The King of Diamonds: When Hotel Loyalty Status Becomes a Crown of Entitlement
If you’ve ever worked in hospitality, you know that hotel loyalty programs can bring out both the best… and the absolute “extra” in people. There are the grateful, road-weary guests who appreciate every little upgrade, and then there are those who wear their elite status like a velvet cape, expecting the world to bow before them. But even among the most insistent guests, there occasionally emerges a true monarch of entitlement—a King, if you will.
Let me introduce you to the King of Diamonds, a guest who believed his loyalty status should grant him powers rivaling those of royalty, including the magical ability to bypass time itself and check in whenever he pleased.
A Royal Arrival (Way Too Early)
The saga begins at a bustling hotel complex during a major city conference. Picture it: 3,000 rooms, all booked solid, staff juggling guests and room assignments like circus performers. Enter Mr. KD—King of Diamonds himself—striding in at 8:30am, bleary-eyed from his long flight, but exuding an air of “Don’t you know who I am?”
Now, in the world of hotels, check-in times exist for a reason. Cleaning staff need to turn over rooms, maintenance needs to fix what the previous guest “accidentally” broke, and the universe needs a little order. The standard? 3pm. But for Mr. KD, mere mortal rules do not apply. He expects his room to be ready, stat.
Front desk staff, ever polite, offer the standard script: “We can take your phone number and call if your room is ready before 3pm.” Mr. KD tolerates this mere suggestion of a wait, but you can sense the royal displeasure brewing.
The Coronation (of Complaints)
Fast forward to 3:30pm. The lobby is a sea of suitcases and tired faces. Our protagonist, busy helping a long line of guests, spots Mr. KD weaving through the crowd like a salmon swimming upstream—if that salmon was deeply irritated and wearing a blazer.
Without so much as a nod to the queue, Mr. KD marches to the desk and unleashes a tirade about the “unacceptable” wait. He demands to see the General Manager, apparently believing that, in a 3,000-room hotel, the GM is hiding behind a curtain, just waiting for a Diamond member’s summons. (Spoiler: They’re not. They’re probably in a meeting, putting out actual fires.)
The Royal Edict (and Aftermath)
But the King’s reign isn’t over. After speaking to not one but two managers and being given the GM’s email, Mr. KD isn’t satisfied. At 9:00pm, he fires off a digital edict: The GM must respond to his complaints immediately! The modern equivalent of sending a royal messenger at midnight, demanding an audience.
For those unfamiliar with the world of hospitality: General Managers do not live at the hotel like characters in a 90s sitcom. They have families, lives, and—shocking, I know—a need for sleep. But none of this deters the King of Diamonds, who expects not only swift attention but compensation for his suffering: the indignity of having to wait for check-in like a commoner.
Crowns, Cards, and Customer Service
What is it about status that makes some people forget their manners? Don’t get me wrong—loyalty programs are great. They reward frequent travelers and encourage repeat business. Most elite members are genuinely lovely. But every now and then, someone treats their Diamond status like an all-access pass to instant gratification. They forget that behind every front desk is a real human juggling a dozen requests, not a palace servant ready to grovel.
Entitlement in hospitality is nothing new. But it’s stories like these that remind us: Sometimes, the biggest perk isn’t a suite upgrade—it’s remembering to say “thank you” instead of “do you know who I am?”
Long Live the (Humble) Guest
So, next time you’re checking into a hotel after a long flight, remember: The staff is doing their best, and the check-in time is not a personal affront. And if you ever feel tempted to pull rank with your loyalty card, just remember the tale of the King of Diamonds. After all, nobody likes a monarch with a sense of entitlement that outshines their crown.
Have you had a “royal” run-in with a guest or customer? Or maybe you’ve seen status go to someone’s head? Share your stories in the comments below—let's compare notes on customer service royalty!
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Original Reddit Post: The King of Diamonds