist, and I’m about as white as it gets. You even have a person explainimg his lived experience to you and you still find it hard to believe.
I don’t like his language.
There probably isn’t a less racist country than the United States. There’s nowhere in the world where black people have higher living standards; especially not in all-black countries.
Just consider that for a moment. I’m sorry if the facts hurt; they’re still facts.
LOL
Living standard high = no racism ? There is no fact because they are not connected.
“less racist country” is the country who enslaved africans, fought a civil war over the right to own slaves, was segregated until not too long ago ….. Hmmm where do you get your information from.
Facts are:
The typical Black households earns a fraction of White households—just 59 cents for
very dollar. The gap between Black and White annual household incomes is about
$29,000 per year.
Black Americans are over twice as likely to live in poverty as White Americans.
Black children are three times as likely to live in poverty as White children.
The median wealth of Black families ($17,000)—is less than one-tenth that of White families ($171,000).
The wealth gap between Black and White households increases with education.
Much less than half (42%) of Black families own their homes, compared to almost three-quarters (73%) of White families.
High school graduation rates for Black and White Americans have nearly converged
Would I be correct in assuming that you think the government should fix the problem of racism? Do you realize that FDR was behind redlining? That a higher percentage of Republicans voted to pass the Civil Rights Act than Democrats? That the War on Poverty is what destroyed black families and relegated them to intergenerational poverty in too many cases? Government is not your friend. It is certainly not the friend of black folx.
No you wouldn’t be correct.
I just pointed out a false statement.
Not sure why you went totally off topic with unrealated “headlines/comments”. Do you realize that the republican party was against slavery and the democrats were not opposed)? ….?
Guess you listen to too much propaganda and are used to throw statements vs trying to argue
BTW to your other post: [,,,,] I thought black folx couldn’t be racist.
LOL mister know it all. Everyone has a bias – everyone is racist (to a degree). Do you think just because a segment of the population is being target of prejudice they do not do the same against others?
Marc, you seem to be conflating equal options with equal outcomes. I can explain this to you, I can’t understand it for you.
Culture matters. Nigerians make less than Poles, too, but I don’t think anyone would try to cast Poland as having a privileged history.
I assume you’re American, in which case this point is moot. Never have I met a nation of people with so much certainty they know it all, while being so hilariously under-educated. At least American rednecks *know* they’re dumb.
People like you don’t; you just are. This European won’t bite.
OMG you are so full of yourself dude
“Culture matters. Nigerians make less than Poles…” is non-sensical. If you compare income in Niger and Poland than what does “culture” have to do with it. There are way bigger factors that differnciate the average citizen.
If you are talking about Americans with Nigerian heritage vs Americans with Polish heritage then your reference to “culture” is plain rasist.
And first “US the least rasist country” and ” People like you don’t; you just are. This European won’t bite.”
you either are a “European” or you have any idea what is going on in the US day to day. It can’t be both.
And cheap insults just point out your ignorance
And stop assuming I think something that is not related to reality. You are just going down the “I have no further argument let’s start start a new fight and throw in some insults” > keyboard jockey
LOL, you can’t even spell racism correctly, let alone keep track of which countries you’re pretending to be smart about. As I said, Americans in general are very stupid – some of them know, others are like you.
All you know is the powers that be have told you to be very upset about “muh racism” … sorry, as you spell it, “rasism”.
Isn’t it about time the envious communities look inward and ask how they can improve their future instead of complaining about European-heritage people? No need to thank us for electricity and plumbing; you’re very welcome.
LOL you rrally think I check my spelling when I write these things? Typical troll trying to change the subject.
But reverting back to insults and gaslighting is your typical fallback. Get out of your parents basement already.
Wow, Marc – that’s rich coming from someone fantasizing about molesting children. We can see your IP address, you know that right? Did you turn yourself in as you said you would?
William what you are doing right now is no longer free speech but illegal
This Jennings fellow spent a decade in prison for arson and then spent some more time behind bars for a violent altercation involving his “baby mama,” as folx say. It is not unreasonable to believe that black folx might be harassed more by police. This might lead to resentment and even refusal to comply with authority. Resisting arrest, however, is tantamount to be asking to be shot. Black folx can have reasonable grounds for resentment but still behave recklessly in situations that would call for calm, compliant behavior. Somehow I doubt that Mr. Jennings is a calm and reasonable sort.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/singer-lyfe-jennings-heads-back-to-prison-retires-via-twitter/
It appears that the agent asking if there would be a problem was black. I thought black folx couldn’t be racist.
I’ve gotten asked that exact question several times while flying BA First Class in casual dress (often sweatpants and a tee shirt). FWIW, I’ve a white, 26-year-old male. You would think they would be used to seeing “big fish” wear all sorts of things, but they certainly profile, to some degree. I’m sure dress, race, demeanor, etc. factored into the questioning here, even if just unconscious bias. While annoying, I find it best to shrug my shoulders and move on when it happens to me. Not sure how I’d feel if my race was part of that equation though.
Not directed at anyone in particular, but I don’t understand why guys can’t even expend the effort to wear a real pair of pants and real shoes on a flight. Don’t give me the excuse you just want to be comfortable, or that sweats and flip-flops are just the same as the pj’s some airlines give you either. Don’t get me started on the ones that wear dirty exercise shorts, a tank top, and flip flops on a nine hour flight to Hawaii. No matter what class or fight duration, save it for when you get to the beach.
I certainly think that bias had an influence in it. Rasicm is baked into a lot of parts of society.
Unfortunately he didn’t seem to have helped his case (assuming it happened as he ranted on twitter)
lady asked me 4 times did I know this was the 1st class line I told her yes everytime. (Remark 4 times is way over the top) She told me to stop and talk to her. (Remark “to stop” what? looking on his phone? Did he have his headphones on?) I told her get the fuck out my face, I told u I can read and I know what line this is. (Remark cursing to airline employees always gets you extra special treatment) She say you’re not flying but ofcourse I get my ticket. (Remark don’t think he understood her intention/threat) Get to gate and this man is asking if I’m gonna have a problem on the aircraft cause heard I had a problem. (Remark situation escalated and he was lucky they didn’t refuse him boarding) I tell him no he ask me 3 more times wtf??? Wasnt until I started recording that he let me get on the flight!I don’t gotta answer no questions!!! (Remark with an attitude like this you will be denied boarding sooner or later – airlines can do whatever they want “to ensure safety”)
Pretty sure the problem started with bias either purely based on race or mixed up with another factor. But everything afterwards was shared blame. Don’t get me wrong I was p’ed off by airlines and their employees before, but you have to keep your cool as otherwise they have the upper hand.
Hey, I had a very similar thought, the gate agent might have started this but Mr Lyfe Jennings you put the icing on that cake and baked it all on your own. Profanity and Attitude will get you….. A bus ticket
This happens all the time to me. I look middle eastern, but I’m of Italian descent. Countless times, I’ve been asked to park cars, mistaken for a valet, if I’m showing up for my shift by the towel guy at the hotel pool when I ask for a towel, if I could help someone with their luggage, etc. And US immigration? It’s unreal. Where are you really from? Is this passport real? This is just a random check, (on every leg of a trip). It’s a form of profiling, yes, and certainly it’s not limited to black people. I’ve learned my lesson. Clean shaven, a shirt with a collar, a wedding ring helps, etc. Lyfe Jennings knows those tricks too, he just chooses not to follow them. It’s his right. But he shouldn’t be surprised.
I’m white. I’m not young. I almost always wear a skirt or dress when flying. I’ve been asked quite a few times if I’m in the right line. Out of charity, I assume those who ask are just trying helpfully to point me to the right place. I also get shuffled aside for random extra security screening about every 3rd time through airport security. While I can’t say whether this man was a victim of racism or not, it probably wouldn’t be my first guess.
Personally i would never say the F word to a lady. I’ve been asked if I am in the wrong line before. Not a big deal. for all we know she asked the whole line. I’ve seen that done quite a few times.
So funny that every problem in the world now is blamed on race. This guy might be black but looking at him he is whiter than me. I am not black but Hispanic. Act with class, stop video taping everything and stop blaming race on everything.
He told her to get the F outa his face? Really? If I was the gate agent, he wouldn’t have boarded.
And people wonder why gate agents can be mean. Put up with jerks all day and see how you respond.
Is this guy even black? He looks white to me. Perhaps quadroon at best, but he certainly shouldn’t be alleging racism without a darker skin tone.
lol @ “very bad racism”. That’s like saying “very bad rape”.
The author clearly exposed and called out resorted to posting a 5 year old publish about blatant racism which he deemed “very bad racism”, as a way to imply he knows what racism when he see its. Sad and pathetic.
Highly likely it’s blatant racism. It wouldn’t even be an issue if airlines enforced their own rules about carryon limits. The unseemly rush to get onboard is mostly to do with getting access to bins.
I like to get on last . I have no desire whatever to stand in a queue, either at the gate or in the aerobridge. Although my habit can be distressing to seat mates who might think they’ve scored an adjacent vacant seat only to see some old geezer heading in their direction just as the door is closing.
Hi, I was not there so I have no comment, if I had been there as a white skinned person I would have said something to that gate agent. And I think that if the gate and boarding announcements are clear, there is no need to ask questions that make individuals feel bad or racially profiled. The agent scanning at the front of the line could have said to everyone in the line ” Just making sure that everyone in this line is either sitting in row 1-x or that you have your premier status card available for inspection along with your ID and boarding card and we are excited to have you fly with us today”. Targeting anyone or group because of their culture, race, ability, age, or gender is wrong, we all know that no need to debate it. What we need is ways to de escalate and celebrate those differences, and deal with the assholes who no matter what their race or cultural up bringing have no business in business, first, premium economy or the baggage compartment…. In my opinion
Simply ask to see the boarding ticket. In Japan, like USA people always start to get in line before boarding time. An airline person always goes down the lines and checks individuals are in correct line. If not or there too soon you are asked to sit down until called. What is the big deal? Always the race card. This problem is not going to go away and will be with us a long time , so get used to it. Developer a thick skin and stop being a cry baby.
Dress like a bum …get treated like a bum! Quite simple really. Use the excuse of racism if you are questioned…so commonly used.
Why are you giving this “artist” any more space on the internet to whine. Its nauseating. Playing the race care show lack of intelligence as does use of the f word. A little courtesy at check in would have kept the issue from going further at the counter and the gate. If you dont look like you have any class as least act like it. This site’s desire to kneel at the BLM alter at every turn when it comes to “offended persons” is getting old. Stick to airline news and leave the social engineering behind.
I am a 57-year-old White Male who has been told dozens of times “That is only for First Class passengers”, assuming I am not in F.
Even though I am the first, or one of the first passengers to board, when I ask for a pre-departure beverage or ask if the galley has been delivered, flight attendants get very bristly.
Many gate agents have rudely told me to go get in line, assuming I am not a preboard pax. But I am a preboard UA 1K, and AS Gold 75.
Every human has received some rough treatment from classmates, family, friends, bosses, neighbors, etc. Why would anyone expect 100% phenomenal, respectful treatment from every airline employee?
Almost every day there is an incident in-flight of people refusing to comply with mask mandates, rejecting authority, basically being disruptive. That being the case, if someone starts their journey being rude, insulting and abusive (“get the f*** out of my face”) then of course they will be noted as a possible risk and someone will speak with them at boarding and ask if they are going to behave. That will happen whatever their skin colour.
It seems to me that yes, there was some racial stereotyping, or assumptions made at the beginning and that is sad and unacceptable. But instead of just confirming that he was in the right queue, he aggravated the situation and aggressively challenged the staff. Thereafter it became not about race but attitude and risk.
I can empathise with his frustration but sometimes reasons other than race come into play.
@Matthew Klint
I’ve informed you about the defamation occurring here. Remove it ASAP and provide the requested information for legal action.
Are you seriously threatening legal action over some stranger on the interwebs mocking you? Were you aware that Elon Musk won in the defamation suit over his “pedo guy” tweet? Of course, as a leftist you are a tattle-tale by nature and think government will save you. But you’re an anti-racist, so it’s all good, right?
I will not tolerate bullying behaviour or having my rights infringed upon. Too lazy to google who won deflamation lawsuits.
“Leftist” … LOL which universe are you from that you think you know who I am? Somehow you seem to run out of arguments and try the old trick of changing the narrative in adding insults, wild speculation, …. So can I assume that you are a rightwing MAGA Trumpist with QAnon as your religion? One of those guys who vote republican while getting govenment checks I pay for? Am I getting close?
What rights have been infringed? Is there a constitutional right not to be insulted? People who take offense and think they can have the government defend their feelings tend to be leftist, but there are right-wing authoritarians, too. Assume all you want. I don’t care if you think I voted for Trump or follow QAnon. I know who I am. I do take offense to those who think they are entitled to the earnings of others and to dictate how they should conduct their lives, but I think should be free to try to offend me. Pedo.
Again going back to insults. There are many rights not all of them are spelled out in the constitution.
BTW where did I ever bring up “the government”? Lawyers do not work for the feds. Or how did you brain came up with “entitled to the earnings of others” …. Imagination is not reality.
There are laws in this country and laws are not in itself “leftist” or “rightwing” but here to govern society. Just because you think something can be done doesn’t make it so.
BTW wouldn’t be surprised if the analysed files show that you are William Cargocult – but I leave that to the forensic team to figure out.
Dearest Marc,
Please shut up. You are annoying as all get out. Just stop. You may find that it will actually make for a better argument.
Need more video. Need to SEE a gate agent ask him if he belonged in first class or if she asked him for his boarding pass first and he wouldn’t produce it. We all know that in order to walk onto that jet bridge you must produce a boarding pass, either on your iPhone to be scanned or a paper boarding pass from a ticketing agent. And he could have put the nail in the coffin had he videotaped his whole entrance onto the jet bridge. Until I see the entire sequence it is all hearsay.