TLR Was ignored for 7 minutes (5 with the door open) while first in line to standby. Was lied to by one of the GAs (“there are no seats”) and then gaslit by the same GA (“I didn’t say there are no seats, I said YOU don’t have a seat.”) Finally was lied to (probably) by the (maybe?) supervisor (“the pilot said to close the gate”)

Full Story: I am on XXX-SEA-PDX this evening, booked on the last SEA-PDX (AS 239) flight. The XXX-SEA flight arrives on time, and I run to try to make the earlier SEA-PDX (AS 1260).

I miraculously squeeze on a perfectly timed train from N gates to C gates and run up two escalators and then to C17.

I arrive at the gate 14 minutes before scheduled departure. The gate is open.

I run to the person scanning tickets and ask to get on the flight. That person points me to a desk 20 feet away and says “you need to talk to them”

I hustle over to the counter.

There are two GAs clearing a non-rev and another standby. I get in line behind the non-rev, who gets a ticket.

13 minutes.

I am now first at the counter, but the GA in front of me (henceforth “first GA”) ignores me, turning to the other GA (henceforth “second GA”) and begins discussing upgrading two passengers in coach to two empty first class seats.

That conversation continues for about 4 minutes while the first GA prints out the new tickets for the battlefield upgrades and sends the person scanning tickets to upgrade the lucky two.

Meanwhile the second GA is chatting with the first GA and casually clearing the standby passenger who arrived before me. The battlefield upgrades and other standby both clear at about the same time.

9 minutes now. Gate still open.

Both GA begins pecking at the keyboards, still not acknowledging me in any way. I have my boarding pass and ID in my hand in full view resting on the counter.

8 minutes.

I expect the GAs are lining up ducks to clear me + an Alaska 100k and companion who arrived just after me but instead the second GA (who just spent an eternity clearing the standby) walks over to the gate and begins making motions to close the door. Someone in a lanyard shows up and starts helping. The second GA comes back to the counter.

At this point the Alaska 100k behind me speaks up and asks to be cleared onto the flight. The second GA who was just at the gate says “there aren’t any seats.” The 100k pushes back and the GA says “you have to ask him” (referring to the person with the lanyard who has now closed the gate). The 100k goes over to that person and has a conversation I couldn’t hear for a few seconds and then comes back and says “he said you are the one who can decide to clear us.”

The second GA says “no, he has to say it’s okay!” so the 100k goes back over to the person with a lanyard and has another brief conversation and rushes back and says “he said it’s okay!” The second GA responds “he didn’t say that, he already said to close the plane!”

The 100k protests that the GAs could have gotten him on the flight and the GA says “I appreciate your business, but you didn’t have a seat on the flight”.

The 100k and his companion walk away.

The first GA finally acknowledges me, almost 8 minutes after I came to the front of the cue, and asks “can I help you?”

I address the second GA (who appears to be in charge) and say “you all cleared two coach into first class and one standby after that, so there must be at least one seat in coach. I understand that you have to get the plane out on time, but just say that. Don’t tell me there are no seats, I’m not stupid.”

The GA says, “there were actually three seats on the plane, but he said we had to close the door” (gesturing to the guy with the lanyard). And then the GA says “I never said there weren’t seats on the plane, I said YOU didn’t have a seat on the plane.”

Afterwards I went over and asked the guy with the lanyard why they didn’t clear standby into the empty seats, and he said “the pilot made the decision.” I don’t do airline operations, but I have a feeling that’s not a decision the pilot makes. Probably another lie.

I’m SO frustrated. I was ignored, then lied to, then gaslit, and then probably lied to again.

If the Alaska 100k who witnessed this is on FT, please back me up.

I usually have good experiences with Alaska, but today will leave a bad taste in my mouth for a long time.

I know if I send this to Alaska customer service there is almost no chance anyone reads it, but here on FT at least I can feel heard.