canopus27

Yes. A thousand times yes.

Oh, I was so grumpy when it happened. I was at the airport (AUS) way early anyway, I was just killing time in the lounge - and the flight was J6 R6 Y0, so I knew it was way overbooked, and as an SEMM I was looking forward to some onboard space & wine & pampering ...

But when I got to the gate, (intentionally at flight close minus 45 mins) and politely asked about oversell upgrades, I was told (quite rudely) to "sit down, we've given all the upgrades out".

#grrrrr

YVR guy

I agree with this. I don't believe I've EVER been upgraded on board with AC. With UA, it is standard operating procedure and I've experienced this. However I did see an AC on board upgrade happen to another PAX that was a flight attendant, despite me checking with the gate agent. I wrote in to complain since someone on the upgrade list (myself SE or another SE) should have been upgraded. I recieved an apology & compensation for being by-passed for the employee buddy upgrade. Incidentally, I never saw that gate agent again after this indicent. So in my opinion, YBYL does apply to AC.

yyznomad

I think you missed the classic KH sarcasm.

Sean Peever

A lot of people usually do!

172pilot

Back in the paper cert days, the GA came on board on my GRU-YYZ flight and upgraded me and another passenger. You had to produce the cert before she would hand you the new BP.

I have also received W&B upgrades on the E75 after boarding once or twice.

ansix12

In the past 5 years of flying mostly YYZ - YHZ ( about 100 flight per year) I was upgraded twice after boarding. Now I am wondering how many times I was subjected to YBYL

yyznomad

So just to be clear, after you were rudely slammed by the GA, you simply obeyed and followed up later by communication (email, carrier pigeon, teleportation, etc.) with Air Canada? You then received a response indicating what you noted?

I would like to know whether this Gate Late You Lose thing is actual protocol. Did the GA explain that they had actually called your name and you weren't there, and that they had a IDGAF attitude and just gave the upgrades to others? Or in the rare instance, were the upgrades given to all SEMMs on a higher coach fare than you?

canopus27

Yes.

No, the GA had no time for me at all ... was not interested in explaining any details, simply repeating that all the upgrades had been given out. I did say "because I'm an SEMM, and I usually get one of them", but all I got was the same reply ("they're all gone") repeated back to me.

My follow up from AC was polite & apologetic ... but also made it clear that the GA had done nothing wrong re: giving out the upgrades to other people. My question was pretty clear ... either the GA had executed the wrong procedure, in which case I was reporting it ... or I didn't understand the procedures correctly, in which case could you educate me about that.

The answer was - the later. Courtesy upgrades are generally given out to top-tiers ... but that's a guideline, not a rule, and GA's can skip over people who are not there "in the interests of expediency". Lesson learned.

I didn't bother highlighting the GA's attitude to AC ... these were non-AC contractors who clearly DGAF, and - meh, whatever. I was not at all impressed (in fact I was grumpy enough to take pictures - of the agents, and board showing what time I'd arrived at the gate) ... but I was more upset about the upgrade part than the GA's attitude, and causing a scene was not going to help.

Nope.

YVR guy

Yes I realize Ken's intention was to be sarcastic... but in this instance I felt his comment was also actually factual.

Tyrwhitt

I had the identical experience in September YYZ-YYC. I tried to upgrade both me and my daughter, only mine cleared but she was #1 on the list. There was a last-minute no show and they moved her up next to me well after we had boarded, just before door closed.

Sean Peever

Based on what most people have said, I think the correct title should be CBCL

CanadianConnection33

My experience has been that it depends on where you are.

The worst, by far, are the non-AC contracted personnel who I have witnessed (as I was on the receiving end) downgrading a paid J passenger only to upgrade a random passenger in Y because the Y cabin was now "oversold". While this was remedied by Air Canada later I was left with the impression this was common. The contracted stations make up the rules as they see fit.

yyznomad

Cow Boards Cow Loses?

Peter Block Peter Licks?

canadiancow

Huh? I gave up my seat. Number one on the list lost out, but I certainly did not.

Sean Peever

^ This.


But you would have if you boarded.....