I also fly a lot due to the nature of my work, and totally agree with your post. There seems to be some sort of ‘hierarchy.’
I suppose the fact that most of the passengers on a flight from Jakarta to the UAE are domestic servants being shipped off for two years of bonded labor naturally imbues a sense of contempt in the airline and the staff. But it can be quite shocking to see the disdain with which the Indonesian passengers are treated.
The flight attendants are a multi-national bunch and proud of their many language skills but I have never met one who could speak even basic Indonesian (a language spoken by a quarter of a billion people, so it ain’t chopped liver). They are downright rude to the Indonesian passengers most of whom are from small villages and have never flown before so they do cause hassle but it’s amazing how the contempt spreads to all passengers.
On an Etihad flight I pointed out to the attendant that my seat did not recline, she peremptorily told me that none of the seats reclined, we’d just have to enjoy a twelve hour flight in the middle of the night sitting upright.
The attendant came around before dinner and asked me what I wanted to drink, I asked for as I always do on any flight a gin and tonic and a glass of red wine for dinner, she told me I could have two drinks but only the same type and I’d get them at the same time.
Now, after switching at Abu Dhabi for an Airbus to Dublin the difference was as night and day. There were smiles, friendly assistance, food and drink whenever and whatever I wanted, nothing to good for us. The passengers were mostly Europeans or Arabs.
I’ll say there’s a hierarchy alright.