Upgrade Priority of AC Employees vs. Status Passengers
May 2, 2013, 12:07 pm
#16
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 310
The most important factor here being, did you have the proper credits or fare category to entitle you to an upgrade?? On those occasion's when Customers have questioned this on-board, it was determined that 99.9% of the time despite status, the above was absent. I can only speak from experience, but employees who are upgraded into J are done so if they bear the proper eligibility/priority, and after the entitlements of revenue Customers are looked after.
Please don't mistake me for complaining because it is what it is. Not worth my bother of holding it to me in fact i find it amusing. I will say competitively however moving up your crew or friends of the crew instead of giving eups space to intitled pax is not great business sense. Even flying with empty J is bad business really. Those airlines that give me a upgrade without my requesting it just because they have free space i forever have a warm feeling for. Thai Airlines comes to mind. economy to first class because of my gold status...nice.... AC never. It is a great way to generate postive spin for no money for a company called AC that is 38th in trust in the top 50 companies in Canada.
May 2, 2013, 12:19 pm
#17
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Toronto - YYZ
Programs: Aeroplan/Hilton Gold/Marriott Bonvoy Titanium/Accor/Hyatt Gold Passport
Posts: 5,899
You are living in LaLa land i am afraid. It must only happen on your flights. I have heard the same thing. I think pax who are aware notice how if there are J seats available even if you have credits and are on the upgrade list you won't get J. J will go out with seats empty and AC employees(whom i recognize) move to J from ecomony. They all laugh and giggle about it. Or someone in your party won't get the eupgrade and the air crew use the empty Js for the flight. Or...you get the pictures. If you ask why they say someone missed the paid j seat.
Please don't mistake me for complaining because it is what it is. Not worth my bother of holding it to me in fact i find it amusing. I will say competitively however moving up your crew or friends of the crew instead of giving eups space to intitled pax is not great business sense. Even flying with empty J is bad business really. Those airlines that give me a upgrade without my requesting it just because they have free space i forever have a warm feeling for. Thai Airlines comes to mind. economy to first class because of my gold status...nice.... AC never. It is a great way to generate postive spin for no money for a company called AC that is 38th in trust in the top 50 companies in Canada.
Please don't mistake me for complaining because it is what it is. Not worth my bother of holding it to me in fact i find it amusing. I will say competitively however moving up your crew or friends of the crew instead of giving eups space to intitled pax is not great business sense. Even flying with empty J is bad business really. Those airlines that give me a upgrade without my requesting it just because they have free space i forever have a warm feeling for. Thai Airlines comes to mind. economy to first class because of my gold status...nice.... AC never. It is a great way to generate postive spin for no money for a company called AC that is 38th in trust in the top 50 companies in Canada.
May 2, 2013, 12:27 pm
#18
Join Date: May 2007
Location: YYZ, but my heart is in Asia
Programs: AC-SE, CX-DM, DL-G, Hyatt-DM, Hilton-DM, Fairmont-Plt, Marriott-S, Accor-Plt, SPG-G, IHG-Plt
Posts: 4,396
I'm frankly surprised by your comments re Thai Airways. From my non-airline colleagues who fly, they regularly claim that the Asian airlines are amongst the most restrictively discerning when it comes to upgrades. I was under the impression that if you want it, generally you must pay for it.
May 2, 2013, 12:32 pm
#19
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: YLW
Programs: AC- SE100 1MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum, National Executive, Nexus/GE
Posts: 4,317
When I read posts like this, its bitter sweet for me. As my dad was a 33 year AC employee, I have flown as a con for most of my life, and I have enjoyed the benefits of my dad's employee benefits and before the computer systems took over, I benefited with who you knew etc.
Now I struggle as a Customer who pays, should employees fly up front when SE are in the back. I always look at boarding passess to see if they are employees as the dress code is gone so employees blend in much better with real customers.
Favourites happen all the time, I have friends who are married to AC F/A and I hear the stories with details. That is why I watch and see who is doing what. On one flight and I did post the details a few months ago, I caught the S/D moving off duty F/A and I made a STRONG Comment and I was shortly moved up and sat in 2C and when the f/a looked over I had that "crazy eyes" look and they knew I knew and they stayed quiet and to themselves for the short flight.
Its a reality, many long term employees earn J class passess and all employees receive a J class space available pass. It happens, its real, but I always travelled under the old fly for free rules, sit down, shut up, dont ask for anything, dont accept anything, don't complain, its a privilege and not a right!
Now I struggle as a Customer who pays, should employees fly up front when SE are in the back. I always look at boarding passess to see if they are employees as the dress code is gone so employees blend in much better with real customers.
Favourites happen all the time, I have friends who are married to AC F/A and I hear the stories with details. That is why I watch and see who is doing what. On one flight and I did post the details a few months ago, I caught the S/D moving off duty F/A and I made a STRONG Comment and I was shortly moved up and sat in 2C and when the f/a looked over I had that "crazy eyes" look and they knew I knew and they stayed quiet and to themselves for the short flight.
Its a reality, many long term employees earn J class passess and all employees receive a J class space available pass. It happens, its real, but I always travelled under the old fly for free rules, sit down, shut up, dont ask for anything, dont accept anything, don't complain, its a privilege and not a right!
May 2, 2013, 12:39 pm
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2009
Location: FRA / YEG
Programs: AC Super Elite, Radisson Platinum, Accor Platinum
Posts: 11,874
I think it's fair to say from the tone of my many posts, I am extremely Customer/Guest friendly. While I don't set company policy, I do my very best to uphold it. I'm frankly surprised by your comments re Thai Airways. From my non-airline colleagues who fly, they regularly claim that the Asian airlines are amongst the most restrictively discerning when it comes to upgrades. I was under the impression that if you want it, generally you must pay for it.
), so overbookings are quite common on some routes and it´s fairly easy to get upgraded as a Gold member in that case.
May 2, 2013, 12:47 pm
#21
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: YWG
Programs: Free Agent
Posts: 1,478
as an SE, you presumably have/had a choice of lots of eup's and investing them on such a long flight would seem to have been a good idea.
be seated in Y.
May 2, 2013, 1:13 pm
#23
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Canada
Programs: *G
Posts: 2,304
If the OP was expecting an op-up, no chance if Y space is available. Hence eligible staff will get J seats as per the rules.
Overall, however, there are staff and then there is management. The latter likely book J space, are not gate upgrades and are mostly unrecognizable, so we never know.
Now I did see a senior AC person with 2 family occupying 4 seats in J once, and a regular passenger in front of me pointedly asking an FA why he was not upgraded if there was a seat in J. Not sure exactly what the FA said, but she would have known who it was even if that poor passenger did not.
Overall, however, there are staff and then there is management. The latter likely book J space, are not gate upgrades and are mostly unrecognizable, so we never know.
Now I did see a senior AC person with 2 family occupying 4 seats in J once, and a regular passenger in front of me pointedly asking an FA why he was not upgraded if there was a seat in J. Not sure exactly what the FA said, but she would have known who it was even if that poor passenger did not.
May 2, 2013, 1:15 pm
#24
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: YYZ
Posts: 6,138
Wirelessly posted (iPhone: Mozilla/5.0 (Linux; Android 4.2.2; Nexus 4 Build/JDQ39) AppleWebKit/537.31 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/26.0.1410.58 Mobile Safari/537.31)
I got the same experience with Asiana. Y upgraded to J, not because of overbooking. Just because we're *G.^
12-year *G here.
I have been op-upped on NH, TG, OZ and SQ owing to group seating difficulties, inop cabin equipment, equipment subs, oversales or other operational issues.
I would respectfully submit that there may have been other factors at play in your upgrade scenario.
I agree the Asian *A carriers take *G seriously - they also tend to be pretty slick on the CS side.
I have been in situations where I knew the airline was in deep operationally (777 to A33 sub) and I was a likely op-up candidate.
In every case, I was op-upped with nary a nod to the operational issue and ALWAYS with a mention of my *G status. Sometimes with a deep bow from NH folks...
Contrast that with the Western practice of openly admitting, "We F-ed up! Lucky you! Enjoy and thanks for your business!"
I can get behind either philosophy as long as the end result is the same
Originally Posted by jarusoba
I'm frankly surprised by your comments re Thai Airways. From my non-airline colleagues who fly, they regularly claim that the Asian airlines are amongst the most restrictively discerning when it comes to upgrades. I was under the impression that if you want it, generally you must pay for it.
I have been op-upped on NH, TG, OZ and SQ owing to group seating difficulties, inop cabin equipment, equipment subs, oversales or other operational issues.
I would respectfully submit that there may have been other factors at play in your upgrade scenario.
I agree the Asian *A carriers take *G seriously - they also tend to be pretty slick on the CS side.
I have been in situations where I knew the airline was in deep operationally (777 to A33 sub) and I was a likely op-up candidate.
In every case, I was op-upped with nary a nod to the operational issue and ALWAYS with a mention of my *G status. Sometimes with a deep bow from NH folks...
Contrast that with the Western practice of openly admitting, "We F-ed up! Lucky you! Enjoy and thanks for your business!"
I can get behind either philosophy as long as the end result is the same
May 2, 2013, 1:18 pm
#25
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: YQB
Programs: AC*SE/2.1MM, Flying Blue Explorer, BA Executive Club Blue, AAdvantage Basic, ANA MC
Posts: 2,550
No ? Then how did I end up in 2A last Friday morning on YUL-LGA with a Flex fare when both front and back cabins were light ?
I never requested an UG via the usual channels (check-in, online, concierge, etc). I was simply waiting to board and was called to the gate desk and was given a BP for J.
I think that is what is known as a courtesy UG....
I never requested an UG via the usual channels (check-in, online, concierge, etc). I was simply waiting to board and was called to the gate desk and was given a BP for J.
I think that is what is known as a courtesy UG....
May 2, 2013, 1:22 pm
#26
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: YYZ
Posts: 6,138
Wirelessly posted (iPhone: Mozilla/5.0 (Linux; Android 4.2.2; Nexus 4 Build/JDQ39) AppleWebKit/537.31 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/26.0.1410.58 Mobile Safari/537.31)
E75/E90? Notorious for requiring full J cabins to satisfy W+B requirements.
Originally Posted by NordsFan
No ? Then how did I end up in 2A last Friday morning on YUL-LGA with a Flex fare when both front and back cabins were light ?
I never requested an UG via the usual channels (check-in, online, concierge, etc). I was simply waiting to board and was called to the gate desk and was given a BP for J.
I think that is what is known as a courtesy UG....
I never requested an UG via the usual channels (check-in, online, concierge, etc). I was simply waiting to board and was called to the gate desk and was given a BP for J.
I think that is what is known as a courtesy UG....
May 2, 2013, 1:54 pm
#27
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: YQB
Programs: AC*SE/2.1MM, Flying Blue Explorer, BA Executive Club Blue, AAdvantage Basic, ANA MC
Posts: 2,550
However, even though the UG was a result of W+B, the guy who was selected to get the J seat was me, the SE/MMer and not another pax plucked at random from the back.
In my book, that is a courtesy and a smart way of managing the issue.
May 2, 2013, 2:07 pm
#28
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: YYZ
Posts: 6,138
Wirelessly posted (iPhone: Mozilla/5.0 (Linux; Android 4.2.2; Nexus 4 Build/JDQ39) AppleWebKit/537.31 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/26.0.1410.58 Mobile Safari/537.31)
Yup, E75.
However, even though the UG was a result of W+B, the guy who was selected to get the J seat was me, the SE/MMer and not another pax plucked at random from the back.
In my book, that is a courtesy and a smart way of managing the issue.
That's SOP, down to the letter.
I'm going to bow out of this thread, but I do feel safe in saying that there appears to be a lot of smoke and very little fire in these accounts. I think there is some confirmation bias in the mix, but I'm not sure if its mine or someone else's
Originally Posted by NordsFan
However, even though the UG was a result of W+B, the guy who was selected to get the J seat was me, the SE/MMer and not another pax plucked at random from the back.
In my book, that is a courtesy and a smart way of managing the issue.
I'm going to bow out of this thread, but I do feel safe in saying that there appears to be a lot of smoke and very little fire in these accounts. I think there is some confirmation bias in the mix, but I'm not sure if its mine or someone else's
May 2, 2013, 2:14 pm
#29
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: YQB
Programs: AC*SE/2.1MM, Flying Blue Explorer, BA Executive Club Blue, AAdvantage Basic, ANA MC
Posts: 2,550
Wirelessly posted (iPhone: Mozilla/5.0 (Linux; Android 4.2.2; Nexus 4 Build/JDQ39) AppleWebKit/537.31 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/26.0.1410.58 Mobile Safari/537.31)
That's SOP, down to the letter.
I'm going to bow out of this thread, but I do feel safe in saying that there appears to be a lot of smoke and very little fire in these accounts. I think there is some confirmation bias in the mix, but I'm not sure if its mine or someone else's
That's SOP, down to the letter.
I'm going to bow out of this thread, but I do feel safe in saying that there appears to be a lot of smoke and very little fire in these accounts. I think there is some confirmation bias in the mix, but I'm not sure if its mine or someone else's
So, I'll bow out too !
May 2, 2013, 2:34 pm
#30
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: YWG
Programs: Free Agent
Posts: 1,478
No ? Then how did I end up in 2A last Friday morning on YUL-LGA with a Flex fare when both front and back cabins were light ?
I never requested an UG via the usual channels (check-in, online, concierge, etc). I was simply waiting to board and was called to the gate desk and was given a BP for J.
I think that is what is known as a courtesy UG....
I never requested an UG via the usual channels (check-in, online, concierge, etc). I was simply waiting to board and was called to the gate desk and was given a BP for J.
I think that is what is known as a courtesy UG....