Originally Posted by
Microwave
For whatever reason, I was listed at the top of both the Standby and Upgrade lists, and when I got to the gate I made myself known to one of the GAs. They ended up processing two upgrades, clearing a slew of standbys into coach, and were only prepared to offer me a coach seat. My question relates to the order of processing standbys and upgrades at the gate: should the GAs have cleared a revenue passenger standing by for a premium cabin seat before clearing upgrades? I know that in general it’s better to clear upgrades first to make space for standbys in the back, but in this case that screwed me. I’d be keen to hear what the actual order should have been. Thank you!
As findark pointed out, the policy was followed. You can't be cleared into first until you are cleared onto the flight. You were still technically #1 on standby when the upgrades were processed. It's frustrating to say the least. You could (should?) have told the GA that you were a misplaced passenger who paid for business. They may have processed you onto the flight before processing upgrades. However, an astute gate agent would have recognized you were confirmed on a later flight and figured out you were trying to standby for the earlier one. Personally I wouldn't have pushed this very hard.
Did you wind up accepting the coach seat on ORD-SEA or did you keep your first class seat on the later flight? I'm curious how this turned out. Even though you were listed standby for the earlier flight your record would still have had the later flight booked in "P" class. That would have only dropped off if you boarded the earlier flight.
-RM