Downgraded while Crew in F
Jul 1, 2015, 6:15 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: TUS, SEA, OTP, OMR
Posts: 868
Downgraded while Crew in F
So I was supposed to be flying up on a later LAX->SEA flight today, but it was quite delayed, pushing my connection time in SEA into the 10 minute territory.
So I talked to an agent and switched to an earlier flight. I was told that no F seats were available, and in fact the only seat available at all was a non-reclining seat in row 16. Even though I had cleared an upgrade on the later dinner flight, I chose to "suck it up" and go on the earlier flight rather than end up with an impossible connection.
Imagine my surprise, then, when I discovered that there are at least 2 F seats taken by uniformed crew, who are (as near as I can tell) non-rev to SEA. In fact, one of them was originally seated in coach, then moved up to F after departure.
I totally get that sometimes, you have to take a downgrade to arrive on time, even through it's the airline's fault that things are running late. I'm fine with that. But I'm actually pretty annoyed right now that there were at least 2 F seats, which AFAIK should have been available for a 75k who had to make a change, which went to non-revs.
So, am I wrong to be annoyed? Or should I write to customer care?
So I talked to an agent and switched to an earlier flight. I was told that no F seats were available, and in fact the only seat available at all was a non-reclining seat in row 16. Even though I had cleared an upgrade on the later dinner flight, I chose to "suck it up" and go on the earlier flight rather than end up with an impossible connection.
Imagine my surprise, then, when I discovered that there are at least 2 F seats taken by uniformed crew, who are (as near as I can tell) non-rev to SEA. In fact, one of them was originally seated in coach, then moved up to F after departure.
I totally get that sometimes, you have to take a downgrade to arrive on time, even through it's the airline's fault that things are running late. I'm fine with that. But I'm actually pretty annoyed right now that there were at least 2 F seats, which AFAIK should have been available for a 75k who had to make a change, which went to non-revs.
So, am I wrong to be annoyed? Or should I write to customer care?
Jul 1, 2015, 6:18 pm
#2
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Somewhere over the rainbow
Programs: Airline Free Agent, Bonvoy Platinum, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 3,811
FAs during drink service didn't mention anything? I know the FAs usually talk about where each MVPG and 75K is sitting prior to the drink service. Maybe they thought it was odd that a 75K was sitting in Y while their colleagues were in F.
Jul 1, 2015, 6:31 pm
#4
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: WA, US
Programs: lots of little things
Posts: 705
So I was supposed to be flying up on a later LAX->SEA flight today, but it was quite delayed, pushing my connection time in SEA into the 10 minute territory.
So I talked to an agent and switched to an earlier flight. I was told that no F seats were available, and in fact the only seat available at all was a non-reclining seat in row 16. Even though I had cleared an upgrade on the later dinner flight, I chose to "suck it up" and go on the earlier flight rather than end up with an impossible connection.
Imagine my surprise, then, when I discovered that there are at least 2 F seats taken by uniformed crew, who are (as near as I can tell) non-rev to SEA. In fact, one of them was originally seated in coach, then moved up to F after departure.
I totally get that sometimes, you have to take a downgrade to arrive on time, even through it's the airline's fault that things are running late. I'm fine with that. But I'm actually pretty annoyed right now that there were at least 2 F seats, which AFAIK should have been available for a 75k who had to make a change, which went to non-revs.
So, am I wrong to be annoyed? Or should I write to customer care?
So I talked to an agent and switched to an earlier flight. I was told that no F seats were available, and in fact the only seat available at all was a non-reclining seat in row 16. Even though I had cleared an upgrade on the later dinner flight, I chose to "suck it up" and go on the earlier flight rather than end up with an impossible connection.
Imagine my surprise, then, when I discovered that there are at least 2 F seats taken by uniformed crew, who are (as near as I can tell) non-rev to SEA. In fact, one of them was originally seated in coach, then moved up to F after departure.
I totally get that sometimes, you have to take a downgrade to arrive on time, even through it's the airline's fault that things are running late. I'm fine with that. But I'm actually pretty annoyed right now that there were at least 2 F seats, which AFAIK should have been available for a 75k who had to make a change, which went to non-revs.
So, am I wrong to be annoyed? Or should I write to customer care?
Is there anybody on the AS app Standby List named "Dhd"?
Jul 1, 2015, 6:44 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: TUS, SEA, OTP, OMR
Posts: 868
Spoke to the FA who was super surprised I was a 75k. We definitely left with several seats empty and nonrev moved up.
While this isn't the sort of thing that I'll let ruin my day, I'm am going to write customer care about this. We closed early, so even I really don't know why the GA didn't upgrade me.
While this isn't the sort of thing that I'll let ruin my day, I'm am going to write customer care about this. We closed early, so even I really don't know why the GA didn't upgrade me.
Jul 1, 2015, 9:36 pm
#8
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend, Moderator, Information Desk, Ambassador, Alaska Airlines
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One needs to proactively be added back (either online, by phone, or in person - in person can be the most difficult it seems)
Jul 1, 2015, 9:49 pm
#9
Moderator: Alaska Mileage Plan
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 12,318
The OP is free to do as s/he wishes. If it were me, I'd save my powder for something more substantively bothersome.
I adhere to the 48-hour rule. If I'm still annoyed two days later, then I think about submitting a comment.
I adhere to the 48-hour rule. If I'm still annoyed two days later, then I think about submitting a comment.
Jul 2, 2015, 9:07 am
#10
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Nov 5, 2018, 8:35 am
#11
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: PDX/AVL
Programs: AS MVPG75K, HH Diamond
Posts: 307
Boarding JFK-LAX, first on wait-list, one open seat, and a pilot just cleared from the standby list directly to F and jumped me. Gate agent says it's 'operational rule' that he jumps the wait-list. This true?
Nov 5, 2018, 8:55 am
#12
Join Date: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,838
Nov 5, 2018, 9:34 am
#13
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: AS MVPG, 1MM
Posts: 377
Yes, there were a few terms tossed around such as "non-rev" and "deadheading", the former is a bonus the latter work. I have sat in first with many pilots who are being re-positioned or heading somewhere for work, they have all the sparkling water they can drink. Luckily I have never been downgraded but for some reason, moved to another seat in first (and the person in my former seat was a uniformed AS pilot, not a FAM). It is a contractual issue but I believe (and I may be wrong) that it bumps upgrades but not full fare F. Some one can correct me if I am wrong.
Nov 5, 2018, 10:17 am
#14
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: Alaska 100K - MM, defender of shoes on the carpeted bulkhead 4ever, AA LT PLT, Hyatt Glob, HH Dia
Posts: 7,446
Yes, there were a few terms tossed around such as "non-rev" and "deadheading", the former is a bonus the latter work. I have sat in first with many pilots who are being re-positioned or heading somewhere for work, they have all the sparkling water they can drink. Luckily I have never been downgraded but for some reason, moved to another seat in first (and the person in my former seat was a uniformed AS pilot, not a FAM). It is a contractual issue but I believe (and I may be wrong) that it bumps upgrades but not full fare F. Some one can correct me if I am wrong.
Nov 5, 2018, 11:01 am
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
Does losing an upgrade really count as a "downgrade"?
When I first read the thread title I thought that this was about people who paid for F and were bumped down to econ in favor of the crew.
(That doesn't happen, right? I understand that downgrades can happen because of broken seats or equipment swaps, but a paid F ticket has priority over crew, right?)
When I first read the thread title I thought that this was about people who paid for F and were bumped down to econ in favor of the crew.
(That doesn't happen, right? I understand that downgrades can happen because of broken seats or equipment swaps, but a paid F ticket has priority over crew, right?)