What I Deserve': The Hilarious, Hair-Pulling Reality of Hotel Entitlement
If you’ve ever worked a front desk—at a hotel, a hospital, or heck, even a lemonade stand—you know there’s one universal rule: someone, somewhere, will show up demanding more than you can possibly offer. And in the hospitality world, “the customer is always right” can sometimes feel like a cosmic joke.
Recently, on Reddit’s r/TalesFromTheFrontDesk, u/Sad_Nose_407 shared an epic tale of early check-in drama that struck a nerve with hundreds of hotel workers and guests alike. If you’ve ever wondered what really happens when someone insists they “deserve” a room, a comp, or the moon, buckle up for a wild ride through the trenches of Front Desk Reality.
The Early Bird Gets...To Wait
It’s a busy season. The hotel is packed. At 10:30 AM—well before check-in time—a woman arrives, expecting her room to be ready. She’s certain she was “guaranteed” an early check-in by a booking agent. Our intrepid front desk worker (OP) apologizes and offers to hold their bags, explaining the hotel was sold out the night before and rooms aren’t available until after noon.
Instead of exploring the sights, the guests set up camp just outside the front door, their gaze fixed on the front desk like hawks eyeing prey. Every ten minutes, the husband marches in to demand updates. When guests start checking out, the couple accuses staff of lying—after all, if people are leaving, their room should magically appear, right? OP patiently explains (again!) that rooms need to be cleaned and inspected before they’re ready. Spoiler: this is not enough.
The couple escalates, demanding to see the manager. And then, as if by magic, their story changes—now OP has supposedly promised them an early check-in, personally. Oh, and they’d now like their room comped “because of the inconvenience.” When the manager refuses, the guest doubles down: “It’s what I deserve because of this situation.”
When Reality Bends: Lies, Loopholes, and the Legendary Booking Agent
Here’s where things get spicy. As u/LutschiPutschi (229 upvotes!) pointed out, the guests' story shift was a classic case of “lie and hope no one calls you on it”—even when the person they’re lying about is standing right there. OP is forced to defend themselves, which, let’s be honest, is a ridiculous spot to be in after calmly explaining the situation a dozen times.
But what about that mysterious booking agent who “guaranteed” the early check-in? The community consensus: highly unlikely. Commenters like u/KazulsPrincess and u/AllegraO weren’t buying it for a second. “Given the story switch, I'd bet that the booking agent told them no such thing,” wrote one. Another chimed in: “They lied about you promising them an early check-in when you were right there, and you still think the supposed booking agent actually promised it too? I guarantee they’re lying out their asses about everything.”
The most generous take came from OP themselves, who initially blamed the agent for overpromising but later admitted, “I’ve definitely changed my mind about the booking agent promising her anything.” It’s an all-too-common scenario in hospitality: the guest claims a promise, the staff is left scrambling, and the truth is nowhere to be found. As one commenter quipped, “Some people lie as naturally as breathing. You found two of them.”
Entitlement Olympics: “I’m an Aluminum Member!”
The Reddit thread quickly filled with stories from other front desk veterans. Apparently, this flavor of entitlement is as common as continental breakfast. u/milk-rose vented, “I am so fed up with all the early check-in people. It’s so entitled to just waltz in a hotel and expect to be checked in before check OUT from the night before...what do these people expect, a magic wand to be waved and the room be vacant and empty?”
OP replied with a jaw-dropper: a guest once demanded someone else’s reservation be canceled so he, as an “aluminum member,” could check in at 7:30 AM. (For the record: aluminum is not a real loyalty tier, unless you’re collecting soda cans.) As commenter u/PlatypusDream joked, “So you’ll be OK with it when an unobtanium member wants me to cancel your reservation for her?”
The running theme: the more outrageous the request, the more convinced the guest is that it’s not just reasonable, but deserved. Whether it’s a free night, an impossible check-in time, or a comp because “it’s what I deserve,” hospitality staff have heard it all.
Lies, Stereotypes, and the Limits of Patience
Perhaps the most jaw-dropping moment was the husband’s attempt to “prove” they’d spoken to OP: “well it had to have been you because we spoke to a Filipino woman.” OP isn’t Filipino. As u/teluscustomer12345 snarked, “He does have you dead to rights here, since there’s only one Filipino woman on Earth.”
It’s the kind of logic that defies explanation, but is all too common in service jobs. Other commenters suggested a simple solution: “I’ll be happy to cancel your reservation, no charge,” or “Sure your room will be comped in the form of me cancelling the reservation without penalty. I hope the rest of your day is as pleasant as you are :)” (u/FuzzelFox).
And what about guests who cause this much trouble before even checking in? Many agreed with u/RetiredBSN: “You could probably safely assume they’re going to cause problems after they check in and make their stay miserable for any staff they encounter. They can go somewhere else and try to make them miserable.”
Conclusion: What Do We Really Deserve?
The real takeaway from this saga? In the world of hospitality, patience is a virtue—one that’s tested daily. Guests: early check-in is a request, not a guarantee. Staff: you deserve medals, not migraines.
So next time you hear a guest say, “It’s what I deserve,” remember this story. And if you’ve got a wild tale of your own (front desk or otherwise), drop it in the comments. We’d love to hear what you deserve.
What’s the most entitled guest demand you’ve ever witnessed? Share your story below—and let’s celebrate the real MVPs of hospitality together!
Original Reddit Post: What I deserve