Receipts aren’t always as straightforward as they might seem.
You may think that a receipt simply lists everything you ordered and how much you paid for it. However, a closer look at many receipts reveals information of which the buyer may not have been aware.
Some internet users have looked at their receipts and found unexpected charges. For example, one woman saw that her fast-food receipt contained a $2 “public improvement fee.” Other users have found all sorts of hidden charges after taking a closer look at their bills.
However, sometimes, these strange receipt listings do not result in additional charges. Instead, they can simply be a bit of a mystery.
One woman decided to investigate such a mystery by posting about her strange receipt online. In short, why did this restaurant put a “red flag” on her bill?
What Does A ‘Red Flag’ Mean At Chick-Fil-A?
In a video with over 63,000 views, TikTok user Martha (@trulymartha) says that she noticed something strange on her Chick-fil-A receipt.
“Can someone from Chick-fil-A please tell me what it means when they put ‘red flag’ on your order?” Martha asks.
She then shows her receipt. Under her spicy burrito order, there is another entry for “red flag.” Underneath that is the +1 for creamy salsa.
“First off, how do you know if I’m a red flag or not? I’m not,” she says.
“What do you mean ‘one red flag’?” she adds at the end of the video. “What did I do to cause a red flag?”
Chick-Fil-A And Red Flags
If you go to Chick-fil-A and notice a “red flag” on your receipt, don’t take it personally. While Martha jokes that it may mean something about the customer’s character, there’s actually a reason why Chick-fil-A might mark your order a “red flag.”
As noted by Mashed, a “red flag” marking on an order simply means that employees should pay special attention to it. Most of the time, this is due to a customer making a highly specific order.
For example, if you want your chicken sandwich wrapped in lettuce instead of provided in a bun, your order is likely to have a red flag.
In contrast, if you would simply like one ingredient removed from your sandwich. For example, if you would like no pickles on your sandwich, you would likely not receive a red flag, as employees can input such requests separately. That said, there may be cases where even simple requests would be given a red flag.
So, if you receive a red flag on your order, what should you do? The answer is “Just enjoy your meal.”
Commenters Share Their Thoughts
In the comments section, some users affirmed this explanation of the red flag.
“A ‘red flag’ on a Chick-fil-A receipt or cup is an internal notification system used by employees to identify special instructions, unusual orders, or high-touch service items, not a warning about the customer,” reads a comment. “It acts as a digital nudge to ensure staff doesn’t miss unique requests.”
“Haha, it means you added something to the order that is like a ‘note section’ don’t miss it kind of thing,” echoed another.
“It’s for the creamy salsa dreesing,” speculated a third.
@trulymartha @Chick-fil-A please explain 🚩 #breakfast #redflag #greenflag
BroBible reached out to Chick-fil-A and Martha via email.