FA permitting a "self upgrade" to MCE/exit row after boarding door closes
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: United 1K; AA Platinum
Posts: 326
FA permitting a "self upgrade" to MCE/exit row after boarding door closes
Flew CLT-SFO the day after US disappeared. Was sitting in 9E and pleased to have 9D unoccupied next to me when the boarding door closed (as the 9D occupant was the one and only gate upgrade into F). However, someone in a middle seat in regular economy gestured to the FA about taking that seat, and she nodded back to him that it was okay to do so. So not only did someone presumably w/o status get to sit in 9D which is now designated as a MCE seat, but he got to use the stowage space under 8D that I had left open for the original 9D passenger (9E is blocked by the entertainment box). So he ended up getting the better deal with floor storage, etc. w/o paying a dime or having status.
Is this the correct policy? That once the boarding door closes, it's a free-for-all as to any unoccupied MCE seats?
Is this the correct policy? That once the boarding door closes, it's a free-for-all as to any unoccupied MCE seats?
#2
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: South Park, Metropolis
Programs: AA LT PLT 3MM, Hilton/Marriott/SPG/Club Carlson GLD, IHG PLT
Posts: 4,608
It happens all the time, people move to better seat assignments, heck they even try to get onto BUS/FIR if they could. If it bothered you, you should have said something. The passenger asked and was granted, others take it without asking. You do not say anything, but ask about it on a public forum after the fact.
Seems to me you are more upset at the fact that you still got stuck in the middle. Since you where in MCE, why take a middle seat, seriously I rather take a regular aisle seat as opposed to a middle MCE seat.
#5
#6
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Join Date: Dec 2005
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#7
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: TUL
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Posts: 6,177
#10
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 5,270
Yeah, I've never once heard of an AA FA "protecting" MCE, and assume it's not the policy for them to do so. A big reason for this would be that FAs aren't currently able to upcharge pax who wish to move to MCE (unlike some other carriers).
#12
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: PHX
Programs: AA Peon Gold
Posts: 2,915
Those statusless heathens!
I think this falls under the doctrine of MYOB. I've switched seats countless times and I don't think anyone has ever cared. In my experience, United seems to be the only major that cares about protecting their economy plus product.
I think this falls under the doctrine of MYOB. I've switched seats countless times and I don't think anyone has ever cared. In my experience, United seems to be the only major that cares about protecting their economy plus product.
#13
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Columbia, SC
Programs: AA Plat, SPG/Marriot Gold, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Expl
Posts: 2,363
DL is now offering paid "upgrades" from main cabin into C+ as well, so I doubt any self-upgrading would be tolerated without a credit card being involved.
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: United 1K; AA Platinum
Posts: 326
If it bothered you, you should have said something. The passenger asked and was granted, others take it without asking. You do not say anything, but ask about it on a public forum after the fact.
Seems to me you are more upset at the fact that you still got stuck in the middle. Since you where in MCE, why take a middle seat, seriously I rather take a regular aisle seat as opposed to a middle MCE seat.
Seems to me you are more upset at the fact that you still got stuck in the middle. Since you where in MCE, why take a middle seat, seriously I rather take a regular aisle seat as opposed to a middle MCE seat.
You say I said nothing about it on the plane but then asked on a public forum. Again, I'm an ex-US flyer and don't know AA's policy about MCE; that's why I'm asking in this thread. I didn't want to raise a fuss about it within earshot of a guy I was going to be sitting next to for the next few hours if in fact it is a free for all after boarding is complete and he was within his right to do so.
On US there was no such upcharge for MCE so the expectations are different, and anyway I was upgraded into F 95% of the time and never actually had an unoccupied seat next to me whenever I was in Y.
Last edited by blueheronNC; Nov 3, 2015 at 8:32 am
#15
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: PHX
Programs: AA Peon Gold
Posts: 2,915
Ahh, OK, its been a few years since I've flown DL. I know the last UA flight I took, the 757 was about half full, and all of us peons in economy were concentrated in the aft few rows of economy because the FAs stuck to their guns about not permitting self upgrades.