sky_throwaway

Interesting one....

Currently on a flight on Y class ticket. EXP flyer. A passenger from first class was removed from their seat after vaping in the lavatory while the flight was till boarding (this still happens!??!)

I was next on the upgrade list. Recieved a notification in the app that was upgraded to first class / vape guys seat.

Great! Went up, showed up app, notification etc to the flight attendants. They told me "sorry we were told that the seat would remain empty"

I politely asked them to check their app / records and they later confirmed that it was my seat and I was indeed upgradee BUTTTT there was AA flight staff currently sitting in the seat and there is nothing they can do now.

It was a complimentary upgrade so not loosing my mind. But worth complaining about? Seems like maybe at least some miles should be deposited?

Curious what other flyers think!

Markie

Yes complain, AA thinks you are in that seat. Not the crew.

njvandy

It sounds like you were upgraded to F and the FAs chose to give your seat to an employee instead. That's wrong and you should definitely submit a complaint. The circumstances about how they seat became available for your upgrade are irrelevant. I would write a short note on the web form that just says you were upgraded and the FA gave your seat to an employee instead. You should get a few miles for it.

sky_throwaway

A different flight attendant just came up to me and confirmed that was exactly what happened and suggested I write a letter while in the air.

My record locator also oddly changed since we have taken off. Can't recall that happening on previous upgrades

apeortdz

Please let us know what the response is from AA.

fdog

After my little incident last year, the advice from everyone here on FT was spot-on: send the email to Corporate, not CS.

I sent an email to Vincent Carcaterra (Director-Customer Relations), and, received a phone call within 24 hours. It was pretty amazing.

All the best, James

sky_throwaway

Super pro tip. Thank you ! Reached out to him didect

KDCAflyer

Didn't AA announce last year that they'd suspend/fire employees for doing things like this?

Hope it was worth it for whatever FA. Once less bad apple on the seniority list.

econ

Definitely worth complaining about.

Been a while since I've gotten an "upgrade" notification after boarding on AA, but does boarding pass not get updated when this occurs?

BlooJoo

Ridiculous over reaction to a zero-danger situation IMO.

sky_throwaway

Boarding pass was updated. Was stold I could not take the seat as it was occupied (by AA staff) and it was supposed to be left empty for them

lougord99

Perfectly good reaction to a ridiculous passenger.

sky_throwaway

Just deplaned and on the bridge a FA ran up to me. They privately told me to write a letter TODAY and let me know at no point was my seat assigned to any staff person. It was my seat but "the person in charge" didn't want to ask the AA staff to leave my seat.

They ended with "they stole your seat and you should be mad - they can be fired for this"

enviroian

what? I don’t understand what the AA employee was trying to tell you. Sounds like obvious knowledge what happened to you wasn’t SOP. Take a name and report it. The person who authorized an employee to take the seat on first class that was rightfully upgraded to you doesn’t need a slap on the wrist nor “re-training”. He/she needs termination.

BlooJoo

Sounds like infighting among FAs with "Purser" trying to protect seat for employee/friend.