My Colleague Was Bumped from Upgraded F Seat by a Celeb
#31
Join Date: Apr 2017
Programs: AA, DL, Avis, Enterprise, National, IHG, HH, SPG/MR
Posts: 1,852
What is this well known rule about when it is ok to displace an existing boarded passenger into a lower cab to sell a fare or accomodate a SDC on a paid fare, and how does this rule differentiate award tickets from paid tickets in J and to upgraded tickets from coach? Serious question.
- We make every effort to ensure you get your chosen seat, but seat assignments are not guaranteed.
- We reserve the right to change seats for operational, safety or security reasons.
- You must check in at least 30 minutes before departure and be at the gate 15 minutes before departure or you may lose your seat.
- We will attempt to assign children under 15 with at least one adult they're traveling with.
#32
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: jfk area
Programs: AA platinum; 2MM AA, Delta Diamond, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,291
If I purchased a FC seat and they downgrade me to Y (while boarding) I should still be allowed to CANCEL for full refund(?) On intl flts AA would run into the baggage must fly with pax rule--they would have to retrieve and return my checked item, which could considerably delay the flight. [I was on a JFK-ZRH, a woman became ill, it took 90 minutes to retrieve her checked items.]
#34
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: New York
Programs: AA, CX, Hyatt, Marriott
Posts: 1,484
I am with OP, if it were me I would have been pissed and not ok with 7500 as a CK. But think about it this way, I am only a second-tier pax on public transit, maybe I won't care after an exhausting week.
#35
Ambassador: Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: BWI
Posts: 7,390
They deliberately overbooked F at the gate/airport - no question about that.
#37
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: London
Posts: 17,007
I can if you like.
Honestly, first time I've heard the name. But it doesn't matter. I could Google it if I were interested.
I would certainly be annoyed if someone ejected me from my reserved seat, even though I am aware it could happen.
Honestly, first time I've heard the name. But it doesn't matter. I could Google it if I were interested.
I would certainly be annoyed if someone ejected me from my reserved seat, even though I am aware it could happen.
#38
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: New York
Programs: AA, CX, Hyatt, Marriott
Posts: 1,484
In that case, OP is the probably the only upgraded pax, while all other F are sold (or a few other CK who have/has higher EQD). No wonder AA doesn't care at all about loyalty now, F got sold, CK got bumped, EXP becomes the new Plat.
#39
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: OC, CA
Programs: AA EXP, 2MM, HH Diamond
Posts: 831
That statement lacks logic. I can absolutely be annoyed, when accepting such a condition is the only way I am ever allowed to use a particular product or service - and when the condition is one that shouldn't occur in the first place.
#40
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Thousand Oaks, Ca., USA
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat; Bonvoy Titanium Lifetime Elite;Hyatt Globalist; HHonors Diamond; United Silver
Posts: 8,268
The CoC has a link to a separate page which it states governs the terms for preferred seat selection. This page includes the following bullets (bolding mine)
We make every effort to ensure you get your chosen seat, but seat assignments are not guaranteed.
- We reserve the right to change seats for operational, safety or security reasons.
- You must check in at least 30 minutes before departure and be at the gate 15 minutes before departure or you may lose your seat.
- We will attempt to assign children under 15 with at least one adult they're traveling with.
I make no distinction between booked class, instrument used, etc. Do not put words in my mouth. Seat assignment, regardless of how you came to have it, is not guaranteed. Period.
#41
Join Date: Apr 2017
Programs: AA, DL, Avis, Enterprise, National, IHG, HH, SPG/MR
Posts: 1,852
#42
Join Date: Apr 2017
Programs: AA, DL, Avis, Enterprise, National, IHG, HH, SPG/MR
Posts: 1,852
Valid reasons are broken seat, weights and balances, FAM. Or inadvertent issue of duplicate boarding passes. Not intentionally forcing an oversold situation at the gate after boarding.
Certainly, the rules cited don't make any distinction about award ticket, upgrade, or paid fare, so I don't see how the CoC could allow this and not allow the booting of passengers to middle seats in the back on paid F when someone with more $$ comes along.
Your ticket and the following Conditions of Carriage constitute the contract between you, the passenger, and American Airlines, Inc. ("American") and apply to all transportation provided by American (including transportation on codeshare partners*) between points in the United States (including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands).
Foreign air transportation is governed by applicable tariffs on file with the Department of Transportation.
Foreign air transportation is governed by applicable tariffs on file with the Department of Transportation.
#43
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: En Route
Programs: Many
Posts: 6,798
Downgrading a CK member after being seated would indicate there were no other lesser statuses and the cabin was full of paid F tickets. Otherwise, might the GA have gone to the lowest elite on the totem pole? I guess not totally out of the question on heavy routes, and it wouldn't be the first story of a complimentary upgrade being rescinded.
#44
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Thousand Oaks, Ca., USA
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat; Bonvoy Titanium Lifetime Elite;Hyatt Globalist; HHonors Diamond; United Silver
Posts: 8,268
It is unambiguous. Seat assignments are not guaranteed. Operational is not in the definitions section and is not defined anywhere else in the document to my knowledge... the common definition does in fact give them carte blanche.
Unfortunately your opinion doesn’t match up with the agreement. You’re certainly right that we, as flyers, should be pressing carriers to shift more restrictions to them instead of accepting all the risk ourselves. But as you probably know, an overwhelming majority of people don’t even bother reading what they agreed to, let alone have the wherewithal to effect change.
They don’t make a distinction because they don’t have to. The applicability section (my words, not theirs) states these rules apply to anyone holding a ticket period. See below:
#45
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 5,270