Does status or Money make you arrogant ?

[tuppaware]

My friends call me a status-cough, which is fine. Its an example that often I put my thoughts and energy into getting flights and hacking status.
I'm happy to rough it down the back and also comfortable dining in the fanciest restaurant and happy with what life gives me.
I earn an average wage and don't even own a car, but I wonder does status (Flashing a Credit Card / Plat FF card ) or having lots of money make people more arrogant ?

its just plastic and money isn't it ?

 

[MarcB]

I've been called a status-cough too. However, over the years, as my friends and family have come to learn my tricks and hacks, many of them have jumped aboard. I don't think status and money necessarily make people arrogant - rather, I find its more prevalent in those people who have forgotten what it's like when you don't have those things. Although I now fly more up the front then the back of the plane, I keenly remember what it is like in Y, and always consider it a privilege that I can fly up the pointy end. This is regardless of whether I am paying for it or not. Smiles and manners are free - and I hand them out whenever I can - even to the crew in J.

 

[Deleted member]

I agree with you both, arrogant people usually were arrogant before status etc.
Maybe a self assured confidence can be misconstrued, or missing out on what's expected cause a bit of a ruffle. But we all put our trousers on the same way, one leg at a time.
Be nice to people who serve you, you get to eat less spit that way !!

 

[tuppaware]

This is regardless of whether I am paying for it or not. Smiles and manners are free - and I hand them out whenever I can - even to the crew in J.

I often think what happens if (for some reason) flying becomes something that only the ultra rich can do ... Would I miss getting thrown into a small metal tube.

 

[Justchecking]

but I wonder does status (Flashing a Credit Card / Plat FF card ) or having lots of money make people more arrogant ?

its just plastic and money isn't it ?

No. I've found by far the people most vocal about their 'entitlements' and status are generally those who don't have much. Because they don't have much they are very guarded of what they do have and what they think they should get. Truly wealthy people I've met are usually very down to earth, easy to get along with, and rarely if ever remind you of how much they have and how important they think they are.

I don't think arrogance is the right word either. It's more like pushy and self centred. The 'it's all about me' crowd tend to be highly vocal and just regular Joes looking for a way to be special in life.

 

[TonyHancock]

To echo the other sentiments here arrogance, if indeed that is the right term, is present prior to earning status. I am, of course, incredibly arrogant and self centreed and if I might say quite rightly so. It is difficult to be a genuine DYKWIA without arrogance and a genuine disinterest in others.

 

[drewbles]

My experience was that when I just became a newly minted status member all those years ago (was around 7 years as a PS) I was initially boasting about being silver. That wore of quickly. Then, I rose to WP within a few weeks of starting a status run, and the WP card got shown plenty.

That was around 3 years ago now. Now, as a DJ and QF WP, I don't really care. I travel so much that people just assume i'm insane, and most my FB/Foursquare posts are from an airport lounge somewhere showcasing the local food/booze offerings.

I've had one DYKWIA moment, when I was SG briefly during an op-up on SFO-SYD. I was put in J with a beep-at-the-gate and shown a boarding pass of xxA and I said "but that's a window seat!". In my defence, i'd spent 4 hours in the BA lounge drinking, and was rather marinated. I immediately realised what i'd said and felt ashamed.

These days, i'm happy to guest people, or educate people how I rose to these levels with apparently little effort. As other people have posted, people become interested in all this stuff and they succumb to it too.

I may have the shiny cards, but my income is still relatively modest, but as I age, i'm becoming more philanthropic and starting to realise that I do have it good, and try to help those less fortunate.

Oh and I also treat every airline staff member with respect and courtesy. It's amazing how being polite and showing a smile to an FA on-board who's obviously having a bad day makes things that much better for them, and they visibly appreciate being appreciated!

The old sayings 'you catch more flies with honey than vinegar' and 'do unto others' holds extremely true in the aviation world.

That said though, I know my entitlements, and if there's someone on an airlines staff that doesn't i'll politely educate them, not play the DYWKIA card (I can't do it, I hate making a scene).

 

[haydensydney]

Below are my ramblings....

Yes - money can turn people into cough.

Most of them don't really care if they reek with arrogance because the great unwashed flock to them regardless - because of the money. It's quite funny watching these people become enamoured and fawn over their new found messiah. The arrogant guy with the money loves the attention but still treats his new found followers with disdain and mistrust.

I like to think that people who are defined as 'new money' grow out of that obnoxious phase; modesty and class, before long, replace tacky public displays of wealth and gloating. Unfortunately some people don't grow out of it and become glamoured by the money itself and the friends that the money has attracted

There is nothing quite as cringe worthly as seeing someone flaunt their wealth to try and score points within a social network... if only there was a handbook on managing wealth gracefully in a social setting? (I certainly know some who would need to read it urgently).

 

[pauly7]

Below are my ramblings....

There is nothing quite as cringe worthly as seeing someone flaunt their wealth to try and score points within a social network... if only there was a handbook on managing wealth gracefully in a social setting? (I certainly know some who would need to read it urgently).

Agreed totally. You should write it up
and post it on here. I'm sure others would be interested

 

[dougieboy]

Neither. Just a simple case of status anxiety and their need to proclaim their place in the world. Next time you see it in action, just smile or have a little giggle knowing he doesn't get it.

It boils down to a fear of not being loved when all the social ambitions of acquiring wealth, power and achievement are stripped away from the individual. Modern western capitialist society has afforded us to be far 'richer' in income elevation than all whom have gone before, with the underlying preference 'more is better'. We should be the happiest populous of all time. However, it's that unlimited expectation which is the killer, keeping open a permanent gap between what we want and what we can afford, who we are and who we might become. This creates a perpetual anxiety and the need for certain individuals to assert the DYKWIA principle. Pity the man or woman who is not truly loved, and only loved by way of that which is status-conditional. It is not the person's fault, rather the attitude of society that has created the condition which draws the population towards social ambitions as the only apparent means to love and recognition within their peer group. To appear important in the eyes of others, and the things we do in order to vainly gain that approval. We are all susceptible to it, but one can always change their core beliefs. Know who you are, value your own interests and develop your own appraisal of self worth not dependent upon the likes or dislikes from others. Abide by your own character, share it only with a handful of others, and for the love of god don't shout it out for all to see and hear, let alone flail that platinum boarding pass in hand!

 

[Dantine]

Politeness and kindness will get you a long way, in any customer service situation, regardless of status.

As an aside, as a freshly minted WP, I just can't bring myself to use the Priority Boarding queue when it is in use, given there is almost no benefit - it won't get you to your destination faster.

I just feel like it is too DYKWIA. I'm happy to sit in the gate lounge, wait for the queue to die down and jump up at the end.

 

[TonyHancock]

As an aside, as a freshly minted WP, I just can't bring myself to use the Priority Boarding queue when it is in use, given there is almost no benefit - it won't get you to your destination faster.

Not to mention that it doesn't actually work either! *

*If TonyHancock was not such a DYKWIA he would apologise for hijacking this thread with yet another mindless post about QF's failure to enforce and deliver premium boarding consistently and effectively.......however he is a DYKWIA so he won't!!!

 

[ozmille]

As an aside, as a freshly minted WP, I just can't bring myself to use the Priority Boarding queue when it is in use, given there is almost no benefit - it won't get you to your destination faster.

I just feel like it is too DYKWIA. I'm happy to sit in the gate lounge, wait for the queue to die down and jump up at the end.

Domestic I agree but on an INT flight I want as less time as possible between Flounge bubbles and pre take-off bubbles

 

[codash1099]

My friends call me a status-cough, which is fine. Its an example that often I put my thoughts and energy into getting flights and hacking status.
I'm happy to rough it down the back and also comfortable dining in the fanciest restaurant and happy with what life gives me.
I earn an average wage and don't even own a car, but I wonder does status (Flashing a Credit Card / Plat FF card ) or having lots of money make people more arrogant ?

its just plastic and money isn't it ?

Certainly hasn't made me arrogant. I'm just naturally better than the rest of you and I was even before I reached WP.

 

[Hvr]

I agree with you both, arrogant people usually were arrogant before status etc.
Maybe a self assured confidence can be misconstrued, or missing out on what's expected cause a bit of a ruffle. But we all put our trousers on the same way, one leg at a time.
Be nice to people who serve you, you get to eat less spit that way !!

Actually these guys put them on both legs at once. See scene at 2'23"
The Astronaut's Guide To Life In Space - YouTube

However, I agree with the sentiment. Ignorant and arrogant people are that way regardless of their status/wealth etc.

I enjoy having status with QF and use it appropriately. I choose a good seat when I book, I often get row 4 at T-80. However, I am always extremely polite to everybody I meet especially staff and cabin crew. I do use priority lines but (hopefully) not in an arrogant way.

I am interested to see how this thread plays out. And it would be interesting if some of the industry reps who post here were able to comment on how customers with status act when they deal with them.

I reckon there would be some interesting tales from the 'other side' as it were.

 

[medhead]

I'm the only arrogant pig in the village!

 

[munitalP]

Below are my ramblings....

Yes - money can turn people into cough.

Most of them don't really care if they reek with arrogance because the great unwashed flock to them regardless - because of the money. It's quite funny watching these people become enamoured and fawn over their new found messiah. The arrogant guy with the money loves the attention but still treats his new found followers with disdain and mistrust.

I like to think that people who are defined as 'new money' grow out of that obnoxious phase; modesty and class, before long, replace tacky public displays of wealth and gloating. Unfortunately some people don't grow out of it and become glamoured by the money itself and the friends that the money has attracted

There is nothing quite as cringe worthly as seeing someone flaunt their wealth to try and score points within a social network... if only there was a handbook on managing wealth gracefully in a social setting? (I certainly know some who would need to read it urgently).

Could not have expressed it more eloquently H

 

[Katie]

It's neither money nor status that makes me arrogant. It's because I'm blonde, 6' tall, and hot.




(Some of the above assertions are even true )

 

[MEL_Traveller]

... if only there was a handbook on managing wealth gracefully in a social setting? (I certainly know some who would need to read it urgently).

these exist already - any book on etiquette will do the trick.

just buying one means you're half way to dealing with your problem.

 

[spudseamus]

I have lived by the standard "I am a mirror to your attitude "