Skipped Over for / Lost Upgrade: "Late to Gate", Upgrades Already Processed
#46
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Can you help us understand a discrepancy in your info please?
The title of the thread says late for gate, and the above reply says you weren't late to the gate.
I also can't figure out how you could possibly hear your name called @ lax while standing at or around gate 41 (info you gave in your first post) -- gate 48 is very far away and pages over head in that area (gates 46-49) of the terminal are normally isolated in that area. Gate 41 is right after TSa checkin. 48 is at far end of terminal.
Where exactly were you when your heard your name called?
You arrived at first class boarding? Where exactly? into the terminal near 41 or actually at gate 48?
If you were indeed at gate 41 when your name was called, forget it. You'll never make it in time - ankle injury or not.
Cheers.
The title of the thread says late for gate, and the above reply says you weren't late to the gate.
I also can't figure out how you could possibly hear your name called @ lax while standing at or around gate 41 (info you gave in your first post) -- gate 48 is very far away and pages over head in that area (gates 46-49) of the terminal are normally isolated in that area. Gate 41 is right after TSa checkin. 48 is at far end of terminal.
Where exactly were you when your heard your name called?
You arrived at first class boarding? Where exactly? into the terminal near 41 or actually at gate 48?
If you were indeed at gate 41 when your name was called, forget it. You'll never make it in time - ankle injury or not.
Cheers.
4.0 Thread Titles
Please create thread titles that are specific and descriptive and that contain an accurate (not misleading or sensational) characterization of the topic. If you wish to change your thread's title, please contact a moderator. Moderators may also edit thread titles to clarify content.
Please create thread titles that are specific and descriptive and that contain an accurate (not misleading or sensational) characterization of the topic. If you wish to change your thread's title, please contact a moderator. Moderators may also edit thread titles to clarify content.
The post title reflects the original thread title.
/Moderator
#47
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: LAX
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold but PlatPro thanks to LPs
Posts: 4,439
It's the same difference, though. Because of some decision-maker's failure to take responsibility for their own actions, I am told by someone in authority that from now on I have to fly an airline other than AA. Thus, I now have to start from 0 miles and no elite status on a different airline.
I'm not going to be real happy about that if I have a nice stash of miles and am looking forward to my next reward point or elite status level in a few more flights.
Finally, if the ultimate boss/owner/CEO empowers the subordinate travel manager to make sweeping changes without considering the impact on the road warrior employees, then that boss/owner/CEO might find himself with resentful, lower-producing employees and higher turnover. At Boss School 101, they teach you "Don't Do Stupid Things" the first week.
#48
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2006
Programs: AAdvantage PP
Posts: 13,913
The GA needs to process seat assignments, standbys, upgrades, get the flight boarded and out on time. Sorry he/she does not have the time to figure out where a standby or upgrader might be in or outside of the terminal. If you are standing by or waiting for an upgrade you should be at the gate at T-45. If your name is called and you don't show likely your place will go to the next person on the list.
#49
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: NYC/PSP
Programs: AA EXP, A3 Gold
Posts: 4,106
Absurd. You don't need to be present t-45 to claim an upgrade. Or even be present when the GA decides to call your name. Being present at time of boarding is the only thing necessary. If your bp beeps, you're handed a new one. Many GAs have never announced my cleared upgrade in advance. And let's not forget mobile bps. Isn't that what the app is for? It's automatically updated with the new seat assignment. Are we saying that someone needs to approach a GA for a paper boarding pass if they're using a mobile one and are upgraded? I didn't think so.
This GA made a judgment call they should not have made.
This GA made a judgment call they should not have made.
Last edited by justforfun; Mar 3, 2015 at 1:28 pm
#50
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2006
Programs: AAdvantage PP
Posts: 13,913
Absurd. You don't need to be present t-45 to claim an upgrade. Or even be present when the GA decides to call your name. Being present at time of boarding is the only thing necessary. If your bp beeps, you're handed a new one. Many GAs have never announced my cleared upgrade in advance. And let's not forget mobile bps. Isn't that what the app is for? It's automatically updated with the new seat assignment. Are we saying that someone needs to approach a GA for a paper boarding pass if they're using a mobile one and are upgraded? I didn't think so.
This GA made a judgment call they should not have made.
This GA made a judgment call they should not have made.
Now I get to LAS and when the agent comes on duty I ask about a better seat. She laughs and hands me a BP for seat 1A, most definitely better than 14E. Moral of the story, you need to be proactive and not be reliant on the GA.
#51
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
The GA did not process the UG because it was evident that OP had interacted at the counter and not had his PNR split. Had the GA acted precipitously, this would have led to the inevitable FT thread, "I wanted to travel with my colleague, but AA separated us without asking".
The GA had likely done just this the day before and been upbraided for that by someone who claimed that they control a $1 Bill. travel budget or whatever.
No good deed goes unpunished.
The GA had likely done just this the day before and been upbraided for that by someone who claimed that they control a $1 Bill. travel budget or whatever.
No good deed goes unpunished.
#52
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: SNA
Posts: 18,240
#53
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2006
Programs: AAdvantage PP
Posts: 13,913
In that case the GA can see you are on a tight connection and will be arriving soon. What I have done in the past is ask the arriving GA to call my departure gate and let them know I am on my way so please don't give away any upgrade.
#54
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: STL
Programs: AA 2MM, AS MVP Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 12,966
While true, that is not relevant to the discussion of this particular situation. OP was apparently originating at LAX, and was not at the gate at T-45 by intent as far as we know at this point.
#55
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Europe
Programs: EK plat, ex-FB gold, Accor plat
Posts: 1,076
It's always fascinating to see that some people take UG for granted. They tend to forget what they paid for.
"Decision maker" ? DYKWIA ? His employer should get Internal Control on the move to check compliance issues.
"Decision maker" ? DYKWIA ? His employer should get Internal Control on the move to check compliance issues.
#56
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: OSL/IAH/ZRH (time, not preference)
Programs: UA1K, LH GM, AA EXP->GM
Posts: 38,265
OP was upset that GA skipped him briefly after he was elected to be the person that cleared the UG list. So the the ug [i]wasp/i] granted and there's no presumption here on behalf of the OP.
Sure the disability thing is over the top and so is the expectation that AA has mechanisms in place to deal with this particular case of privilege. But I'd be unsettled too if my ug would be hawked off right in front of me.
What are the odds of the ug receiver not showing up after checking in at the airport? The GA may indeed be somewhat overzealous.
#57
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Europe
Programs: EK plat, ex-FB gold, Accor plat
Posts: 1,076
My point was : if OP is really the kind of guy saying "I'm decision maker of my company, therefore I should benefit from a high status (UG priority) from AA" or "AA skipped my UG, therefore AA is off the purchasing list of my company",
then, his employer should be worried about compliance with other suppliers.
That's just an opinion ... completely professionally distorted.
#58
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,239
The OP wasn't "late" to the gate meaning their seat assignment and reservation were subject to cancellation, but the OP was "late" to the gate in terms of claiming their upgraded boarding pass.
I don't know what AA's rules and policies are in this area, but in my extensive experience, if you're hoping for a battlefield upgrade, it behooves you to be near the gate when your name is called. Not in the club. Not in the bathroom. Not at the other end of the terminal when an injury means you "walk at a snail's pace."
I don't know what AA's rules and policies are in this area, but in my extensive experience, if you're hoping for a battlefield upgrade, it behooves you to be near the gate when your name is called. Not in the club. Not in the bathroom. Not at the other end of the terminal when an injury means you "walk at a snail's pace."
#60
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: SNA
Posts: 18,240
HE says he was there when the began boarding first class, IME unless the flight is late that runs between 30-40 minutes out.
What happens if I'm not at the gate at T-40, I see the check mark by my name, download the boarding pass and the gate agent calls my name and I don't come and never check the app again until I board?
What happens if I'm not at the gate at T-40, I see the check mark by my name, download the boarding pass and the gate agent calls my name and I don't come and never check the app again until I board?