I'd like to start this thread to collect data to find out what stations are habitually lazy in processing the First Class standby list for upgrades.

This morning, on DCA-EWR (CO1652), the folks at DCA didn't battlefield upgrade any elites, and we left with three (3) seats open. The flight attendant ended up upgrading one person who had given her a CD -- not sure if he was Elite or not. While I was already in F, I did verify in EWR that there were indeed standbys to be upgraded and the flight left with 3 unnassigned F seats.

DCA has had issues with this in the past, particularly with short hops to EWR. I know DFW also has a chronic problem of not running the standby list.

Are there any other CO stations out there that have problems running the standby list?

On this Sunday's flight 1017 from IAH to San Jose, there were two empty seats in F and the FAs tried to move people from the back up. One guy did but the other person wanted to stay in Y. They didn't ask anyone else.

FWIW

DLM

On my last fight back from Kansas City to Houston May 4, I was advised that I was second on the stand-by list for the upgrade, but on the plane they upgraded an elite and later came back for a UM who wasn't, and left me in coach.

I didn't mind too much since the flight was so empty, but I figure the F/A upgraded the UM since she was less likely to drink any liquor and viewed it as a cust cutting measure.

CO 317 CLE-FLL

On Monday, May 3, I flew CO 317 CLE-FLL . We took off with 4 empty FC seats. However, coach class was maybe 25% occupied.

It's possible there were no elites in the back. No one complained.

What is UM?

Unaccompanied minor.

That unaccompanied minor may have had a higher status than you. Many UM have Elite status when the parents are divorced and they are regularly shipped between two cities. Don't discount someone as not being elite based solely on age.

I ain't flown CO lately, but I been $crewed twice at CLE, once I got the UG but didn't find out until I got my NonePass� statement, the other time the gate agent told me that FC was full, and I saw a uniformed employee take a seat just when the door closed, when I got to IAH I inquired at the Prez Club and was told that my flight had flown with one empty FC seat!!!

Agreed, UMs sometimes do have elite status, but she didn't look or act like she flew much. I know it may be gereralizing but I think there are some behaviors that we spot to identify first time/low time flyers. I know I'll never know the truth but its just a gut feeling she wasn't, it also possible that the F/A wanted to keep better tabs on the kid by moving her into the front..

There is whole thread discussing "Looking Young and Being Elite." I too look very young and look even younger when I have on my Old Navy tshirt and shorts and mickey mouse baseball cap carrying my backpack which actually is my computer case (not your typical computer back pack) and have gotten many sneers by middle aged business men. Many have even commented out loud that "Some airline employee's kid got their upgrade"

Needless to say I am not a kid. I fly over 100K a year and am a degreed professional who just so happens to be travelling in casual clothes because I have an 8AM meeting on the east coast. YTD my company has shelled out over $15K for my travel on CO. We won't even go into what they have spent on various one off flights on other airlines.

I highly doubt the FA moved a kid up to FC. There is potential the kid could get loud and noisy and they don't want a kid in the FC cabin if they can generally help it.

That was my guess as well.

EmailKid

I was surprised myself this past weekend (15-16 May) on a MR FLL-IAH-SFO that the Sunday morning 0050 (CO208) redeye flew with F half full... what happened to all those "elite for a day" folks?

Platinum already, but not looking forward to upgrade potential in 2005...

Saturday night/Sunday 12:xx a.m. departures are off peak. You flew at a good time.

With empty F seats, did you ask the GA to upgrade someone as your Plat Companion?

My family doesn't generally accompany me on MRs... it's my personal getaway! Thanks for the thought though...

I meant a random person... I've done it just for kicks.