Miles & More (Lufthansa, Austrian, Swiss, and other partners) - SEN bahaviour on LH LHR-MUC flight

Guys,

I flew yesterday on LHR-MUC flight on LH metal. Everything went very well except usual take-off delay at LHR... this time it was like 20-30mins, do not recall correctly.... but this is not what I want to share with you, obviously.

One of SEN made a laughing stock of himself... however that look even more sight than funny.

The story took place during boarding.
I had 11A (exit row seat at A320-200) and he had 12B seat. Last boarded passengers were family (2 adults and 1 infant) splitted between 12C and rear of the plane. This guy noticed that mother with infant had seat next to him when father (my assumpion of course) far away. He immediately offered to switch seat so the family couild seat together. Everything nice till that point of the story. Family sat down but the guy called for the FA and asked for C upgrade. He explained that gave up his seat to accomodate family and C seat is deserved for him for his gesture. The FA offered him an economy sit in first row behind curtain. That was aisle seat with middle seat empty. But he started 10or 15 mins discussion that he was SEN and they had to pay more attention to him etc.... FA said that the new seat is much better than middle row seat he had etc. He called for the purser and the same discussion again. However pursed had a pax manifest and could not find his status. So he took out his SEN card in that way that half of the plane could see it. (It was even more visible than demenstation of seat belts made by FAs.) After another discussion he was finally offered a C seat... and then he noticed than lost his mobile. So all the crew were looking for his mobile but without success. He also pointed the crew where they should look, which places to check...
*** Remember guys - he was SEN in C so had the right to have FA look for his mobile ***
The phone has not been found on the plane so either he had it in his back or lost somewhere else.

My comments:
I do not see C seat on such route to be more comfortable than Y. Especially when you have seat just behind curtain with middle seat empty. Also food is not argument here.
In my opinion he just wanted to get the prestige of seating in C then Y. ... And even if flying C is a prestige how can you see your seat prestigious when is got to you by begging in front of all Y pax.

Nobody asked him for seat changing so if he offered that why did not just take the guy seat and saved time and stupid discussion? I think he just waited for pretext of C upgrade.
How many times we swap seats with someone else ? Does normal pax make noise when swap seat ?

This situation have even not been commented by other pax because his sight discussion was so clear....


*** All the discussion which I am decribing here were in German. I do not speak it but understand some of them. So the facts here can bo somehow distorted but picture of his behaviour is clear stupid for me. ***


Cheers
TP

*** All the discussion which I am decribing here were in German.

..... so why are you surprised ?;)

..... so why are you surprised ?;)

as an american (i assume) i would be careful with such a statement... :rolleyes:

as to the guy from the OP, pathetic and sad that the FAs gave in

What a douche bag!

So you just have to be persistent enough to force your op-up ? Sad.

So you just have to be persistent enough to force your op-up ? Sad.I think the worst part is that the FA gave in...

They should have a shredder in the galley to destroy his SEN card.

FA: "Sir, may I have your card for a second? Thank you".

Wrrrsssssskrsch

..... so why are you surprised ?;)
oops! ;)

I am glad our American friend had to contribute to this thread as well :rolleyes:

:td::td: for the FA and LH to give in. This is more than stupid. Next time this guy will say to himself. It worked the last time why not try again? :mad:

Next time this guy will say to himself. It worked the last time why not try again?

Guys,

What is the point to sit down in C on 1.5h flight ? Food ? Prestige ?

I understand on longhaul but not here...

TP

What is the point to sit down in C on 1.5h flight ? Food ? Prestige ?


No, this is all about the emotional benefit of getting the best available service class. Human happiness is mostly defined by relative comparison, not absolute values. People tend to happier if they have more than their peers within a comparison group, the absolute level of wealth/privileges of the group (the of things everybody has) doesn't matter that much.

Which is quite obvious, because otherwise the population of very poor countries would be permanently unhappy, while everybody who is rich and privileged would be happy all the time. It's not like that.

Psychologically speaking, if you have been raised to believe that you deserve the best, you tend to become unhappy once you realize that someone else in your peer group is receiving better benefits than you.

Commercial air travel is perfectly suited to study this kind of behavior, as it provides confined spaces (aircraft cabins, airport lounges), well defined peer groups (the pax on a certain flight, the group of SENs etc.) and different classes/levels of service (check-in/luggage priority, lounge hierarchy, status cards, service classes on the plane etc.).

Flyertalk is a wonderful place to study these things.

Psychology also explains why some people choose to fly an inferior carrier. That's because they are only able to achive top-level status (and treatment) with the objectively inferior choice (the top product of the better airline may simply be to expensive). For example, HON status is a double-edged sword. While it attracts those who can actually afford to buy the number of C and F tickets needed to support that status level, it may push away quite profitable SENs who become unhappy because they don't like the feeling of not being at the top of the food chain, anymore. Those pax may switch to an objectively inferior product of the competition, making sure to achieve the best available status and always fly the best available service class over there. In other words: If you can't afford to fly F, you might be happier with an airline that doesn't even offer an F cabin, so you can gladly sit in front row C and enjoy the feeling that noone on the plane gets better treatment than yourself.

I think our 'controversial poster' ;) has a very good point there (not that he needs my confirmation but hey :)).

I didn't have quite such an obnoxious guy on one of my more memorable flights but he was a handfull for the FAs too.

Flight was CCS - FRA and he was in 30A emergency exit in Eco on A343 (2 class). I was in 30C. He asked for some magazines (different titles) and when the FA didn't immediately jump into action (we were boarding - hello) said that he is a SENATOR and he would like those magazines. Of course they only had 2 of the requested ones avalable (not a news stand but an aircraft) so he seemed 'irritated' :).

Later during meal service he requested a particular wine and they actually went to Biz to get a glass for him. Purser stops by, addresses him by name, shakes his hand, checks how he is doing, and mentions that wine was exception especially for him. Now he seemed somewhat pleased as the ego had been stroked. Then he turned to me - likely because I had observed the scene - and mentioned that this is because he is a SENATOR which is a high status on LH when you fly a lot.

Oh boy how great. I let a little time pass and then said "... wow so that makes you, me and the other 5 SEN's (I had seen the pax manifest in the galley) on this flight really special, not to speak of the HON who is sitting in 1C and was ushered in in front of me during boarding." :D He didn't feel like talking anymore after that which suited me well. :)

I have an even better story of a HON acting like a fool...

2 years ago I was traveling from YYZ > FRA in F and had a pre-assigned seat (82K). I climb the stairs to the upper deck and the LH FA greets me and offers to stow my carry on. I proceed towards the front and notice there's someone sitting in my seat. Now I thought I better double check my boarding pass to make sure that was my seat before I say anything, sure enough, my boarding pass says 82K...

I approach the guy and politely ask him if he could please check his boarding pass because mine stated I was seated in 82K. The guy in his late 40's dressed in a grey business suit with brief case and all, looked at me and said I should find another seat and waved me off with his hands :eek:

I tried to show him my boarding card but he ignored me and kept reading his news-paper. At this point, I was so pissed that trying to be a nice guy, went out the window. I walked over to the FA in the back galley and explained the situation. She approached the guy and asked to see his boarding pass he pulled it out along with his HON card and placed on top. She spoke to him in German so I couldn't understand the conversation... The FA admitted that he was sitting in the wrong seat but as a LH HON member he had priority seating and that there must have been a mistake when my seat was issued upon check-in and that she will find me another seat.

I told her, I pre-selected my seat over 3 month's ago and that he can have priority seating as long as it's not mine! Now normally I would have just sat myself elsewhere but this guy was such an A$$, I said hello no! I firmly told the FA that I wanted to be seated in my seat which was clearly printed on my boarding pass. The FA spoke to the guy and he started yelling at her and he threw his HON card on the floor and wouldn't budge!...

The FA walked to the cock-pit and came out with the Captain who approached the guy and asked (demanded) to see his boarding pass. The Captain pointed out his seat which was 83C and words were exchanged in German. The guy finally ended up moving and the Captain apologized for the situation. I of-course gave the guy the evil eye throughout the flight :p

If I would have been the FA and have found his phone, I would have dropped it in the toilet and said:
"Sorry, we were not able to locate your phone;)"

I have an even better story of a HON acting like a fool...


Great story.

I applaud your perseverance.

Guys,

I flew yesterday on LHR-MUC flight on LH metal.

Maybe a thing about the route LHR-MUC.

I have significantly problems on that route with fellow travelers.
There is normally a very high number of "I am the most important persons" on board.

The worst thing I had was when I traveled with Mrs. Tyrolean and Little Miss Tyrolean in C. Two very nice guys were knocking me down, when I wanted to carry my sleaping at that time one year old daughter.

I have seen several times on LH that some passengers (even FTLs) feel entitled to get a free opup because of their card - and even more annoying - get the opup.

The reasons I have heard so far: "I have a tight connection and must leave the plane as first:rolleyes:" - "I am travelling with xxx in biz, and we have to held an important meeting:rolleyes:" - "I am FTL:rolleyes:".

What do I make wrong that I always accept to sit in the booked class...?

What do I make wrong that I always accept to sit in the booked class...?

Being nice and rather shy doesn't draw any attention.

Being nice and rather shy doesn't draw any attention.

Yeah. But I'm rather sit in my ticketed class than being a fool.

So I guess everybody here agrees that the amazing part of the OP's story is that the FAs actually cave in to this pax's request! I really find this hard to believe, they must have been under a real pressure to get the flight out on time... or something:rolleyes:

Other than that, great analysis from flysurfer and great story by imverge ^

See as a HON he would have been treated differently...

Last time I gave up my first row seat for an elderly PAD I was asked if I want to take the jump seat in the cockpit ...

much more comfortable than short haul C

See as a HON he would have been treated differently...

Last time I gave up my first row seat for an elderly PAD I was asked if I want to take the jump seat in the cockpit ...

much more comfortable than short haul C

The difference - I presume - also being "...was asked..." as opposed to "...demanded..." ;)

I think we all agree that we should stick to our rights if some idiot like this obnoxious HON is sitting in our seat or something similar occurs.

If we don't put our foot down, those guys will get through way too often!!!

What do I make wrong that I always accept to sit in the booked class...?

You book C in the beginning and realise that's difficult to op-up on intra-European flights.

If the fellow HON, SEN or whatever would be ostracised by another pax I bet he'd think twice to do the same...

You book C in the beginning and realise that's difficult to op-up on intra-European flights.

That is my problem :-)

I had that once on a BA flight. The guy in front of me got a new boarding pass with the words: "I got an upgrade for your!". Then I handed over my boarding pass in CE and sad: "A pity that you cannot upgrade me!", smiled and got a smile back: "What a pity!"

The reasons I have heard so far: "I have a tight connection and must leave the plane as first:rolleyes:"

These are those guys that push in my back, when I leave the plane - especially when you have to hop onto a bus.
I always tend to walk slower...



"I am travelling with xxx in biz, and we have to held an important meeting:rolleyes:" - "I am FTL:rolleyes:".

When I travel in Y and a peer in C (sometimes my wife), I try to get the first row in Y and the last row of C. No upgrade needed.

I have an even better story of a HON acting like a fool...

Wouldnt be surprised if he got op-up'ed to F as well :rolleyes:

Do you remember his booking class ? ;)

..."I am travelling with xxx in biz, and we have to held an important meeting:rolleyes:"...

Come on guys. I am 100% sure that, being reasonable people, all of us can understand the importance of this, right? And of course we would all (as should all GAs/FAs etc) be ready and willing to oblige with the perfect solution: downgrade xxx to Economy, of course! :D Unless of course the meeting is not THAT important after all :rolleyes:

Wouldnt be surprised if he got op-up'ed to F as well :rolleyes:

Do you remember his booking class ? ;)

Maybe. The guy looked like an executive who is use to getting his way...not this time :p

I was traveling on points :)

I always tend to walk slower...
Do not know what you mean :rolleyes: