plagwate
Oct 18, 11, 9:53 am
10/17 - FL862 MCO-ATL
Upgrade success but boy did I have to fight for it. Checked in online at T-23 Hours. When I arrived at the ticket counter to check my bags, I asked how Elite upgrades were looking. The TA told me that I was the first Elite to check-in and that there were five seats still available. It was now two hours prior to departure.
I then proceeded through security and to the gate area where I found a seat adjacent to the gate desk. I opened my iPad and started surfing FT. I also opened up the seatmap for my flight so that I could monitor BC seat availability. At about 75 minutes prior to departure another Elite member approaches the desk and inquires about upgrades. The GA shoos him off and tells him to come back at T-40 minutes.
Here's where it gets good. Within the next 15 minutes I see three separate AirTran employees (wearing their One Luv lanyards and IDs) approach the desk. I check the seatmap as each of them is being helped and one by one BC seats disappear. We're now down to one BC seat (I'm guessing the other seat was assigned elsewhere) so I approach the desk and inquire. The TA tells me that he doesn't think there are any more BC seats left. "According to the seatmap, 1D is still open", I tell him. He begrudgingly assigns the seat to me. "There would probably be more available if they weren't being given to non-revs", I snap. The GA replies that "Non-revs on company business take priority" and that "Business Class is going away anyway". I tell him "I'm quite aware of that and that I'll be going away along with those BC seats. Southwest has no Luv for me."
The guy behind me looks disappointed and returns to his seat. I share my observations regarding the non-revs. Before the other Elite can get up and approach the desk, the GA calls him over and miraculously finds him a BC seat (the one that was assigned elsewhere that I could not track).
So I board the plane, knowing that I am the only paying passenger in row 1. My seatmate strikes up a conversation. "So you fly AirTran a lot?" he asks. "I used to but I am ending the relationship now that Southwest has taken over." He tells me that he's heard that from a lot of Elites. We continue our banter regarding the acquisition. He asks where I'm heading and I tell him that I live in Atlanta. I ask about his destination and he tells me that he's meeting some friends for a Monday Night Football party in Atlanta (so much for official company business) and that he's flying back to MCO on Tuesday morning.
Knowing that this GA has lied to me, I call AirTran Customer Relations. I relayed the above information to the CR representative. To my surprise, the representative was defensive of AirTran and did his best to cover for the GA's actions. He started by telling me that all of the employees were deadheading. Only when it got to the point of undeniable proof on my part did the CR agent admit that policy had been broken. But the agent was also very dismissive with me. "Since you weren't denied the upgrade, I'm not sure what you're expecting from us", he said. I told him that I shouldn't have to watchdog and fight for an Elite benefit regardless of whether it's going away next year or next week. I also told him that I was not seeking compensation, just some hope that AirTran would follow-up with the GA. The CR rep promised me nothing, offered a half-hearted apology and hung up.
I have one more round trip later this month (only booked it to earn enough credits to complete an award ticket) and then the award trip. After that I'm through with AirTran for good. It was a nice little airline before the Texas overlords took over. They can keep their Luv.
Upgrade success but boy did I have to fight for it. Checked in online at T-23 Hours. When I arrived at the ticket counter to check my bags, I asked how Elite upgrades were looking. The TA told me that I was the first Elite to check-in and that there were five seats still available. It was now two hours prior to departure.
I then proceeded through security and to the gate area where I found a seat adjacent to the gate desk. I opened my iPad and started surfing FT. I also opened up the seatmap for my flight so that I could monitor BC seat availability. At about 75 minutes prior to departure another Elite member approaches the desk and inquires about upgrades. The GA shoos him off and tells him to come back at T-40 minutes.
Here's where it gets good. Within the next 15 minutes I see three separate AirTran employees (wearing their One Luv lanyards and IDs) approach the desk. I check the seatmap as each of them is being helped and one by one BC seats disappear. We're now down to one BC seat (I'm guessing the other seat was assigned elsewhere) so I approach the desk and inquire. The TA tells me that he doesn't think there are any more BC seats left. "According to the seatmap, 1D is still open", I tell him. He begrudgingly assigns the seat to me. "There would probably be more available if they weren't being given to non-revs", I snap. The GA replies that "Non-revs on company business take priority" and that "Business Class is going away anyway". I tell him "I'm quite aware of that and that I'll be going away along with those BC seats. Southwest has no Luv for me."
The guy behind me looks disappointed and returns to his seat. I share my observations regarding the non-revs. Before the other Elite can get up and approach the desk, the GA calls him over and miraculously finds him a BC seat (the one that was assigned elsewhere that I could not track).
So I board the plane, knowing that I am the only paying passenger in row 1. My seatmate strikes up a conversation. "So you fly AirTran a lot?" he asks. "I used to but I am ending the relationship now that Southwest has taken over." He tells me that he's heard that from a lot of Elites. We continue our banter regarding the acquisition. He asks where I'm heading and I tell him that I live in Atlanta. I ask about his destination and he tells me that he's meeting some friends for a Monday Night Football party in Atlanta (so much for official company business) and that he's flying back to MCO on Tuesday morning.
Knowing that this GA has lied to me, I call AirTran Customer Relations. I relayed the above information to the CR representative. To my surprise, the representative was defensive of AirTran and did his best to cover for the GA's actions. He started by telling me that all of the employees were deadheading. Only when it got to the point of undeniable proof on my part did the CR agent admit that policy had been broken. But the agent was also very dismissive with me. "Since you weren't denied the upgrade, I'm not sure what you're expecting from us", he said. I told him that I shouldn't have to watchdog and fight for an Elite benefit regardless of whether it's going away next year or next week. I also told him that I was not seeking compensation, just some hope that AirTran would follow-up with the GA. The CR rep promised me nothing, offered a half-hearted apology and hung up.
I have one more round trip later this month (only booked it to earn enough credits to complete an award ticket) and then the award trip. After that I'm through with AirTran for good. It was a nice little airline before the Texas overlords took over. They can keep their Luv.