A United Global Services passenger turns preboarding into a status flex—barking “let me go first!” as he pushes past a family with toddlers who were called for preboarding.
Airlines tell their best customers that they’re VIPs. They give them “status” and sometimes that goes to their heads. When a passenger is royalty and everyone else on the flight is just cannon fodder, they’ll behave badly: “don’t you know who I am?”
United’s Global Services status is given to the airline’s highest revenue customers and corporate travel influencers. Here’s a Global Services customer rushing the boarding gate, getting angry and aggressive as he shoves past families with small children – who are entitled to preboard also.
- There’s a family boarding and the man confronts the father.
- He then appeals to the gate agent “would you let me go before them please?” – he should be first on board, not second.
- Another passenger steps in telling the Global Services member “hey, what’s up with you?” But the elite flyer demands “there’s an order!”
A United Global Services guy on Jan 2 straight-up bulldozing past families with toddlers during pre-boarding. Raised his voice too: 'Let me go first!' As if the babies are gonna snag his first-class seat
Policy has GS and families with kids under 2 in the SAME pre-board group.… pic.twitter.com/CqFABjjNzR— Fahad Naim (@Fahadnaimb) January 4, 2026
When you have priority boarding, you can go up immediately when your group is called. You can also wait, and politely queue up to the side and wait for the boarding agent’s attention. They’ll usually finish with the party they’re boarding, and then have you come up next. That’s still priority boarding – and a reminder that elite status doesn’t make you an elite person.
But you know what’s even worse than a Global Services member doing this? A passenger claiming priority because they used to be a Global Services member and now have United’s credit card.
The truth is that you don’t want to board first. You just want to board not-last. And the only reason for that is so that there’s still overhead bin space available for your carry-on bags.
Otherwise why get stuck in the seat longer than you have to? Boarding after pre-boarding is done is fine. In fact it’s better. It’s a few extra minutes not on the plane.
Air Canada is smarter in this respect. First boarding group is people in wheelchairs, followed by groups 1 and 2 (which are based on status and class of ticket purchased). Then people who need more time to board, along with families with children under six. Then groups 3, 4, and 5. In other words, a flyer with status gets to board before families but after wheelchairs. As someone with mobility issues but not requiring a wheelchair, I frequently board large planes in what I’ll call group 2A.
Delta Plat and If I don’t have any bags or need the overhead I willingly board last. Let the circus get seated and then I’ll board.
Ahhhhh …. the small weiny passenger playing the status card and, not only pushing past a family, but not offering to help. Can’t wait until you’re using a walker and I can push past you …. Karma is a beautiful thing.
I despised overly entitled frickin’ flyers who did things like that when I worked gates. FF status doesn’t entitle people to be a**holes. Luckily, they used to be a minority. IDK about these days.
Hopefully there is karma and something really disruptive happens to this ahole. Been flying, w top status, since the mid 80s. While I appreciate any benefits I never demand them or act like I’m better than anyone else. Is there some prize for being the absolute first person on the plane? Like you said, not like they are taking his first class seat or his baggage storage space.
It is entitled people like this that make routine fliers hate those of us with elite status
The absolute worst part of flying is the boarding process and the gamesmanship that goes with it.
Where’s the shove? I didn’t see him shoving anyone.
I am in a wheelchair and need the aisle chair to board – first on/last off. I once had an AA Concierge Key jump in front of me as I was having my BP scanned and insist on boarding before me. Gate agent told them to wait until preboarding was complete, but they made a fuss so they boarded before me.
I usually sit in 2A/2F as windows are best for me as I don’t get up during the flight and don’t need anyone climbing over me to use the lav, plus I need the underseat space as I don’t use the overhead bins.
Wouldn’t you know it, but the chucklehead was all settled into 2C working on their laptop when I boarded after them needing to get to 2A. They had to get up and move their stuff so I could get to my seat. The look on their face was priceless. Karma strikes again.
While this guy was a d***k airlines should have their top invite only level be the very first to board. They are the cream of the airline. I’ve had Premium Services reps at the gate that had a good relationship with gate agents get me on first.
Likely a sad corporate drone who only has status because someone else is paying.
Airline status is his entire self worth.
The fact that he was flying for work last Friday is even more sad given Thursday was a holiday and then it was the weekend.
This actually speaks to a bigger and wider issue with United’s boarding groups.
Because they’ve made “priority boarding” a perk of their credit cards, they’ve swollen Group One to an absurd size. The notion that you can board a 777 with only three boarding groups and a pre-board scrum is insane. The pre-board scrum is made worse by both it’s inherent inconsistency (how many of each pre-board category, etc) and how poorly gate agents are trained (I’ve seen families and military both before and after 1K, let alone GS).
I don’t like a lot of things about AA, but at least their boarding process makes sense and is clearly explained.
FWIW, this person was correct about the boarding order — disabailities/extra time; active duty military; GS; families with children<2; 1K; then by zones. These are each separate, distinct boarding groups.
I’ve been in road warrior for nearly 25 years, mostly as a 1K on United. I’ve seen other entitled travelers with status, literally push old people with walkers aside to get to the front of the line or to the end of the jetway before them.
Remarkably, I have never seen this kind of boorish behavior outside of the United States.
They should just assign a group at the time of check-in. Based on reservation, they would know if family has children that are smaller than two years old. Just put them in group 1or group 2 and board based on groups. That way you can look at the boarding pass and see who’s out of line. This appears to be a family that’s taking advantage.
But again that does not justify the behavior of this guy.
“Bark!” …woof.
What’s worse the pushiness of the GS customer or the author who posts the video! Shaming someone online is more egregious than the behavior.
Honestly, the entire Boarding Zone thing is out of hand. We all know it all stems from the carry-ons and the overhead bin space. However, I really think this guy was playing his “I’m-an-elite-and-you’re-a-peasant” card. He’s obviously sitting in first. The family – most likely – is not and even if they were how is he not getting overhead space? So, that said he’s just another entitled…uh…rhymes with “bick”!
Exactly. Once again, restrict carry-ons to a single under-seat item and a lot of this nonsense stops. Both on the plane, and at “security” checkpoints.
Several points:
(1) If the gate agents enforced boarding priority, then passengers would not feel they had to take things into their own hand.
(2) As Gene points out, he is entitled to this benefit. Who is going to defend this benefit if the gate agents and the customers do not defend it.
(3) Gate lice and the boarding scrum are a big problem.
(4) I agree with M. Casey, just because one is acting like an immature first grader pushing in line, that does not mean that the global outrage machine has to come after him.
Just remember Gilbert & Sullivan’s Mikado. Ko Ko, the Grand High Executioner has to execute someone or be executed himself:
“I’ve got a little list — I’ve got a little list
Of society offenders who might well be underground
And who never would be missed — who never would be missed!…”
“All people who have flabby hands and irritating laughs —”
Entitled United Global Services passengers,
Gate lice doing the boarding scrum.
People that post embarrassing moments to social media.
Uncivilized people that have never heard of Mikado or Ko Ko
……….
“They’d none of ’em be missed — they’d none of ’em be missed!”
@Denver Refugee — No! Never! Carry-on only. Save time. Never lose a bag.
Shall we revive the IFE screen debates?!
@1990 – While I’m very much “Team Carry-On”, albeit with a smaller 20-inch bag, we apparently can’t have nice things anymore.
@Denver Refugee: I was going to argue with you, but I then remembered the saying. “Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty, and the pig likes it.”
So I muted myself.
Good for the GS calling these cretins out. Just because you’ve bred is no reason to pervert United’s boarding process. It’s GS, then families with children under 2, then 1K. No United elite begrudges GSes their earned status and place in the boarding process. This family cut the line, period.
@Denver Refugee — 20 inches is massive! Oh, bags. Yeah.
Too bad the internet is forever.
@Gary, this guy is a gate louse.
Just because GS and Hon Circle can sometimes be insufferable pieces of crap, there is no reason why we and gate agents have to put up with them. Kudos to the guy who caught the live action. He deserved to be shamed. Whether you agree or disagree with an airline’s boarding policy, it is in place because they say it is.
We fly mostly LH. We are either boarding group 1 or 2. First comes pre-board( wheelchairs, other disabled a children under five. Then FC,HC or GS. Then Bus. Class or Star Alliance Gold.Then the other groups.
And like Michael Martin said, I rarely see this problem in Europe.
It’s a shame that people have to behave like this. Sometimes I have to take a deep breath and remind myself:
1. 98% of the population do not fly as much as I do. They don’t necessarily understand status and how boarding works as it’s not intuitive.
2. The gate houses are noisy and you can’t always hear what the agents are saying and who they’re calling to board.
3. Not everyone understands English. Kinda like when we’re in Tierra del Fuego and don’t understand the announcements.
4. I’m still getting in far early enough to get my bag in the overhead.
I don’t always succeed in reminding myself. But I try.
I see nothing wrong here.
Family with toddler is also a privilege group.
It’s just one privilege group being superior to another privilege group.
@AlanZ said: “Kudos to the guy who caught the live action. He deserved to be shamed.”
You would destroy a person’s life because he was pushy in line. R-I-G-H-T. How very just are you.
The boarding fiasco is all about anxiety. Anyone who pushes past someone to board first is experiencing an extreme anxiety event. Anxiety makes one unreasonable. Anxiety is a team that shouts “better hurry, before anyone else, you’ll lose valuable time, there won’t be overhead space, the whole trip will be ruined, you’ll be jobless, homeless and dead within a matter of days.”
If they offered a pre-airport arrival -pam drug, I bet this problem will go away. Maybe.
@AlanZ. Actually, I apologize. I did not mean to make this so personal.
Generally, I dislike the modern day trend to try ruin a person’s life with online when they capture them in a relatively minor bad moment. Humans are imperfect and even good people do stupid things sometimes, which they regret later.
To err is human, to forgive is divine, or something like that.
@ George
You were ahead when called the guy a dick. You totally lost the play when you said he is entitled. That makes him a double dick and doesn’t say much about you.
@Other Just Saying — Nice recovery.
I was pushed aside one time for some clown who thought he was better than I. “Do you know who I am?” “No, I’m not familiar with the tune “who I am” but if you will hum a few bars, I’ll try to sing along. Now take your fat ass back behind me like you had manners.” He huffed and puffed but went back.
his bag looked expanded and oversized. He wanted to get on before the gate agent gave him any flack and make it the FA’s problem.
Bravo for the online shaming. We need more of it, sometimes it’s the only thing that holds jerks somewhat accountable for their behavior. I’m all for the return of shame as a motivator for better behavior.
And as for the schmuck who couldn’t wait twenty seconds for the boarding passes of a small family to be scanned… I don’t care who you are, you aren’t any more important that anyone else. If you missed your boarding call, that’s on you. You don’t get to shove ahead of others whose boarding group has been called.
If there was some actual reason you needed to board first other than your oversized ego, you could have tried to explain it, but clearly you needed to board first merely to validate your sense of superiority.
Karma would be if United sees this video, figures out who the guy is, and revokes his GS, relegating him to board with the lowly 1Ks. As an invited tier with no published criteria, anyone holding that status does so at the whim of the airline, who can take it away without a reason.
Maybe just treat these GS and 1K people (the “I’m so important subset”) like South Park dealt with Yelpers. Or, maybe just put them at the front of the first group for their assigned seats?
The author clearly doesn’t understand United’s order of boarding priority. I’m no GS but I do know that GS boards BEFORE families with young children.
The focus here should be on the gate agent who d
Wasn’t following United’s rules.
no– it’s clearly explained that GS comes after disabled people but before families with children. Children TWO AND UNDER, by the way– a rule that is mostly ignored. 1ks are last in the pre-board. The order does matter and this passenger is perhaps having a bad day and not being super considerate, but he is in the right.
I’m only a 1k. GS spend sometimes unbelievable amounts of money on tickets to get that status. Getting to board first is literally the least the airline can do for them.
And no, two carryon items is JUST fine. The whole perk of pre-board and group 1 and 2 is that there will be space for your item.
After all this yammering about this dick head, I’ll bet UA is asking around, van we just remove his card. UA will not fold. Even Tim might applaud UA for their actions. After all, not all publicity is good publicity.
This dude is a Grade A Wang but I think he is technically correct. Majority of the time I board on UA it’s GS then families under 2. Also I kind of think that when both parents are present, one parent should take the under 2 with stuff while the other parent keeps the other kids. In principle this keeps the restless older kids from getting bored during the long boarding process and it does kind of seem unfair to allow the whole ass family to board just because one kid is under 2 and I say this as a parent of two, one of whom is under 2.
All that said, I would literally never, not in a million lifetimes, behave like this absolute doofus over boarding like five people after where I think I should board. Nightmarishly, insanely entitled behavior over something that doesn’t matter 99.9999999% of the time.