CLE-IAH
Sep 24, 2000 | 9:53 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Sugar Land,Texas USA
Posts: 4,889
CLE-IAH
Did not get an upgrade due to last minute. The Gold fellow beat me to the empty FC seat.
Flight was delayed on the ground after touch-down to IAH, due to many other delays to the West and Northeast.
Overall experience is still good, it's good to be an Elite
Flight was delayed on the ground after touch-down to IAH, due to many other delays to the West and Northeast.
Overall experience is still good, it's good to be an Elite
Sep 24, 2000 | 10:16 pm
#2
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Smoke filled room, TPA and FLL/MIA :UAL 1K and 2MM,AA EX PLAT and 2MM,Lifetime Plat Starwood
Posts: 4,318
Do you think this, would perhaps be more appropriate in the TRIP REPORT forum? 
Sep 24, 2000 | 10:37 pm
#3
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Tucson, Southern Arizona, North America, Western Hemisphere, The Earth, a small planet in the solar system. Previously OnePass Infinite Platinum Elite, now over entitled 1K
Posts: 2,293
Once flying CLE-IAH, I was upgraded, but they forget to tell me, I didn't find out until I got my OnePass statement!!!! 
On a later CLE-IAH flight I was told by the gate agent to take my coach seat because F/C was full. I observed that one F/C seat was empty until just before the door closed, when a uniformed employee sat down.
When I arrived at IAH I inquired at the President's club as to the what seat I had been assigned on the flight, thinking that the same thing may have happened again. I was told that according to the computer the flight had left with one empty seat in F/C!!
Of course, as a top level Elite, I thought that I should have been in that seat, but those gate agents have a lot of authority in their little domain. Never did get any kind of explaination from CO, I called 800-WE-COULD-CARE-LESS the next day, was told that there was in fact one empty F/C seat according to the computer, as well as 22 non-rev passengers. Said that they would call me back, never did.
Those were the only 2 times I flew CLE-IAH in the last 9 years, never had that problem on any other CO flights.
[This message has been edited by Old Gold (edited 09-24-2000).]
On a later CLE-IAH flight I was told by the gate agent to take my coach seat because F/C was full. I observed that one F/C seat was empty until just before the door closed, when a uniformed employee sat down.
When I arrived at IAH I inquired at the President's club as to the what seat I had been assigned on the flight, thinking that the same thing may have happened again. I was told that according to the computer the flight had left with one empty seat in F/C!!
Of course, as a top level Elite, I thought that I should have been in that seat, but those gate agents have a lot of authority in their little domain. Never did get any kind of explaination from CO, I called 800-WE-COULD-CARE-LESS the next day, was told that there was in fact one empty F/C seat according to the computer, as well as 22 non-rev passengers. Said that they would call me back, never did.
Those were the only 2 times I flew CLE-IAH in the last 9 years, never had that problem on any other CO flights.
[This message has been edited by Old Gold (edited 09-24-2000).]
Sep 25, 2000 | 7:49 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Sugar Land,Texas USA
Posts: 4,889
I was thinking about the samething oldgold. what if there is one FC open, should I ask the FAs, But there wasn't any open. Sorry Cigarman, maybe this should have been in the trip report board.
Sep 25, 2000 | 8:18 am
#5
Join Date: Sep 1999
Posts: 1,222
The FAs will probably tell you they can't do anything, because allocating first class seats is up to the gate agent. Or at least, I've heard them say this to people on at least four of the flights I've been on this summer.
[This message has been edited by Kitty Hawk (edited 09-25-2000).]
[This message has been edited by Kitty Hawk (edited 09-25-2000).]
Sep 25, 2000 | 8:46 am
#6
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Houston, TX , CO PLT
Posts: 189
Since we're getting off subject, I'll keep going in that direction.
If I am not upgraded ahead of time, and the flight is longer than 1.5 or 2 hours, which means I really do want to get upgraded, I always do the following.
Get there as early as possible, to try to get the first spot on the standby upgrade list.
Check my luggage (see below).
Wait at the gate until the last possible minute, or until they announce that first is checked in full. When I do board, if there is a seat open in F, I turn around and walk right back up to the gate agent and ask about that seat (Kitty Hawk is correct, FA's cannot move you on their own).
No matter where I end up sitting, I only have my laptop to worry about finding space for.
I've had about 6 or 7 segments this year where I did not have F/C confirmed ahead of time, and I think 4 of those I have cleared at the airport. At least 1 or 2 of those have been because I stuck around and asked.
I know it seems like a small hassle, but the difference between F and Y for 3.5 to 4 hours (or more) is signicant to me.
[This message has been edited by mws (edited 09-25-2000).]
If I am not upgraded ahead of time, and the flight is longer than 1.5 or 2 hours, which means I really do want to get upgraded, I always do the following.
Get there as early as possible, to try to get the first spot on the standby upgrade list.
Check my luggage (see below).
Wait at the gate until the last possible minute, or until they announce that first is checked in full. When I do board, if there is a seat open in F, I turn around and walk right back up to the gate agent and ask about that seat (Kitty Hawk is correct, FA's cannot move you on their own).
No matter where I end up sitting, I only have my laptop to worry about finding space for.
I've had about 6 or 7 segments this year where I did not have F/C confirmed ahead of time, and I think 4 of those I have cleared at the airport. At least 1 or 2 of those have been because I stuck around and asked.
I know it seems like a small hassle, but the difference between F and Y for 3.5 to 4 hours (or more) is signicant to me.
[This message has been edited by mws (edited 09-25-2000).]
Sep 25, 2000 | 8:52 am
#7
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Arizona
Programs: MSP raised, Elite since age 17
Posts: 4,723
Somewhat related:
I was on a COPA flight Panama City-Buenos Aires 2 weeks ago. They did the final boarding call 40 min. before scheduled departure (!) and when I asked for an upgrade, I was told that while FC had open seats, they couldn't upgrade me because the plane was already catered and there weren't extra FC meals. I said I didn't mind having a coach meat, but the gate agent, and later the lead FA, told me they couldn't offer different service to different pax in FC. This was a 7 hour flight on a 737.
Have other people been denied upgrades for similar reasons? I once barely made a NW flight, and the agent told me I could sit in FC although there was no meal for me, and the FA was OK with that.
[This message has been edited by Viajero Joven (edited 09-25-2000).]
I was on a COPA flight Panama City-Buenos Aires 2 weeks ago. They did the final boarding call 40 min. before scheduled departure (!) and when I asked for an upgrade, I was told that while FC had open seats, they couldn't upgrade me because the plane was already catered and there weren't extra FC meals. I said I didn't mind having a coach meat, but the gate agent, and later the lead FA, told me they couldn't offer different service to different pax in FC. This was a 7 hour flight on a 737.
Have other people been denied upgrades for similar reasons? I once barely made a NW flight, and the agent told me I could sit in FC although there was no meal for me, and the FA was OK with that.
[This message has been edited by Viajero Joven (edited 09-25-2000).]