Rachel’s Upper Self

Pop singer Rachel Stevens stunned passengers on a flight to London when she burst into tears and sobbed: “Don’t you know who I am?” after being refused an upgrade to first class.

The former S Club 7 singer, 28, argued with staff on board a Virgin Atlantic flight from Los Angeles when she was denied an Upper Class seat. She refused to take her allocated seat until she was ordered to by the most senior member of crew.

Rachel was told she would have to sit in Premium Economy, the area she had purchased a ticket for, when she checked in at the desk. But the North Londoner, who has been trying to forge a career in Hollywood, would not let it go… and took matters into her own hands when she got on the plane.

When Rachel boarded the flight on Wednesday night, she tried to enter the luxurious Upper Class area. An onlooker said: “She hovered by the first-class seating. She said she had been promised an upgrade but could not say who had promised her. Then she delivered the immortal line, “Don’t you know who I am?’

“She pleaded with a stewardess to let her sit down and didn’t seem to want to let it go.”

The attendant refused to let her into the more expensive area and said she did not recognise her.

When Rachel continued to moan, the flight deck manager was called. He told her he did recognise her, but said she would have to stay in the section she had paid for.

The senior cabin crew worker then told her: “Go back to your seat, Miss Stevens.” The onlooker added: “It was embarrassing to watch. Rachel’s bottom lip started quivering and she burst into tears like a child. Rachel told them repeatedly that she had been promised the upgrade because she had to work on the flight.”

When Rachel eventually took her seat, she spent most of the eight-hour flight reading Vogue.

The passenger continued: “Rachel was quite childish. And people noticed that after she said she had to work she just read a fashion magazine. I suppose it is work for her.”

Last night Rachel’s spokesman confirmed she was on the flight but downplayed her antics. He said: “Rachel was offered an upgrade when she booked her ticket. But when she came to check in they did not have a note on the system.

“After explaining the situation, she boarded the plane and had a lovely flight.”

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Credit: Sunday Mirror

Posted: April 1st, 2007