FA says my device show you have no status - no free snack
#16
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
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I think the OP should have disclosed in his opening post that he wasn't in his assigned seat and the FA goes off her manifest that denotes status but that being said I have switched seats many a times and it only takes a second to tell the flight attendant "hi, I'm enviroian, I was sitting in 7A but moved to C" and of course the flight attendant would normally acknowledge it right away.
The flight attendant's comment to the OP certainly wasn't helpful ("you should fix that").
The flight attendant's comment to the OP certainly wasn't helpful ("you should fix that").
#17
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: SAN
Programs: AA CK, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 839
One thing I’ve learned over decades of flying is that if it’s “not on the computer” it ain’t real to any airline employee. Also learned the hard way that “the computer is never wrong,” another rock solid tenet in airline world.
In OP’s position, I’d phone EXP desk and explain the situation just to ensure there isn’t some glitch in the system. Probably the problem was changing seats with a family member. The FA’s response was terse and not appropriate. Realizing that it’s not the FA’s job to sort out these issues or verify your EXP status, the response was poor, and not unexpected from from AA FAs who rarely seem to enjoy their work.
In OP’s position, I’d phone EXP desk and explain the situation just to ensure there isn’t some glitch in the system. Probably the problem was changing seats with a family member. The FA’s response was terse and not appropriate. Realizing that it’s not the FA’s job to sort out these issues or verify your EXP status, the response was poor, and not unexpected from from AA FAs who rarely seem to enjoy their work.
#18
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Sun Prairie, WI
Programs: AA Executive Platinum, HH Diamond, National Executive
Posts: 1,786
I think the OP should have disclosed in his opening post that he wasn't in his assigned seat and the FA goes off her manifest that denotes status but that being said I have switched seats many a times and it only takes a second to tell the flight attendant "hi, I'm enviroian, I was sitting in 7A but moved to C" and of course the flight attendant would normally acknowledge it right away.
The flight attendant's comment to the OP certainly wasn't helpful ("you should fix that").
The flight attendant's comment to the OP certainly wasn't helpful ("you should fix that").
I could even see where the FA is almost proving a point that OP failed to mention that he switched seats. Seems like this could have easily been resolved by mentioning that.
#19
I posted this thread because I wanted to know if it was even worth contacting the airline. Yes my FF# was on the boarding pass and four of us on one record were traveling together. I know this too because I was group 2 and the rest of the family was 5. I was one seat over from my assigned seat as I gave my wife the aisle and I took the middle so don't think it was that either. I will wait for my next trip and see if it happens again.
#20
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Chicago
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Posts: 718
Its that going for great touch that was so necessary in this situation.
#21
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Boston, USA
Programs: AA EXP, TK Elite, HH Gold, SPG/Marriott Gold
Posts: 939
Yeah, I agree here. The fact that the OP didn't mention in his post that he switched seats is a game changer to this situation. If he did mention it to the FA then that's a bit different. I do this with my wife all the time. I typically book a middle seat and have her book the aisle so that in the case where we decide to split up for an upgrade (and I give it to her) I'm not stuck in the middle. I usually just mention when ordering that I switched seats. Never had a problem.
I could even see where the FA is almost proving a point that OP failed to mention that he switched seats. Seems like this could have easily been resolved by mentioning that.
I could even see where the FA is almost proving a point that OP failed to mention that he switched seats. Seems like this could have easily been resolved by mentioning that.
you are in a different seat or something to that effect. FA specifically said, she is making an exception for OP. If seat exchange
was the issue, then did the FA offer snack to the person that OP swapped with ? OP would know since he was sitting next to
his original seat....
This is clearly an indication of the tablet not having correct information and is an IT issue IMHO !
#23
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Sun Prairie, WI
Programs: AA Executive Platinum, HH Diamond, National Executive
Posts: 1,786
If you read the whole exchange, I do not think seat exchange was an issue. If that was the issue, the FA could have said that
you are in a different seat or something to that effect. FA specifically said, she is making an exception for OP. If seat exchange
was the issue, then did the FA offer snack to the person that OP swapped with ? OP would know since he was sitting next to
his original seat....
This is clearly an indication of the tablet not having correct information and is an IT issue IMHO !
you are in a different seat or something to that effect. FA specifically said, she is making an exception for OP. If seat exchange
was the issue, then did the FA offer snack to the person that OP swapped with ? OP would know since he was sitting next to
his original seat....
This is clearly an indication of the tablet not having correct information and is an IT issue IMHO !
#24
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Washington, DC
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Posts: 3,205
And, as I've said before in other threads, without having heard the FA ourselves, it's tough to say if or how in the wrong she was. I tend to get everyone the benefit of the doubt unless there's clear evidence to the contrary.
#25
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
The OP did not bother to mention in the OP and apparently never told the FA that he had switched seats. Without doing so, it is unreasonable to expect FA's who have an entire cabin to serve, stop and start searching the e-manifest in order to determine whether some random passenger is entitled to a freebie bag of chips or somesuch.
This was perfectly good service for Y on what was presumably a domestic flight. If OP was not in his assigned seat, it was on OP to advise the FA at the time he asked for his freebie. Not that much to ask and a reasonable expectation that the FA should not have to look further than the seat number when asked.
This was perfectly good service for Y on what was presumably a domestic flight. If OP was not in his assigned seat, it was on OP to advise the FA at the time he asked for his freebie. Not that much to ask and a reasonable expectation that the FA should not have to look further than the seat number when asked.
#26
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: philadelphia
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As the OP let me clarify as you seem to make me out the the bad guy. Yes I was in B and should have been in C, same row. My youngest son in A with same last name, my wife in "my seat" same last name. My older son in across aisle in D, same last name. If I ahd move to another row I completely understand and I am not a tyrant or snob expecting them to know that. When the FA was handing out snacks to my family I asked if I would get my free one. She said you don't have status according to my device. I showed her my valid EXP AA card on my apple wallet. Her reply was that is good but that is not what I show on my device for you. I will provide an exception for you but I should contact customer service and get it fixed. I too was giving benefit of doubt which is why I thought I would ask the community their opinion not on if I should complain but if this has ever happened and how did you fix it. I was not intending to be that obnoxious EXP member who complains to AA about the smallest thing. It was not big deal as I got my snack so why complain to AA, instead wanting to fix any potential computer glitch.
#27
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The problem is there was no computer glitch. You never told FA you switched seats. FA cant randomly guess that you switched seats. You made a mistake not telling her you moved. If you had she'd have seen you were EXP. 100% on you, not the computer, not AA, and not the FA.
#28
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: PHL
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Posts: 2,379
I would fix it in flight by showing the FA my boarding pass with my correct seat assignment and explain that you switched seats with spouse. Showing your ExP card does not explain why your status is not attached to the seat you ended up in. At that point the FA can see your spouse’s seat showing your status and give you your free snack.
Without explaining the seat switch to the FA, you don’t really know if your status didn’t properly reflect in their handheld. Since your boarding pass accurately reflected status I suspect FA didn’t register the false status for your spouse’s seat. (since the seat swap wasn’t mentioned). FA may have assumed you both held ExP status.
Without explaining the seat switch to the FA, you don’t really know if your status didn’t properly reflect in their handheld. Since your boarding pass accurately reflected status I suspect FA didn’t register the false status for your spouse’s seat. (since the seat swap wasn’t mentioned). FA may have assumed you both held ExP status.
#29
Join Date: Nov 2018
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#30
Join Date: Jul 2002
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As the OP let me clarify as you seem to make me out the the bad guy. Yes I was in B and should have been in C, same row. My youngest son in A with same last name, my wife in "my seat" same last name. My older son in across aisle in D, same last name. If I ahd move to another row I completely understand and I am not a tyrant or snob expecting them to know that.