Originally Posted by
rylan
Yeah, but I think this one was actually Shena, and possible lazy GA.
DL43 JFK-BOS on Friday 5/5, delayed ~6hrs due to WX in the northeast. I was coming in from an international flight and rebooked on this one after my original connection was canceled. Was 1/14 on upgrade list (GUC from the international flight) for zero seats, and seatmap was full in all classes.
I boarded with premium since F showed full and pax were mobbed around the gate trying to get on the flight. Towards the end of boarding, I see 3 F seats pop open on the seatmap and I am now #1 for 3 available. A bunch of C+ become available as well.
On the app I see two pax cleared from the standby list into F, board in DL uniforms (looked like FAs) and take their seats up front. Door closes with one unassigned/open F seat that is somehow physically occupied by somebody, bunch of open C+, and around 8 other pax still on the standby list... presumably they gave up and left before boarding.
Was a short flight so I'm not really upset and I ended up with a row of C+ to myself, but sure smells fishy.
YBYL, and more importantly the need to get the flight out while there was a departure slot available. Getting the flight out on time will always trump upgrades, especially if it involves pulling passengers who've already boarded up to the front on an already delayed flight. It could also be a contractual issue and the staff were needed for a flight out of BOS and thus entitled to FC. However I'm betting it was more of an we need to get the door closed and flight out while ATC has a slot open issue.