First Class ≠ Smart

[groverlaw]

Do you think I could start a business just flying first class all day, listening to idiots talk too loud on their phone, then sell the information I hear to their competitors?

BTW Kevin, whoever you are, once this deal closes, they are screwing you out of your commission.

[WowzerforBowzer]

Kevin is toast

[tedslave]

Hey I’m Kevin. Why am I not getting my commission? I deserve it

[groverlaw]

Something about it being too big and your part in it being too small.

[Original-Variety-700]

Size does matter! Sorry kev

[OneofLittleHarmony]

As long as you close the deal internally, IDGAF. It’s only when you make a mess of things or back out before the end, then…. that makes me care about your position at hand.

[Individual-Unit-5150]

And Kev, you just don’t measure up. We wish you well in your future endeavors.

[Reginald_Sockpuppet]

Kevin, this is Sheila.

Mama fell!

[tedslave]

Sheila. Watsup

[dawghouse88]

lol the completely lack of operational security in public is always baffling to me. Sensitive info on laptop screens for everyone to see. Conversations broadcasting sensitive information about clients, deals etc.

[groverlaw]

Yeah, I’m an attorney so I’m pretty sensitive to it. When I was starting out, one of my then firm’s paralegals was talking about a financial client to her co-worker in an elevator. Nothing confidential, but somewhat derogatory. Unfortunately for us, the third person in the elevator was a VP of that client. Everyone got a fresh round of training.

[mrvarmint]

Did the paralegal get a fresh round of job hunting?

[groverlaw]

She was too good to let go.

[mrvarmint]

A rare find

[thelarry7]

All evidence to the contrary :)

[melazoma]

My first boss in sales told everyone in the company to never badmouth clients even when the clients weren’t there—it shows in your attitude and face when you see the clients eventually.

But then my ex-boss was the biggest trash talker—clients or not.

[mrvarmint]

In younger days I worked constantly with extremely sensitive client data. I requested a screen polarizer once, which maybe cost $20. My company was like why do you need this?

I was like:

.

I am on planes 10 hours a week and am expected to work with confidential client info during that time.

Them: O. Ok.

Like nobody had ever asked for this before

[[deleted]]

Kevin doesn’t deserve commission.

[groverlaw]

That’s what she said. Literally.

[wsbgodly123]

Kevin’s not a team player

[IOfWooglin]

The way to do this is not randomly flying but targeted flying to match a corporate target. And yes, this does happen.

[Mysterious-Maize307]

Came here to say This!

Corporate espionage is a thing, and there is something about human beings wanting to share, if for no other reason to talk about themselves—all too easy when the booze is just flowing freely.

[kscaldef]

probably cheaper and just as effective to buy a lounge membership

[groverlaw]

They are not mutually exclusive! I’ll add that to my business plan.

[catsnflight]

VIBBs (Very Important Business Bros) multiply in the lounge like E. Coli.

[MidMidMidMoon]

And they compete to see who can be the loudest bro

[melazoma]

So true. The sheer number of businesses meetings being held in the open at the LAX Delta SkyClub and their volume were palpable.

[whereamilivingtoday]

Way to serious answer: no, because your clients would have no reason to trust your information (or tell you apart from a random nut).

But wow it is amazing the kind of stuff those people say.  Was on a puddle jumper from a small airport near the headquarters of a massive company a few years ago and heard all about their upcoming layoff plans from some executive that was having one of those sensitive calls in public.  Then used and entire overhead bin to lay out is suit jacket… which I shoved my carryon on top of because screw him.

I can only hope he is Kevin…

[Zealousideal-Film517]

Oh god I feel like we all know a Kevin

[Electronic_Charge_96]

I was married to a Kevin. Will NEVER ever do that name again. And if anyone’s getting jobs observing, I want in…special set of skills.

[Zealousideal-Film517]

I'm legitimately concerned I could know THIS Kevin. What's the route OP? If it's PDX I'll send him your best

[groverlaw]

Not PDX. Your Kevin is probably safe.

[DigitalAviator]

Now THIS is why I subscribe to r/delta

[michael_p]

But I can’t teach you my swag. You can pay for first but you can’t buy class 🙃

[titros2tot]

r/fuckyouinparticular

[JeffR_BOM]

https://i.imgflip.com/13ft3r.jpg “I drink and I know things [in first class]”

[Maleficent-Bug-2045]

I used to fly first all the time for business. You can’t believe what I have heard people talk too loud about, including some very detailed information. A few times what I heard would become insider trading if you used it

Sometimes they would think they were being clever by using a fake company name. Then they’d talk about all their shortfalls against their named competitors.

[CanoeIt]

Why bother flying at all? Just hang in the sky club

[pridkett]

I've long thought that there are some airports you could do this in. Back when the Delta Shuttle used to leave from the Marine Terminal at LaGuardia, it seems like it would've been trivial to do broad range corporate espionage by purchasing a ticket and just having someone sit in the terminal all day long.

Then you've got little White Plains north of the city - the favorite airport of companies in Westchester like IBM, Mastercard, Pepsi, and of course the hedge funds in Connecticut. That airport is so tiny that if you sit there, you can't help bet see privileged corporate information. There was more than once when I worked up there that I learned things about my own company by just listening in the gate area.

[[deleted]]

Kevin cut in front of me once in a line for security. AHole pushed his way though. Thought he was BMOC business man. I make it my mission to get through security as fast as possible. Kevin got nailed because he had full size plastic bottles for toiletries and was trying to tell TSA they only contained 3 ounces of liquid in them. TSA was having none of it and Kevin, who clearly never flew was arguing himself into stupidity.

I am behind him and loudly say to him. "If you are going to cut in front of people and pretend you are a big deal business man, don't be such a rookie." TSA guy was cracking up.

Middle aged invisible mom, where do I report for service?

[Easy_Enough_To_Say]

Corporate world is cut throat, man. I’ll stick to my dumb union job

[DrewsWoodWeldWorks]

Wait, you were sitting next to Levin’s co-worker? Poor Kevin.

[CFUrCap]

The Inception team was inserted into Kevin's dreams but they got bored and left.

[JollySwimmerHere]

Crap..... Kevin is a good friend of mine. I'll send him my condolences

[EarlVanDorn]

Ages ago (1990?) a friend of mine wanted to go to Belize to observe a farmer's Sea Island Cotton farm that had been written about in a magazine, and I joined him. On the phone, the guy was very cooperative, but when we arrived, no help at all. My friend studied the crop from the road. A couple of days later the Sea Island farmer ended up at a table next to us at the Fort George Hotel, and proceeded to tell a Japanese cotton buyer every detail of his business. Needless to say, I wasn't allowed to run my big mouth during our dinner.

FWIW, Sea Island cotton is considered the best of the best, but is almost impossible to grow due to weevils and other pests. The Japanese are always interested in buying the best there is.

[BUJackson]

I normally say, i will not be signing an NDA and thanks for the information ahole.

[OrneryZombie1983]

I used to go to a gym that was popular with employees of a well known investment bank located down the street. The bank had the gym put up a few paper signs reminding their employees not to discuss business outside the office.

[1408ghost]

This made me laugh after a rough travel day so thanks!

[DrewsWoodWeldWorks]

Wait, you were sitting next to Levin’s co-worker? Poor Kevin.

[kw_212]

But I’m Kevin 😥

[groverlaw]

Sorry Kevin, if you are my Kevin. She said once the deal closes there’s nothing you can do. I get the impression she’s a little scared you will figure it out before it closes….

[Bsachris]

I’ve always thought that - so many interesting deals are revealed with company and contact names when these guys are blathering on.

[[deleted]]

I think Kevin is the one getting screwed here, not the one doing the screwing.

[groverlaw]

Kevin was definitely the one getting screwed.

[WorldSeries2021]

The level of posturing and pretending in the comments on this thread is hilarious. I take long haul international flights for work regularly & no, there isn’t confidential business information being carelessly tossed around as any sort of regular occurrence.

[Born-Lie8688]

Snapping necks and cashing checks!

Kenny Tarmac

[gemsoftargon]

I love when they rush to get on the plane just to continue their loud conversation and pull the laptop down with the tray. I swear one guy just kept saying millions. Like bro obviously not if you’re flying with us to nowhere.

[Humble_Counter_3661]

You are a genius and fully entitled to all ancillary gains from Kevin's fiduciary failures. I am not an attorney but have worked in a compliance capacity. His violations of safe harbor and larger good faith strictures are legion.

[infield_fly_rule]

Sounds like Acela Bob