Is this sexism? Or maybe fat middle age womanism?

[RiddleyW]

I’m just waiting to board a flight flying easyJet. I’m speedy boarding/ EasyJet plus which means I get two carry on bags instead of one.

Approaching gate the woman working here asked the two men in front (having seen they had two bags each) “Speedy Boarding, Gentlemen?” with a big smile. Then barked at me “you’ll need to put that handbag in your case”.

Do you think that’s sexism? Or do I look like I can’t afford an extra £17?

I’m not particularly upset at all just wondered what you would have made of it.

Not sure what led her to that assumption but in some way you didn't fit her profile. Were the men in suits? What did you say and how did she respond?

Men are in smart jeans and shorts, I’m in a casualish dress and brogues.

I said something like “oh I get an extra bag I think”, she looked at my boarding pass and said “that’s fine” and waves me through.

This is the point where it's such a combination of isms that it's just safe to say she has a whole bucket of preconceptions based on your appearance, which probably make her job quicker 99% of the time but which she should absolutely never air to the general public in her customer service.

Agree with the above poster. Perhaps most people who paid for two bags bring luggage type bags and those with a case and handbag are those who should only have 1 piece of luggage?

Poor customer service though. It would have taken her no extra effort to ask 'speedy boarding?' or wait to see your boarding card before making assumptions.

I get things like this constantly when I travel for work. It's unbelievably annoying how much better treatment businessmen get than businesswomen when travelling in business class. I don't do myself any favours because I don't dress up to fly (I wear leggings or jeggings usually for longhaul) but this shouldn't matter. I swear they should charge women less for business class for the lack of decent service we get.

Airport lounges are full of men. Business travel is a sexist activity.

It's an intersection of isms (the real kind, not the new kind)...

I get it too - especially since I'm also generally travelling with 2 children in tow (who fly enough that they know the routine/are better behaved than a good 50% of the rest of the adults in the queue).

I've learned since having kids to be firm, unapologetic, and make sure I get what I'm due. No hanging back for me any more - and I've trained the eldest to clear the way with a loud, clear voice (the places we travel tend not to be great at queuing, so getting your priority boarding can involve elbows!).

Had the men paid for Speedy Boarding and you hadn't?

Yes, I think she judged you.

Seemingly Women should wear 80’s style power suits to be taken seriously, while men in jeans are worthy of respect.

Maybe they're just regular travellers so she's seen them on a few occasions. Not everyone is sexist 🙄

Sounds like stupid bitchism to me.

The barking at women about the handbags is standard SleazyJet policy. I am pretty sure it is in their training manual.

Unless you're using a tiny airport, ground staff rarely recognise even very frequent travellers.

Middle aged women not wearing power suits or dressed 'to lunch' can't possibly be business or frequent travellers. I learned that myself when I was that impossibility. I'm waiting to board a flight right now for work surrounded by men in suits.

And yes, EasyJet's rubbish about putting even very small handbags into suitcases while allowing VAST shopping bags on infuriates me.

Seemingly Women should wear 80’s style power suits to be taken seriously, while men in jeans are worthy of respect.

Even in the suit, flying as a young woman I was definitely treated differently to my male (also besuited) colleagues. Our national airline specialised in fawning over men in suits.

What would Alexis do?

Afew years ago my wife, then in her fifties, was managed out of her position (along with another woman slightly younger than her) by her manager and some of the much younger members of her team, including two people who my wife had trained.
The people in question were always pally with the boss and the young male workers.
There is an awful lot of ageism out there.

Had the men paid for Speedy Boarding and you hadn't?

Read the second sentence of the OP

Thanks, Mumma. Early morning, I missed that...

I witnessed at one airport a casually dressed woman with pushchair rushing up to the gate a bit late for a long haul flight. The stewards started complaining to her, she produced her first class ticket. The change in attitude and 'can I help/take that' and apologies was glorious to watch!

I travel a lot for work, and I see this kind of thing all the time. Annoys me hugely, and I complain to BA (my carrier of choice, and I'm on a feedback panel for them) a lot about it.

It might just be that it's the hundredth time that day they had to ask for the handbag to be put into the bag because they don't have speedy boarding. It happens on every flight because the women are unaware of the handbag rule despite being obvious on booking the ticket It's probably less common for men to have two bags unless they have speedy boarding.

It might just be a simple numbers thing. I wouldn't bother getting my knickers in a twist over it.

Even if that were true Fishwife asking women if they had speedy boarding would be better than telling women to put their handbags away.

Also BUSINESS men often carry laptop cases in addition to wheely cases. And I have seen them attempting to get those into a tiny suitcase with an Easyjet ground staff member standing over them with a card machine.

Maybe men are more willing to pay extra for speedy boarding so that might have influenced her but she should keep her assumptions to herself. Really suspect it’s simple sexism rather than sexism & ageism & sizeism. Still got worse customer service when I was younger and smarter and loads thinner . You are even entitled to an AIBU moment in my opinion!