Yesterday I had a 245pm flight from PHX-LAS. I cleared at my window so I was a happy camper.

Boarded with no issues other than the couple in front of me who were zone 5 and boarded with first. They were french and handed the GA thier boarding pass and said "we are first class?" She responded "no your in row 17 not first class"but she tore thier ticket and they boarded them anyways (they also used the first class lav during the flight.) No big deal just probably a language issue.

We than sat there at the gate for about and hour and a half while they worked on an airconditioning unit

Anyways it was getting close to time to finally push and there were still only 6 of us up front and 6 empty seats. A platinum lady was upset becuase her husband was sitting in the back and the gate agent had told her first was full. The GA then came on board and explained to the FAs that a connecting flight was canceled so thats why so many empty seats.

A FA had some BPs in her hand and said "I have some "suppossed" golds that want moved up here". An older somewhat bitter FA responded with "I dont think so golds are at the bottom of the list anyways it goes CP Plat then Golds and I have some pilots I am moving up here" (there were 3 in uniform pilots sitting in coach. There seemed to be some confusion as to whom would get the upgrade. Each FA wanting to move different groups. 2 for the golds one FA was for moving the crew. The GA had walked off the plane.

Meanwhile the golds came up and took the seats behind me on thier own inititave. Seeing that happen the platinum lady told the FA to go get her husband which they did. Finally some last minute stand by passengers boarded. I guess several of them were paid FC on thier other flight so they wanted the last two seats. The FA told them sorry they could take any empty seat in the back. Finally another standby couple boarded and they just sat down there anyways before anybody noticed.

Just seemed like there was a whole lot of confusion over a few seats and a 45 minute flight. I didnt like the one FAs attitude about gold though. She also didnt know how to run the video system so said she would have to do the safety demo manually (she messed that up pretty bad as well even after pulling out her manual) Dont they have to practice that before they graduate from FA school.

The first class FA was a nice fellow though we got a predeparture drink and he hung my jacket right away. But when the flight was over I had to fight my way back thru the hoard and masses to get it back. Next time Ill grab it as we start to descend.

CPTANGO

It should never be up to the FA. The GA should have come on board and systematically brought the platinum, followed by the golds and try to follow this new system their making such a big deal about.

Please report the FA. That's clearly against the airline's rules. And also her attitude about Golds is pathetic. Especially considering that there are silver's behind them. This is why I don't fly US anymore.

Finally another standby couple boarded and they just sat down there anyways before anybody noticed.

Once upon a time, USAir swapped a 737 for an MD-80 causing mass confusion in the coach cabin on a flight from MCO-CLT. A couple boarded, expressed their frustration, and just sat down in row 2 behind me in FC. I reported them to the FA after the door closed and she verified they were in the wrong cabin. Next, she ordered them to sit in coach; however, everyone else had already boarded so the couple realized they had to split up and take center seats. The FA led the lady back to coach. The gentleman stayed behind a few seconds and had a few words with me, "I'll take care of you at baggage claim." After we reached cruising altitude the pilot emerged from the cockpit and sat in the empty seat next to me in FC and asked about the incident. The flight was met by the airport police. The police asked me about the incident and told me that after they got through with him, that gentleman would not do this again.

Quite right.... whether it was technically "air rage" or not it is good to see the airline taking it seriously...

Once upon a time, USAir swapped a 737 for an MD-80 causing mass confusion in the coach cabin on a flight from MCO-CLT. A couple boarded, expressed their frustration, and just sat down in row 2 behind me in FC. I reported them to the FA after the door closed and she verified they were in the wrong cabin. Next, she ordered them to sit in coach; however, everyone else had already boarded so the couple realized they had to split up and take center seats. The FA led the lady back to coach. The gentleman stayed behind a few seconds and had a few words with me, "I'll take care of you at baggage claim." After we reached cruising altitude the pilot emerged from the cockpit and sat in the empty seat next to me in FC and asked about the incident. The flight was met by the airport police. The police asked me about the incident and told me that after they got through with him, that gentleman would not do this again.

Sounds like it was handled well by the crew - I'm glad they had a talk with the "gentleman" - no reason to be an ... when you're in the wrong.

I'm assuming this was a while back since they were flying the MD-80?

:eek: On a PHX-LAS flight in April, I called in to DM Gold Line 24hrs prior to my flight, even though I could have called in earlier because the upgrade did not go through for some "reason" and was told that all the First Class upgrade seats were released and I said TWO out of 12. I could not even tell if they were sold or upgrades, so I gave US the benefit of the doubt. They said that that is it and I could not believe it. I kept on calling in and finally they were able to release 1 seat, but could not upgrade my wife because this was a one time exception. I understand the need for control in FC but 16% released is pathetic.

On the day of the flight I asked at check-in and was told none were open for upgrade or to be sold, so I completed check-in and walked to the gate. Meanwhile I called reservations and there were two seats for sale and I was surprised that two seats were still open and that almost all the FC seats were "sold" in 24hrs.

So I went to the gate and was told by the GA that the seats were "reserved" for working crew and I was calm and told the GA that they could have the coach seat and I could have the first. They replied with a no. Then I went over to the customer relations desk and asked what was going on. They then pulled one of the two seats remaining in FC. We were not sitting next to each other, but that was fine.

When we boarded the plane, we noticed that EIGHT seats were wide open because the EIGHT were for crew that did not make the flight.

It just makes me mad that US gives its crew FC before the people that actually pay their salary and don't even show up for the flight.

It is disheartening to read this! I can tell everyone that at OTHER airlines (read co/nw/dl), this does not happen. It just flat out DOESNT! Only ONE time in recent posts did it happen, when CO changed the "order" of fare clases, and ONE confirmed missed u/g with COMPENSATION.

Other airlines that VALUE the ff have a way to track this, and DO MONITOR the g/a's and u/g's. Too bad US cant do this, but I guess if the IT dept is so incompetent that they cant even make the kiosks work on switchover date I would not expect a working EUA!

A while back I know on UA the pilots contract required that UA provide them with a FC seat.
I am also not surprised to hear of these problems in PHX. Early this year I flew LAS-PHX-PHL only to have not been upgraded PHX to PHL in favor of West Gold and Plats. THe gentleman sitting next to me LAS to PHX was flying that same route and had been upgraded at gate even though I had done 24 hour check in and was at the gate before him and asked about upgrades and was told none available. That started my migration to other airlines.
BTW I am a US CP

:eek: It just makes me mad that US gives its crew FC before the people that actually pay their salary and don't even show up for the flight.

It's very simple...it's called a contract. Many contracts between unions and the managment for most airlines (for their pilots, of course) clearly state that if there no PAID F passengers in those seats, next in line are certain types of crew. Only way you're going to displace crew in F is if you buy a paid F ticket. And trust me...those pilots know the rules about contracts a whole lot better than passengers do.

It's very simple...it's called a contract. Many contracts between unions and the managment for most airlines (for their pilots, of course) clearly state that if there no PAID F passengers in those seats, next in line are certain types of crew. Only way you're going to displace crew in F is if you buy a paid F ticket. And trust me...those pilots know the rules about contracts a whole lot better than passengers do.

Why do pilots from other airlines get FC seats on US though- why would US care to treat a B6 pilot well (especially as US crew couldn't get FC seats on B6), for example?

Why do pilots from other airlines get FC seats on US though-
It's one of those perks that OAL pilots offer jumpseat riders and it's nice to reciprocate. In the case of jumpseat riders, there has to be an open FC seat after all passengers have been have been boarded - J/S riders shouldn't "bump" anyone out of FC.

There is the somewhat special case of pilots who work for some of the corporate charter/fractional companies. Their companies often provide paid airline transport to/from where they're needed, so they could be on a paid ticket (even FC) or upgraded as any other FF.

Jim