<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by flyrights:
So tell me, where is the exact and specific PECKING ORDER disclosed? I must have missed the website where any airline admits to that, and publishes it for all to see.</font>
I'm not aware of any airlines having published their boarding priority lists on their websites, but they're hardly well-kept secrets. I've seen UA's any number of times. There are ten catagories (BP1 to BP10) many of which have subcatagories (perhaps 30 in all). From memory, confirmed revenue passengers are included in BP1 (in the case of higher fares) along with Air Marshalls, dead-heading pilots, UA board members and officers, etc. and BP2 (in the case of lower fares). BP3 includes UA employees travelling on company business. BP4 is little used. BP5 is revenue passengers travelling standby. BP6 is UA employees who either paid for discounted tickets or are travelling for a personal emergency. BP7 includes UA retired employees travelling on their passes. BP8 is employees and companions travelling on their passes. BP9 is United Express employees travelling on their passes. BP10 is other airlines' employees travelling on their passes. All this is a severe simplification which shouldn't be relied upon for making travel decisions -- it's just an illustration.
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Businesses aren't allowed to make rules up as they go along.</font>
Fortunately, bussinesses are allowed to make rules up as they go along. Perhaps (once or twice) you've seen the words "Subject to change without notice."
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">People have a right to know what rights are included with their ticket.</font>
Read the Conditions of Carriage.
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">It can't be a mystery who gets priority in irregular situations.</font>
Why not? Read the Conditions of Carriage, which are published and you do have a right to (by law). All the ticket obligates the airline to do for you is get you there whenever it is convenient for the airline to do so. Since they have already informed you of that, why should they be obliged to disclose their boarding priorities?
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">I very well might be willing to pay TWENTY TIMES the price for a ticket I could get for $200, if it's imperative that I get on the flight I'm confirmed on, or in an irregular situation, the first flight with available seats...</font>
I believe you. The last ticket I bought (which is typical) cost about 16000LTL (about 4500USD). I pay such fares because I have a low tolerance for hassles.
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Basically, airlines can't SELL rights to some people, and NOT OFFER TO SELL those rights to other people.</font>
They certainly _should_ be able to. In the States at least, the 1st Amendment guarantees Freedom of Association. That means private businesses are free to do business with whomever they choose. Perhaps you've seen the sign "We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone."
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">If there were specific disclosure about these pecking orders, this problem would be resolved.</font>
I agree that it would be nice if airlines were to publish their boarding priorities. However, we have no right to force it upon them. If we don't like that an airline hasn't disclosed it, we can write them to inform them that we will take our business elsewhere.