Every so often a concierge experience makes you remember why you go through the effort to maintain SE status.
My experience today has elements that may belong more in the contract lounge thread or the eupgrade thread but mostly relate to excellent Concierge service.
Was in Rome for a conference and had planned to come home via FRA on LH due to the strike but switched it back to AC once that was averted and put in an eUp request. On check in I saw it was on the 77W and figured my chances were pretty good - until I realized it was one of the high density ones with only 28 in J and quite crowded. I topped the list to begin with but later checked back and saw it was booked 27/28 with two ahead of me. I was a bit surprised that there were that many SE’s on the route that there were folks outranking me - but just figured what can you do…
When I got to FCO the wonderful Concierge (who I am kicking myself for forgetting her name) met at check in and explained that the two ahead of me were a couple that had been downgraded so were above me (although also that it may have been a mistake). But with one seat left she told me that if they didn’t want to be split I’d get the seat - and that she’d see me at the gate.
In fact I must have been the only SE rolling through this day, as she popped up again when I made it to the lounge, terrible Plaza Premium with a paid drink menu and a long line to get in. She got me around the line and deposited me into a roped off seating area that is reserved for Super Elites (apparently). It was an odd experience to be in a roped off area with maybe 20 empty seats in a crowded lounge, all by myself in full view of the rest of the lounge!
Anyway, upgrade cleared and was great to see her once again at the gate. Made for a lovely flight experience, as did arriving 30 minutes early. An Air Transat A333 took off in front of us and it was also fun to watch us overtake it in the 777 and land in YYZ before it. Of course that’s an aside, and I will save my thoughts about lounge access at FCO for another thread, but it was one of those days that remind you why we put up with so much else to ensure staying SE. Thanks Concierge!
Examples like that might be why they keep the concierge program.
You feel great about the whole thing.
But the concierge... didn't actually do anything?
