Originally Posted by
goodeats21
I haven't had it impact me personally, but I have noticed some empty seats in First of late. As noted above, the wait list disappears off the app pretty quick, so couldn't confirm that there were folks left stranded on the list, but seems likely based on when I checked prior to my own upgrade clearing.
Would definitely keep a very close eye on it if waiting for an upgrade at boarding.
The website flight status doesn't delete the list when the flight closes, so you can see that way if anyone got stranded. Of course the booked count is unreliable on the website, so you have to also look at the seat map or cross-reference with the app.
Originally Posted by
Artuero
I thought it was more automatic now than it actually is. It's not strange for me to chat with the gate agent; I guess this is just something I'll have to check on if it is a close call at all. Thanks everyone.
It is sort of automatic, but the gate agent does have to initiate it. Sometimes they just forget, so in that case a quick question like, "I'm at the top of the list, do you think I will clear?" is a good reminder. Usually they will do it just before they start boarding, but some apparently like to wait until partway through boarding to push the last upgrades (not sure why).
edit add:
I have noticed several flights worked by only one gate agent, and I've seen some reports of the same in other threads --
Originally Posted by
Doppy
Even for a full widebody these days I rarely see more than one GA dedicated to boarding. When there is more than on GA, it seems to be the airlines' decision to provide a higher level of touch, not a need. One GA can board people faster than people can settle in on the plane.
Even if everyone were using the facial recognition boarding, they would still need to have a GA monitoring the process - helping people with problems, watching bags, etc. So it's not clear to me how this leads to any efficiency.
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/33225734-post28.html
Not sure if it applied to your flight, but that might be a contributing factor.
Did you write in? I would think they'd make a goodwill gesture (refund your Premium Plus ugprade, give some award miles, something like that) for what is definitely a service failure.