You presume he has 500 milers. If he travels that route frequently and upgrades, he would be using them up a lot quicker than he's earning them.
I could care less what instrument he used to upgrade. If he doesn't travel long haul or internationally (lots don't) the CR-1 or SWU is just wasted electrons if not used. And if he used miles, again, its his business.
Back on topic, I don't think there needs to be a dress code for FC or the RCC. Especially in this case for what is likely a EX-Plus FC product.
If UA brings a "real" domestic FC product back, then we can talk.
We've all seen pax that look (and even smelled) like they just came from a night in the Tenderloin, so there has to be more to this. Agree with KathyWdrf, this whole story sounds pretty fishy to me.
Most GAs see thousands of people a day, are just trying to process the flight and move on to the next one, and simply aren't that observant as to what people are wearing.
The fact that this guy called the press (and that they actually showed up to take his picture and do a story) is pretty suspicious in itself. Sounds like some nobody looking for his 15 seconds of fame, and a lawyer to sue UA for discrimination or, better still, a "hate crime".
Still not sure why he would call Fox news to complain.
Because he didnt hear back from UA and its a good story.
Quote:
Originally Posted by SFO777
We've all seen pax that look (and even smelled) like they just came from a night in the Tenderloin, so there has to be more to this. Agree with KathyWdrf, this whole story sounds pretty fishy to me.
Most GAs see thousands of people a day, are just trying to process the flight and move on to the next one, and simply aren't that observant as to what people are wearing.
Dulles RJ gate "hell" <> SFO
Last edited by iluv2fly; Nov 4, 09 at 7:15 am..
Reason: merge
Have to agree with others who say something does not make sense. If it is a rogue agent who made up own rules, that needs to be dealt with. This could be a case of F being oversold or FAM getting onto flight and as 2p he was odd man out. If he got the lame "operational reasons" (as a 1K have heard this when moved in F or downgraded for a FAM) for a downgrade and no other response, he might have come up with his own interpretation.
Meh, I am a long time 1P, making 1K for my first time this year and even I earn e500's quicker than I can spend them. I just happened to look at my balance at the beginning of October and saw I had 31 of them. This was after pretty normal use of them on a few ORD-DEN and ORD-LAS (Damn those Ted's still remaining in the system). So now I have resorted to burning two each way, every time I take my weekly ORD-DCA 612 mile trip. I may as well get some value out of them before the unknown in spring.
This guy could be in the same boat. We have no idea what his traveling consists of, but if he is looking at the end of the year and a stack of e500's in his account, "burn 'em".
I have to look the route up and see what he is flying though. Is it a regional?
He is 2P, and it was a 326 mile flight. If he typically upgrades flights like that, doubt he's earning e500's quicker than he can spend them.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by KathyWdrf
Very fishy story. Many (sometimes most) flyers in domestic Biz/First (heck, even International Biz or First) dress casually -- even far more casually than a tracksuit.
As for "upgrading using miles" on a short hop, I agree with others that he probably meant a 500-mile e-cert. IMO, this is perfectly reasonable, as these certs expire and (for most, except those of us who were able to sign up for the exception some time back ) just turn into dust. Use it or lose it, so why not use it? On the other hand, not everyone is savvy about how best to upgrade, etc., so maybe the unfortunate guy really DID waste his miles upgrading a short hop!
I sat next to someone who used a SWU to upgrade IND-ORD (when it used to be mainline). If I'd known beforehand, I would have used one of my 500 milers to upgrade him and then use his SWU for an upcoming SIN trip.
I agree.... The RCC comment is a bit out of place.
It's a bit out of place, but he probably said it to demonstrate his extraordinary loyalty to United Airlines. Fox picked it up because it sounds impressive to the 95% of Fox News readers who don't understand what it means.
The few times I have flown in First Class, I have always been dressed casually (shirt, jeans, etc.) and have never been denied. However, on these occasions, I paid for the flight. Money talks louder than upgrade certs apparently. One time on a 737, I figured out that I was the ONLY paying customer, the other 4 rest being dead-heading UA employees. I was very courteously treated being the only revenue generating passenger in the front cabin.
Let's face it folks, air travel is not a glamorous experience, it's not a red carpet event (outside of the check in " red carpet" which to me always seems ridiculous) but rather a cramped, largely uncomfortable event. If you wear clothing that makes it more comfortable, more power to you.
United is not in a position where they should be ignoring customer complaints. Witness the interet induced black eye they got from the "United Breaks Guitars" fiasco.
As for "wasting" an upgrade certificate on a Dulles Hartford flight, who cares? It's his points, let him use them how he wants. Maybe he has thousands of them.
Last edited by Ford Prefect; Nov 5, 09 at 8:19 am..
I actually have no problem with UA enforcing some sort of F decorum. The question is though, "is there a published standard or is it subjective?" I groan every time I see a girl (actually occasionally a man as well these days) board while wearing PJ's. In C and F, the attire is generally better, but there are outliers that continually surprise me. It sounds like there may in fact be a policy against athletic attire for non revs.
A related question, as the RCC is a 'Club', is there a dress code for entry into the RCC that you have agreed to with your membership.
I am not an advocate for going back to the coat and tie days of airtravel, but I do like the idea of presentable clothing. It is not enough to say collared shirt because that eliminates acceptable fashion T's and such, but is it too much to ask that people show up to fly and not for a slumber party?
Preach it, brother. My Asian clients always comment on how poorly Americans dress up front or in the lounges. But then again, it's America, and it's all about ME, about how I feel, about what I want to do, rules do not apply to ME.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Paolo01
To the 'outsider' of this world we have wrapped ourselves in, FF'ing seems somewhat mystical and everything associated with it must be connected. The reporter probably made that connection because Mr. Alvarez did not have his 1K card handy or the red card made better photo contrast than a black card.
This I agree with.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Paolo01
I actually have no problem with UA enforcing some sort of F decorum. The question is though, "is there a published standard or is it subjective?" I groan every time I see a girl (actually occasionally a man as well these days) board while wearing PJ's. In C and F, the attire is generally better, but there are outliers that continually surprise me. It sounds like there may in fact be a policy against athletic attire for non revs.
A related question, as the RCC is a 'Club', is there a dress code for entry into the RCC that you have agreed to with your membership.
I am not an advocate for going back to the coat and tie days of airtravel, but I do like the idea of presentable clothing. It is not enough to say collared shirt because that eliminates acceptable fashion T's and such, but is it too much to ask that people show up to fly and not for a slumber party?
This I don't. AFAIC, if your feet and armpits are covered and you are not a hygiene faux pas, stay comfortable.
The reason that this is on Fox is because A) it's fashionable to bash airlines and B) the customer didn't hear back.
It sounds like a rogue gate agent to me, but I have a feeling that, a week from now, we're going to be adding to this thread with UA's side of the story.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mikeef
The reason that this is on Fox is because A) it's fashionable to bash airlines and B) the customer didn't hear back.
and C) hes a vice president of a Forbes 500 company (im not sure how many there are and how high up he really is but it sounds interesting to listeners)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Paolo01
I actually have no problem with UA enforcing some sort of F decorum. The question is though, "is there a published standard or is it subjective?" I groan every time I see a girl (actually occasionally a man as well these days) board while wearing PJ's. In C and F, the attire is generally better, but there are outliers that continually surprise me. It sounds like there may in fact be a policy against athletic attire for non revs.
A related question, as the RCC is a 'Club', is there a dress code for entry into the RCC that you have agreed to with your membership.
I am not an advocate for going back to the coat and tie days of airtravel, but I do like the idea of presentable clothing. It is not enough to say collared shirt because that eliminates acceptable fashion T's and such, but is it too much to ask that people show up to fly and not for a slumber party?
I almost always travel in a track suit (most comfortable thing to wear while on a plane) and I am always in UA FC and in the RCC and in 30+ years have never had a problem or anyone say anything....I am more concerned about whether people have taken the time to polish their shoes when they get on a plane then what they are wearing...
) just turn into dust. Use it or lose it, so why not use it? On the other hand, not everyone is savvy about how best to upgrade, etc., so maybe the unfortunate guy really DID waste his miles upgrading a short hop! 
(when it used to be mainline). If I'd known beforehand, I would have used one of my 500 milers to upgrade him and then use his SWU for an upcoming SIN trip.
Fox picked it up because it sounds impressive to the 95% of Fox News readers who don't understand what it means.
Misplaced Elitism?
