My wife flies for an airline. Shortly after I came back from a cruise in '93 I took my first trip flying standby, which really is one of the best deals around. I made it all the way out to the west coast and got there a few minutes before she did and met her as they landed. Stayed overnight in the layover hotel.
The next day wife leaves early and I come down to catch the shuttle back to the airport. Back then you had to fly in a coat and tie if you wanted to get a chance at a first class seat. So, I'm wearing a sport coat, tie, and a mini set of NFO wings as a tie tack (the nice set they used to give at winging).
Some d-bag Captain is in the elevator when I get on and calls me out and sort of belligerently asks me what kind of wings I was wearing (kind of flicks my tie). I told him they were a set of Naval Flight Officer wings, and then sarcastically ask him what kind of wings he was wearing on his tie. He tells me I know good and well they are an ALPA pin, and then starts to call me a f-ing scab. At that point I pull out my active duty ID (back when they were color coded), inform him that I am on active duty, have no idea what the heck he's talking about, ask for his name so I can tell his company what a tool he is to the general public, and tell him to go to hell. He sort of apologizes and says "well you look like a scab, wearing that pin." I reply that I'd rather look like a scab than act like a f-ing idiot. Got a giggle out of one of the flight attendants.
Told my wife about it when we link up again and she tells me the non-union guys wear pins that look similar, to try not to take any heat. Used to be a huge deal to forget your pin. Not sure anymore, as I don't think the union has done anyone any huge favors in the past 7 years.
The stories she would come back with during times when she was a 727 FE and had a non-union guy as FO would make your hair stand up when she'd tell me how the Captain would act in the cockpit. Textbook how not to perform crew concept.
