According to an Insight report, a business class passenger is claiming that Korean Air flight attendants had treated him with discrimination, unlike the wonderful treatment for the idol group members.

On April 6, a man in his 30s, referred to as Mr. A, flew from Bangkok to Seoul on Korean Air's flight KE652. Opting for a more comfortable journey, Mr. A decided to purchase a business class ticket priced at 2.3 million KRW (approximately 1,701.56 USD).

The flight reportedly included several celebrities on board, notably two members from a renowned idol group, 'S,' among its passengers.

From the moment of boarding, Mr. A observed and experienced what he described as discriminatory treatment. He remarked, "Business class passengers typically receive special attention and greetings from the flight crew, especially the head flight attendant." He added, "It appeared that the head flight attendant was overly attentive to the idol group, neglecting to offer similar greetings and services to other passengers."

Detailing his experience, Mr. A said, "The male head flight attendant greeted only the idols, saying 'Thank you for flying with us,' 'We will make sure to take good care of you.'"

Further instances of perceived bias continued during the in-flight services. Mr. A recounted, "The flight attendant would courteously announce 'Excuse me' before opening the private door for the idol members. However, at my seat, the door was just abruptly opened, a drink was placed without any acknowledgment, and I encountered multiple instances of discourteous behavior."

Highlighting a particular incident, Mr. A shared, "After enjoying a cocktail, I ordered another one. When I praised the taste, saying 'You made this very well,' the female flight attendant responded dismissively with an 'Oh, okay,' conveying a nonchalant attitude as if she was saying 'So what' that left me quite displeased."

Despite raising these concerns both during the flight and upon his return to Korea, Mr. A expressed disappointment at the lack of response or feedback from Korean Air.

In a conversation with the Insight reporting team, he voiced his frustration, stating, "I expected proper service for the premium I paid. It's infuriating to feel discriminated against simply because celebrities were on board." He concluded with a strong sentiment, "Receiving unequal treatment despite paying the same fare is unacceptable. Korean Air must address and rectify these discriminatory practices."

Regarding this issue, Korean Air stated to the Insight reporting team, "We received the claim on April 7 and are currently investigating the details."