Are You New Here?' — Adventures in Hotel Front Desk Land with Mr. Right and the Mythical 'They
If you’ve ever checked into a hotel, you know the drill: hand over your ID, swipe your card, maybe grab a cookie if you’re lucky. But what happens when the guest expects a red carpet—plus a snack buffet and a points shower—every single time? Welcome to the world of front desk legends, where the only thing wilder than the guest requests are the stories staff swap after a long night.
One such tale recently exploded on Reddit’s r/TalesFromTheFrontDesk. It stars “Mr. Right,” a man who takes “the customer is always right” to Olympic levels, and his run-in with a seasoned front desk agent who, apparently, was “new here” only in Mr. Right’s parallel universe.
The Check-In Tango: Where Common Sense Meets Entitlement
Our story opens as Mr. Right approaches the desk. The agent, a pro with two years’ experience, asks for ID—standard procedure. Mr. Right immediately bristles: “Oh, this is weird. They usually just take my name and that’s it.” (Cue raised eyebrow #1.)
For anyone who’s traveled, this is hotel check-in 101. As u/DaneAlaskaCruz, a seasoned traveler and former front desk agent, commented: “When arriving to a hotel, I wait my turn in line and the first two items I present to the FD is my ID and the credit card for my incidentals.” It’s not rocket science—it’s security, policy, and, frankly, basic manners.
But Mr. Right’s sense of exceptionalism is strong. He concedes his ID, but the performance continues. Next, he asks to add his loyalty number to a reservation made on “Viceline,” a third-party site. The agent explains that, per policy, third-party reservations don’t earn points—only the welcome points for elite members. Mr. Right insists, “They gave me points before! I’ve been coming here every week!” Eyebrow #2 climbs even higher.
Cue the recurring “They”—that shadowy cabal of staff who, according to guests like Mr. Right, apparently toss out perks like Oprah hands out cars. (Spoiler: “They” is usually code for “someone who didn’t want to argue.”)
The Perks Polka: Loyalty Programs and Loophole Hunters
Here’s the thing about hotel loyalty programs: they’re designed for, well, loyalty. As u/ericzku quipped with a healthy dose of pettiness, “If you book third party then you are their guest. You can fight with them for freebies and kickbacks but don’t get your hopes up.” Loyalty points, complimentary drinks, late checkout? Book direct, or prepare to be disappointed.
Mr. Right, however, is determined to double-dip. He claims he always gets both the points and the snack/drink. The agent, half diplomat, half detective, offers a water bottle as a peace offering—but stands firm on policy.
The comments section lit up with support for the agent’s approach. u/radman430 dropped the mic: “If you aren’t booking direct then you aren’t showing loyalty to the brand, which is what the program is intending to reward. That’s why it’s a loyalty program and is named as such. Dude is fighting for loyalty rewards from two different brands at the same time. Nah, you get one or the other. Choose your team.”
Others, like u/lady-of-thermidor, summed it up: “He’s Viceline’s customer. Let Viceline give him points.”
“Are You New Here?”—A Classic Manipulation Move
After failing to coax extra perks, Mr. Right goes for the jugular: “Are you new, or something?” It’s a classic maneuver—a subtle dig meant to undermine the agent’s authority and hope they’ll cave. But as the agent smiles and replies, “I’ve been here for two years now, actually,” Mr. Right makes a face and slinks away with his keys.
Commenters saw right through this. u/PurrPrinThom nailed the psychology: “He's trying to suggest that you're new, and don't know what you're doing... Because, you know, obviously he knows all the staff and all the policies because he's been there before.” It’s gaslighting, with a dash of hotel drama.
As the agent later discovered, Mr. Right had actually checked in with five different agents in the past month—meaning “They” could be anyone (or, more likely, no one at all). As OP dryly put it, “Some guests also just…lie.”
Wisdom from the Front Lines: What the Community Says
The best part of this saga? The chorus of hotel workers and travelers in the comments, who offered everything from empathy to exasperation:
- u/DaneAlaskaCruz, sharing from both sides of the desk, wondered “why add to it and be upset over the small stuff??” after a tiring travel day.
- u/Overtlytired-_- thanked polite guests everywhere: “Thank you for being the guests we wish we had every day! We need more people like you.”
- Others, like u/measaqueen, had horror stories about guests refusing to show ID—even when locked out of their room: “Like what if I gave some strangers a key to your room?”
- And u/VVrayth captured the collective confusion: “Some people are just weird, man. I dunno how anyone expects you to just magically know their entire history at your hotel.”
The consensus? The rules exist for a reason. Booking direct is your golden ticket to loyalty perks. And if you find yourself tempted to invoke the all-powerful “They,” maybe, just maybe, take the welcome points and the bottle of water with a smile.
Conclusion: May All Your Check-Ins Be Drama-Free
As the dust settles and Mr. Right disappears into his room (likely composing a scathing review), we’re left with a simple truth: hotel front desk work is part hospitality, part improv, and part psychological warfare. Most guests are lovely; a select few are legendary for all the wrong reasons.
So next time you check in, remember: hand over your ID, flash a smile, and don’t expect the staff to know your life story. And if you’ve got a hotel tale—either as a guest or a front desk hero—share it below! After all, every great story starts at the front desk.
What’s your wildest hotel check-in experience? Drop it in the comments, and let’s keep the hospitality hilarity rolling!
Original Reddit Post: 'Are you new here???'