Everyone else got "Welcome aboard." I got something very different
Had a weird experience boarding a Delta flight today and I'm curious whether others would be bothered by this too.
For context, I fly for work almost every week and I'm a Platinum Medallion member. On this flight I was traveling in First Class and boarding with my assigned group.
As I was standing in line, I noticed the gate agent greeting people ahead of me with things like "Welcome aboard" and "Have a great flight." The passengers after me got the same friendly treatment.
When it was my turn, before I had even scanned my boarding pass, the gate agent looked at me and said:
"Oh, couldn't wait in line, no worries. I'll let you board anyway."
I was honestly caught off guard. I wasn't trying to board early or cutting the line. I was exactly where I was supposed to be and boarding with my assigned group.
What bothered me most is that the comment came before he even scanned my boarding pass. He had no idea what cabin I was flying in or what boarding group I belonged to. He just immediately assumed I wasn't supposed to be there.
As a brown woman who travels frequently for business, the interaction left me with a really uncomfortable feeling. I can't know what was going through his mind, but it made me feel like I didn't belong in that line or in that cabin. Then my boarding pass was scanned, it showed First Class, and suddenly there was no issue.
Maybe it was meant as a joke. Maybe it was just poor customer service. But when everyone around you is being greeted warmly and you're the only one being questioned before your boarding pass is even checked, it's hard not to notice.
I've flown Delta hundreds of times and honestly can't remember another interaction that made me feel this way.
I’ve already filed a complaint with Delta, but I’m also trying to understand what my options are from here. Would this bother you, or am I reading too much into it?