Too much specialness

I do like a bit of luxury, a bit of pampering and a bit of special treatment. But when does it get too much?

Well it just did. It's a ridiculous example, but I felt embarrassed.

I am a frequent flier, and as such this builds up a certain card status, eg gold, silver, bronze. With these "status" levels you get certain benefits, which I really do enjoy and often take advantage of. For example you can get access to airport lounges, queue skipping at security, extra luggage allowances and even luggage transported free of charge to your nearest train station. I love all of this.

However today I was on a flight to Oslo with my family, and just before take off, the air stewardess came over and offered all of us a complementary bottle of water. It's the smallest of gestures, yet I was quite embarrasses to be called out amongst others. What was everyone around us thinking?

We all gratefully took the water, but I shrunk a few centimeters deeper into my seat.

So what embarrasses you?

Do you get this over specialness?

Was this gesture really necessary?

Yes I appreciated the water, but do they believe customers enjoy feeling treated differently?  Actually maybe they do and this was just my silly thing.




Thoughts anyone?