AAngel Upgrade Magic?
May 18, 2006, 11:25 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
AAngel Upgrade Magic?
Sometimes, when I'm at an Admirals Club with a pending upgrade request, the AAngel says "Let me see if I can get it to clear," types stuff, and then prints new boarding passes with my upgraded seats. Sometimes this is for the flight I'm about to take, and sometimes for the connection I'll make afterwards. Sometimes they say "Sorry, it won't let me." (And lots of times they don't say anything except "Your upgrades haven't cleared yet," and don't try anything.)
What is the magic they try to do, and when can they do it?
What is the magic they try to do, and when can they do it?
May 18, 2006, 11:33 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,231
Just speculation, but maybe they're sending an (automated) request to yield management to release X inventory if it isn't available, but F is?
I could see this being something the AC staff is willing and able to do but the GAs are not (more willing, than able).
I could see this being something the AC staff is willing and able to do but the GAs are not (more willing, than able).
May 18, 2006, 11:48 am
#3
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: QLA
Programs: SBUX Gold
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No... such a thing does not exist. Let us never speak of it again.
May 18, 2006, 12:26 pm
#4
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: UA 1K, AA 2MM, Bonvoy LT Plt, Mets fan
Posts: 5,073
The magic is "marketing".
They look at the computer. They see that you've cleared. They send an email to a friend. They print the BP. You renew your AC membership. They keep their jobs.
(Cynical, aren't I?)
But, like IceTrojan said, they have no special mAAgic powers. ReAAlly.
They look at the computer. They see that you've cleared. They send an email to a friend. They print the BP. You renew your AC membership. They keep their jobs.
(Cynical, aren't I?)
But, like IceTrojan said, they have no special mAAgic powers. ReAAlly.
May 18, 2006, 12:37 pm
#5
Join Date: May 2005
Programs: AA EXP, DL Plat, US Chairman, SPG Plat, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, IC RA
Posts: 1,436
I've seen AC AAngels give certain people (not me, of course) F inventory when upgrades haven't cleared...
They seem to be more willing than other agents to bend the rules for even slightly irregular ops.
They seem to be more willing than other agents to bend the rules for even slightly irregular ops.
May 18, 2006, 12:43 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
Originally Posted by ijgordon
Just speculation, but maybe they're sending an (automated) request to yield management to release X inventory if it isn't available, but F is?
I could see this being something the AC staff is willing and able to do but the GAs are not (more willing, than able).
I could see this being something the AC staff is willing and able to do but the GAs are not (more willing, than able).
Originally Posted by CO FF
The magic is "marketing".
They look at the computer. They see that you've cleared. They send an email to a friend. They print the BP. You renew your AC membership. They keep their jobs.
(Cynical, aren't I?)
But, like IceTrojan said, they have no special mAAgic powers. ReAAlly.
They look at the computer. They see that you've cleared. They send an email to a friend. They print the BP. You renew your AC membership. They keep their jobs.
(Cynical, aren't I?)
But, like IceTrojan said, they have no special mAAgic powers. ReAAlly.
May 18, 2006, 1:39 pm
#7
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: AUS
Programs: SPG Plat, CO Gold, AA Plat, Marriott Silver, HH Gold, Citigroup Chairman
Posts: 331
Did you tell the AAngel to get rid of the all the ugly cardboAArd at ORD covering the old monitors?
May 18, 2006, 3:12 pm
#8
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Cote d'Ivoire
Programs: OW Emerald - HH Diamond
Posts: 3,416
Right, this didn't happen to me this morning.
Originally Posted by IceTrojan
No... such a thing does not exist. Let us never speak of it again.
May 18, 2006, 3:47 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,231
Originally Posted by IceTrojan
No... such a thing does not exist. Let us never speak of it again.
May 18, 2006, 4:20 pm
#10
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: SoCal
Programs: AA PLT, SPG Platinum
Posts: 3,465
Originally Posted by ijgordon
OK, and lets not encourage anyone to join the Admiral's Club so that they become less financially viable and begin to close one by one...
Hey, you never know, they might employ the same strategy with the AC that they do with the S80s: as they fill up a little more, start grounding 'em
.
May 18, 2006, 4:35 pm
#11
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Originally Posted by ijgordon
OK, and lets not encourage anyone to join the Admiral's Club so that they become less financially viable and begin to close one by one...
May 18, 2006, 4:46 pm
#12
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: SJC
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 3,686
My assumption was that they'd check the flight, see X open, and just say "let me see if I can..." just in case for some reason they couldn't confirm it.
Better than saying "sure....oh...uhm...sorry"
Steve
Better than saying "sure....oh...uhm...sorry"
Steve
May 18, 2006, 5:16 pm
#13
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Originally Posted by sllevin
My assumption was that they'd check the flight, see X open, and just say "let me see if I can..." just in case for some reason they couldn't confirm it.
Better than saying "sure....oh...uhm...sorry"
Steve
Better than saying "sure....oh...uhm...sorry"
Steve
May 18, 2006, 6:13 pm
#14
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Join Date: Mar 2001
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Posts: 27,730
Ther are just TWO rules about Admirals Club upgrade club...
May 18, 2006, 6:25 pm
#15
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: Marriott Titanium
Posts: 2,861
X can sit open for a variety of reasons. Often, the AAngel can snag them, even though the Gate Agent is the one responsible for the inventory at that time. I don't THINK a Ticket Agent can snag the X inventory during airport check-in, I think only GA AC, and SOMETIMES the EXP desk can.