Not to be a defender of AF (because I'm not), there are a couple of points to consider:
- First, note that the web site says that
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">You can check-in at priority positions at most airports simply by showing your SkyTeam Elite Frequent Flyer membership card.</font>
I suspect that it is worded that way to allow individual stations some discretion (in case they are short of staff or something). I would have expected to be allowed to check in at a priority position as well, and probably would have grumbled if I were turned away, but it looks like they were within their rights to do so.
- You allude to a sign saying something about "elite plus" at the airport? Was there indeed a sign indicating that the priority checkin lines are ONLY available for SkyTeam Elite Plus members? If so, then it sounds like AF was using a local procedure and you really shouldn't have tried to check in at that position (although I would have tried as well). In any case, the AF agent could have been a bit more polite in asking you to step in the appropriate line.
- As far as seat assignments - this issue has been discussed to death on a bunch of different airline boards. Unfortunately, the seat assignments are not GUARANTEES on any airline. Bulkhead assignments, in particular, are very vulnerable. Granted, if the kid was indeed 14 years old, it seems pretty flimsy. What you may not have been able to see (or detect) is that the reassigned passengers may have been persons with some type of disability, which would have warranted them being seated closer to the front. Some airlines do allow the FAs some discretion in reseating certain passengers. If the middle seat was entirely unacceptable, I would have remained standing and asked for a gate agent to come on-board and straighten everything out (hang out in the galley if you must, but do not take that seat if you really don't want it. Also, be aware that you may not be accomodated on that flight if it is completely full.) The possibility of "musical seats" is one of the reasons I always try to board flights early. If you had boarded when there were still open seats, you would have been able to make a stronger case for at least reassignment to an aisle seat, if your original aisle seat was reassigned to someone else. If you boarded at "last call", your case is much weaker.
All in all, while it sounds like you experienced the traditional "charm" of the AF ground services folks, I think you'll find that the points you raise (priority checkin availability, seat assignments subject to change) are not unique to AF or SkyTeam by any means.
[This message has been edited by jimrpa (edited 07-22-2003).]
[This message has been edited by jimrpa (edited 07-22-2003).]