Because if he was a moderator, he would have shut my posts down because he deemed them as 'juvenile' and 'derail' the discussion even though it was 100% on topic and it was fact based and it was him who couldn't provide the fact to back up a claim so started resorting to personal attacks and cheap shots. (i.e. Losing an argument so don't want to see the discussion continue)

To clarify one thing here....

You are allowed to standby for same day, so Fatboyyvr should have been allowed to standby for the direct flight with NO charge....The conceirge was very wrong...

If a conceirge checked you in over the phone with 17 mins to departure she/he not only broke CTA rules she broke the airline rules, we all know that if you dont get to the gate 20 mins before the gate agent has every right to give you seat away...
to ask them to hold it will cost major dollars, ground crew, jet way crew and so on...

I have re read this thread and really feel that "we" don't really know what the conceirge does...
Interesting...

I am not tyring to down grade the conceirge service, I want some clarity...
I have stood at the baggage belt with them telling me how nice it is to see me, knowing full well they can't wait til i have gone...this is just false...

Like i said before some are just great...but these are just great to everyone not just me.!

There was a part of this thread that held some interest for me, and that was regarding what the rules are for standby on an international flight. Fatboy wanted to standby, but basically could not - he had to pay a 200 change fee. I have also been told numerous times that same day standby on international flights is not allowed. However, Empress, you clearly said that it is allowed. With the help of the concierge I have been able to make these changes in the past (with no fee) but I always thought they were bending the rules. So - what is the rule?

The rules are....

What empress says below

[This message has been edited by Ferrari (edited Mar 14, 2004).]

AC don't allow a lot of international standbys because majority of the people have checked luggage so it gets complicated and certain time of the year, the flights are hopelessly oversold. (Almost 100 DBs just on LHR flights alone on Sat)

Other than that, it's perfectly fine. I've confirmed with a very knowledgeable agent that I know and I've done same day standby myself many times (Ranging from being booked on the midnight flight to HKG and then going on the noon flight instead to being booked on YYZ-LHR to flying YYZ-YUL-LHR). It can be done and easiest if you don't have checked luggage. Some agents will chose to confirm you right away because the flight is wide open and some will tell you to wait at the gate because the flight is right at the borderline.

Ferrari:

I phoned the SE desk and she read the rules to me - sameday standby allowed domestic and transborder, on domestic part of international flight, but NOT on international segment. This was an H class fare.

Of course keep in mind that with the cutbacks in staffing levels, most agents will be too busy (because rerouting will sometimes require FIMs - Flight Interruption Manifest). So these are times when the Concierge can help out; if you let them know that you want to go on a nonstop flight from a connecting flight, they will be able to assist you with that.

In simple terms, a concierge's duty is to assist Super Elites with their travel plans. So in cases like the above, they could help out because a general agent is supposed to be taking care of all the other passengers so they can't necessary dedicate the time to reroute you. As in all employee groups in this world, there are individuals in a group that don't perform up to the level that is expected by the company. Sometimes it's just unfortunate that some customers keep on bumping into those individuals resulting in a bad impression.

Keep in mind that the number of people trying to standby for an international flight per day is extreme minimal because of i) checked luggage ii) AC only has 1 flight per day between most destionations. Why else do you think the 9pm flight from LHR is always oversold but then ended up leaving empty. (Because people book that flight for their own protection and if they finish their business early, they can just head out and try to catch the earlier flight.) As far as I know, there's nothing in the H fare stating SBY is not permitted.

FBYVR, that indeed was an unfortunate encounter for you. In my one and only experience with the concierge (YYC), they were helpful when I needed them. I hope your next encounter (!) won't be with a "bad apple".

Thanks Empress!

Part of the reason I am interested is that I'm flying BRU-LHR-YYC-YVR soon (with my pregnant wife!)and would like to take the direct LHR-YVR flight. I am confirmed in C with a certificate upgrade as of now on the YYC flight. Everything is oversold in the back from LHR that day for both YYC and YVR (and YYZ, YUL). However, the YVR flight is wide open in C/J (over 30 seats showing) so it would seem to me that I might be able to get us on that flight. However, since I am connecting from BRU I won't have much time in LHR to make the change. So, in light of all this conversation I am wondering if it is appropriate to contact the concierge ahead of time to see what he can do. Any thoughts?

Aha! I wondered why that flight was always oversold.

They will very unlikely be able to tell you in advance that they can put you on the nonstop flight. Given that the flight is oversold, everyone confirmed on that flight will get priority over you (so if it's oversold, they will most likely be given out INVOL U/G and J/C might ended up being full). Given that the YYC flight leaves before the YVR flight, that makes it impossible for you to risk going on standby. So I honestly think you should just plan on staying on your current booked YYC flight.

Thanks again,

I will have a look at the flights again the day before I leave and see how things look.

As an SE one, in theory anyways, flies 100,000+ Q miles a year. In my opinion this deserves special treatment and if rules can be bent in certain circumstances to accomodate and make that 100,000 miles of flying a better experience then go for it. I don't have a problem with it.

As for being late due to traffic my sister was late for an LHR flight in summer after leaving her home with enough time in normal traffic to be at YYZ about 3 hours before the flight - she got there 20 mins before and the AMAZING staff got her ON!! Rules were bent here and she was not SE - she was and is very grateful. The flight left on time, no one was harmed.

The LHR standby situation was handled in a most regrettable way. Especially for an SE with a wide open flight - CONFIRM THEM. At the very least explain standby and the risks on that flight (minimal) and allow the standby.

AC has far too many rules that hamper logical delivery of customer service. It is a corporate culture thing unfortunately - staff are put in a small box and are afraid to go anywhere near the walls of said box - sad but very true.

So far as moderation goes - none needed thanks. For those who regularly post here things are just fine most of the time and when things get heated we work through them.

As in any other business there are people who will go the extra mile and those who won't bend one inch. My experience with concierges has been awesome with one exception and have some bend the rules pretty far because they felt the situation warranted it.
Its also how you approach people usually;concierges get alot of demands placed on them and if you are very polite and obliging they will be the same usually.