America West FlightFund (Discontinued Program) - Screwed in PHX

I got screwed volunteering to take a bump on Monday on the PHX-PHL flight. I volunteered to bump and they ended up not using me although they turned away quite a few people. The problem is that they gave away my original seat, an exit row seat, in the process and stuck me in a middle seat. So, now I'm the last one on the plane and my bags are all over the place. The attitude of the agents was like "Tough S%$T, just get on the plane". No compensation, no consideration, nothing. The senior agent, Dave, was so rude I wanted to punch him in the face!!!! So my fellow FTers, BEWARE when you volunteer for a bump. I'll never do it again. :mad:

I've never been asked to turn in my boarding pass (and therefore my seat) until they actually accept my offer to bump... at least when I've done it, gate agents take the names of volunteers, say not to board, then call you up one at a time to rebook you on the next flight, THEN reassign your seat to the person who gets on in your place. Sounds like you got a gate agent who didn't know the procedure (at least not the procedure I'm used to.)

The senior agent, Dave, was so rude I wanted to punch him in the face!!!!

Great attitude! I realize you didn't get the seat you wanted but that kind of attitude will get you nowhere...except a middle seat! Next time, try a different approach and you may have a different outcome.

My experience was similar to SanDiegoMark's. The difference is the gate agent took my boarding pass and set it aside. Later, he found out that he didn't need me and gave my pass back.

By the way (slightly out of topic), can you volunteer if you're in first class?

By the way (slightly out of topic), can you volunteer if you're in first class?

Yeah, you can. I did it a couple of times, but I never volunteer anymore.

Great attitude! I realize you didn't get the seat you wanted but that kind of attitude will get you nowhere...except a middle seat! Next time, try a different approach and you may have a different outcome.

Snokums,

I think he used it as a hyperbole to show how frustrated he was with the situation. I would have been really angry too. Completely unacceptable on AWA's part.

TopGun,

You need to write to customer relations. You were trying to help them out and they treated you quite poorly, judging from your account.

I think I know who this agent is. He works A4/A6/A8 a lot. His uniform usually looks really worn and dirty. Just not a nice guy.

It's no wonder the Republic had a front page article today about AWA's poor service rankings.

This is unacceptable. I would definitely write a letter, with as many specifics as possible. This is your reward for offering to help them by giving up your confirmed seat on the flight? I would have been just as upset as you were. (And, for what it's worth, I know what you mean by being so mad that you wanted to punch him in the face; I've felt that way several times. Not that I would have, or even exhibited my emotion, but I know what it is like to be so angry when you are treated so poorly.)

Not that I would have volunteered in the first place (like I need a voucher for a free ticket somewhere :rolleyes: ), but if I had and this happened to me, I would not have boarded the flight. If the gate agent wasn't willing or able to take care of me (which is highly likely, given his pressure to get the flight off) I would have told him I wasn't boarding the flight and walked to customer relations and had a conversation with a supervisor. The gate agent made a mistake. I'm confident that through a calm conversation with a supervisor, things would have been made right.

I'm confident that through a calm conversation with a supervisor, things would have been made right.
Exactly my point. If the gate agent made an error, a supervisor could and should have fixed the problem. Saying you want to punch the guy in the face will get you nowhere, except a trip to see Sheriff Joe in downtown Phoenix. It was a mistake, someone could have fixed it but you have to give them the chance!

Exactly my point. If the gate agent made an error, a supervisor could and should have fixed the problem. Saying you want to punch the guy in the face will get you nowhere, except a trip to see Sheriff Joe in downtown Phoenix. It was a mistake, someone could have fixed it but you have to give them the chance!

For the record, there were no threats made. I found out that I was reassigned and got irate (although somewhat tempered), quite appropriate considering the circumstances. My mistake is probably not seeking redress with a supervisor. That's one of the great things about this forum, I can learn from other's experiences.

For the record, there were no threats made. I found out that I was reassigned and got irate (although somewhat tempered), quite appropriate considering the circumstances. My mistake is probably not seeking redress with a supervisor. That's one of the great things about this forum, I can learn from other's experiences.

Has anybody here refused to board after similar shenanigans and gone to one of the customer relations alcoves? If so, what happened? I cannot imagine that they would hold the flight, but would you be given an upgrade on the next flight out, an air check plus voucher, miles, an apology, or what?

This thread is a good reminder to not allow your BP out of your hands at any time, even for a VDB. With an e-ticket, the printed BP is about the only way you can prove you were ever supposed to be on a flight in the worst circumstances.

This thread is a good reminder to not allow your BP out of your hands at any time, even for a VDB. With an e-ticket, the printed BP is about the only way you can prove you were ever supposed to be on a flight in the worst circumstances.

Always carry the original receipt for the e-ticket!

I'm surprised you think a supervisor would have "made it all better." Wasn't this happening just minutes before departure?

This thread is a good reminder to not allow your BP out of your hands at any time, even for a VDB. With an e-ticket, the printed BP is about the only way you can prove you were ever supposed to be on a flight in the worst circumstances.

Very good idea, although I suppose it won't help if the gate agent assigns somebody else into your seat and has them board during the ensuing period when they are trying to determine if they need the volunteers.

I'm surprised you think a supervisor would have "made it all better." Wasn't this happening just minutes before departure?

It sounds as though it was happening as they were getting ready to shut the door. My assumption was that the OP was prepared to volunteer his seat for a later flight, so he must have been offered an alternative flight in that process that was acceptable to him. By refusing to take the center seat and going to the customer service center to see a supervisor, I wouldn't expect the plane to be waiting while he worked it out. Rather, I would expect that after a bit of conversation the supervisor would placed him on that next flight, in a better seat, likely with some level of upgrade and/or other compensation in light of the mishandling by the gate agent. Again, it's all in how it is handled, though. Worst case, he's most likely at least on the next flight in an acceptable seat.

Personally, unless I absolutely, positively, for business critical reasons, had to be on that flight, I would not fly from PHX to PHL on HP in a center seat. And I certainly wouldn't do it as a result of such a last minute mistake by a gate agent unless I truly had no flexibility. Fortunately, more often than not, I can make such a choice. I know a lot of road warriors can't.

With America West's extremely limited to service to Philadelphia, I'm not sure if you'd find me putting my hopes on an America West supervisor.