kipper

If we're talking about flight crew that are working, I want them to be happy, and functioning at a high level. If that means I'm not entitled to the last can of Diet Coke, so be it.

vincentharris

In the end though isnt the captain the ultimate authority on board the plane?

Based on the story I believe the door had already closed or was about to close and this was handled technically post when the GA is working the flight.

vincentharris

Reminds me of a story when i was a lowly FO. I received my upgrade clearance at the 24 hour mark which means there truly had to be NO medallions on this flight. FC showed 1 empty seat all the way up to the entire plane being boarded.

The GA & FA were working hard to upgrade ANYBODY it seemed. I give this story because it was impressive that the GA wanted to make sure everybody who was entitled to one got the upgrade. YBYL was not in her vocabulary. They ended up going through the FC manifest and found two matching names. They asked the women if X was her husband (she got the upgrade he didnt) she said yes and they brought him upfront to take the bulkhead FC seat. (there were NO other medallions on board)

I like to think MOST GA's try to do whats right by the customer.

vincentharris

I dont, I want them to be miserable and very very tired when they are piloting my flight because damnit I want my Diet Coke. HAHAHAHAHAHA

captaink

Once the door closes, it's at the discretion of the Purser, and the Purser usually responds better to selfless acts like audidudi's than someone pestering them with lines from the "10 tactics to GUARANTEE an upgrade on your next flight" listicle they saw on facebook, or the "Excuse me, I'm an FO, why didn't you move me up to D1?" complaints.

MSPeconomist

True, but I've been on some flights recently that have blocked access to the upgrade and standby lists on the app (including the lists and seat assignments of those who have cleared) at some point during boarding and well before the door of the aircraft is closed. The seat maps also become blocked and unavailable, so that you cannot see easily whether the flight is officially leaving with empty FC and C+ seats.

vincentharris

You mean like any of these quite stupid "articles"???

https://www.smartertravel.com/2017/0...rline-upgrade/

http://www.bankrate.com/finance/pers...pgraded-6.aspx

http://thegate.boardingarea.com/the-...d-when-flying/

https://www.inc.com/stephanie-vozza/...xt-flight.html

https://www.lifehacker.com.au/2016/0...light-upgrade/

https://www.tripsavvy.com/getting-up...a-flight-54411

This one is my particular favorite, by that argument if I dont "dress the part" when I am in paid FC should I be sent to the back???

HDQDD

It does sound like the OP got hosed if everything DL told them is true. It sounds like you already started a complaint and that's about all you can do.

I will point out that not every employee is flying NRSA. Many are NRPS (Positive Space) and some others are even *gasp* "paying passengers". I see many NetJets and other pilots in F too. Some on paid F fares per their contract, and many are also medallions because they travel so much.

When I worked in management for a certain other airline and was traveling for COBUS (Company Business), I could book myself NRPS in business class on three cabin aircraft and I was eligible for upgrade to First (if it was two class I had to book in Y, and waitlist for F). I was smart enough to put my badge in my pocket to avoid disrupting any DYKWIAs. Ah the good old days, I miss the "self ticket" authorization.

apodo77

There were two people who I assume were two pilots in the ORD SC last week. They had taken their badges and bars on their shoulders off and were in black slacks and the white button down. My guess was private aviation pilots.

StayingHomeIsBetter

I didn't realize that all I need to do is dress nicely and smile a lot.

Space-filling travel articles (and space fillers are all that they are) far more likely than not are a bunch of hooey.

My favorite is this one that Fox News used to trot out periodically declaring that 6A was the best seat on a plane...

http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2012/0...row-is-6a.html

... with no consideration of airline or plane type. 6A was just the best seat, period.

CRJ or 757... 6A is the best seat.

davetravels

Fixed that for'ya!

tuolumne

Sounds like AMR. On United, the only NRPS who are eligible to book directly into 3-cabin F are members of the board and top company officers (and those with it enshrined into their golden parachutes, cough Smisek, Tilton). All other lower priority PSNR traveling on company biz can directly book into 2 and 3-cabin C, which is something they brought back a little over a year ago if I recall.

readywhenyouare

I’m just saying that no good deed goes unpunished. If someone else had emailed Delta about the captain extending an upgrade to D1 it could land him/her in hot water.

tvnwz

The gate agent did the pilot a solid. About it.

kipper

That's one way to make a more exciting flight... "Pilot falls asleep at controls..."