Originally Posted by
bocastephen
Bad form, and more so if you give your upgrade or companion upgrade a total stranger while other customers are in line for that upgraded seat - bad form and rude. If there isn't a rule that forbids it, there should be.
So by this logic, you think that if you have a paid F seat and you give it to a uniformed member of the military, that's inherently "bad form," too? I think we can all agree that if you paid for the seat, you're free to do whatever you want with it, including switch with someone in the back for whatever reason.
What about if you had upgraded yourself with a GPU? Then, what if you just upgrade someone else directly using your GPU? What if you clear the upgrade but your wife doesn't… should you not be allowed to give her your seat? I think you'd be hard pressed to find anyone who has a real issue with that.
How's it any different in the case of a CPU? If you're at a position in the list that clears, you're unequivocally entitled to the seat; just as much as someone who got it through other means, and certainly more so than someone who was below you on the list. I don't see why it matters what you do with the seat beyond that point.
The food benefit is exactly the same, except a million times more inconsequential than a seat in F. Unlike upgrade space and lounge space; it's not even a zero-sum game. There is pretty much always enough snacks for all 1Ks and GSs on a flight.
Originally Posted by
dcfromdc
I have an anecdote to share. Last winter, I was traveling back to Europe from visiting family in the US. Fog was plaguing from lower Bavaria all the way down Southeastern Europe. Massive flight disruptions once I landed in FRA and was redirected to MUC to try and catch a different flight to PRN. On this unplanned flight from FRA to MUC, I was seated next to a really cool young couple (husband was German, wife was from Houston) with an adorable newborn daughter. They were making the TATL trip from Los Angeles to visit his family in MUC. Long story short, we got on really well on the flight and they made me forget for 45 minutes the mess I was in travel-wise (I would end up getting stuck in MUC for the night) and we are still in touch today almost a year later.
On approach, the flight deck received a message directed to me and another passenger (also a stranger) with updated gate info for our final segment into MUC. We arrived and ran to that gate. The GA there wasn't seeing us as ticketed pax and could not help us while trying to board the rest of the flight. So, after some debate with her, we were finally directed away to a transit desk. I took on the other passenger, who was a young gent from the Balkans with no FF status trying to get home to catch his sister's wedding (and understandably flustered that he couldn't get on the flight), and headed over to the LH SEN lounge. The agent at that desk was super helpful in getting us both rebooked (onto different flights. I was happy to stay the night, but he needed other options to get home ASAP). And I asked the agent if I could bring him inside with me, and she was more than happy to permit this. We both grabbed some food; I scarfed mine down and left for baggage claim and eventually to my LH-paid hotel for the night. On the hotel shuttle, I met a Peace Corps volunteer returning from holiday also heading back to PRN (it seemed that the flight that I couldn't board was eventually postponed until next morning. So, she and everyone on board had to deplane). We got on really well and are definitely still in touch today.
Anyway, the random stranger I met in MUC was very gracious that I helped him access a premium desk to get rebooked, as well as the lounge where he could get some free food. I'm sure after I left him there, he continued to conduct himself in a manner suitable to the environment. And if it matters to anyone, the lounge was not busy and there was no queue behind us as we were dealing with ticketing matters (because the desk was sufficiently staffed. Kudos to LH).
So when this position (which I assume you meant for all elite benefits -- and not just upgrades) prevails, I find it to be one more strike against basic humanity. I don't think it's right to stretch the intent of UAInsider's post to suit a position that wishes to maintain a firm separation between the "Have's and "Have Not's."
100% of my 2015-Present travel was on my own dime. 95% of my 2015-Present travel was done solo, including the trip above. What could have been a rotten experience for me due to the prevailing weather disruptions, ended up being one of the more interesting and fulfilling ones for many reasons; one of them being able to tangibly help out a stranger using tools at my disposal. I care about decorum as much as the next person. But I don't find it the least bit "odd" to help strangers in hope that someone might help me someday when I'm in need.
Very well said, thank you!