Elite+ Premier is White Privilege

I travel a lot for work. When I lived and traveled with Jocelyn about 4 years ago, he encouraged me to sign up for a United mileage plus card to get points. When he would purchase flights for my birthday overseas we got lounge and premier access and it was great. I guess you could say I got spoiled and used to the accommodations. While traveling for fun, I also racked up a ton of miles. I also have a working history and currently relationships with Marriott hotels. I know the inner workings of hotels and how to get clutch accommodations, in a positive way. Meaning, if I can get a voucher from a current employee, I get an incredible room rate and chances are the person checking me in will give me a great room and concierge lounge access. They give me the benefits of an “Elite” member and I also accrue reward points simultaneously. If you are not familiar with concierge lounges, they are the equivalent to airport clubs; free drinks, free food such as breakfast, hors d'oeuvres, dessert, and access to business centers. Elite members also get the rooms with the best views: overlooking city, rivers, main attractions and away from elevators and general noise. I will also disclose that they have the complete control to put me in a shitty noisy room if they are busy with full paying guests.

With airline “silver premier” accommodations, this includes not much other than boarding in group 2 and not having to pay extra for legroom. I get to bypass TSA lines, and get my luggage tagged priority meaning it comes out first, included annually are 2 passes to the club lounge which is fine but whatever, it’s free. I also I get upgraded to first class if available, which happens often because I typically fly to where no one goes, so it’s never a full flight.

I know what it’s like to travel comfortably and also cheaply, however, I don’t know what it’s like to have cheap lodging but that is besides the point. I am here to talk about travel and diversity.

The elite and premier access that I have has made me realize, there aren’t more people of color traveling and traveling often. I am stuck currently in a DC concierge lounge filled with white men talking about shallow subjects that always come down to who’s dick is bigger. There is not one person of color let alone a single woman. I am consistently the only woman of color sitting in first class. While in first class, the attendant often overlooks me, for example, some flights during peak meal times will include a breakfast or dinner. No matter my seat, I’ve always noticed they come to me last, even if there is a white woman in first, they will always accommodate them first. I see white men excessively drinking cocktails and I get rude looks when I ask for a single glass of wine, like it’s an inconvenience to them. I often get side stepped or people trying to cut in front of me to board thinking I am not a premier member that belongs in the line. I often get a surprised look when my group is called.

All this classist shit drive me up the fucking wall. Why do you need to provide parameters around travel to see who deserves legroom or not. Who can board a fucking plane first, or who gets better service and allows other passengers to treat “lower class” differently? Classism and travel is a huge problem that I am not sure I want to get myself into. I hate having to rub shoulders with the short white men in shitty uncomfortable suits that think they deserve everyone else to stand out of their way. They are so impatient, so rude, and clueless to the world. They suck and suck a big dick, most likely the man next to them’s dick.

While companies think they are building customer loyalty, they are just building more boundaries for equality.

All the white people always think you’re in their way. Well fuck you and so you know, all hotel staff laugh at you and your perceived privilege after you leave the front desk. We cheers with PBRs proudly that you think we care about your 800 thread count sheets, extra towels, and asshole lickings. End of rant, maybe...