The 'Missing' Blue Elite Access Carpet
 

:o So - this was mentioned in a thread below and I had to post a smart alleck comment there --- but after arriving at the airport - I looked closely at the carpet as I boarded my plane.

So the carpet is kind of thick and I guess has those slick resistant pricks (best work that I could think of) to hold it in place. I guess it is 6 x 9 or 10 feet.

So..... How could someone have gotten rolled up and taken to their room or out the door without being noticed?

If they are checking it on the plane --- it could not fit into a suitcase. How would you get it home? "Oh I would like to check this Elite Access carpet that I got at the FT Do." Or "Flight attendant - can you help me place this in the overhead bin?"

Are we really sure it was taken? Maybe a CO member took it back to IAH?

But I am still laughing my a$$ off ---- as I would like to get one. I will be watching ebay. :p

Maybe a local took it......

Whoever did this, if its true, NOT C.O.O.L.

Seriously, they don't need you stealing their carpets....

That's really funny. I can just picture someone rolling it up in front of everyone and then just walking on the aircraft with it underneath their arm.

We chuckled about the idea of "borrowing" it but it is damn sad that one of our own may have felt the need to add a big piece of blue carpeting to their house.

Is that any way to treat a great host?

Agreed. It was such a clever setup for the entry, and a real shame if someone took it.

Nicksterguy - I did see you get up a couple times during the presentation. How's it look in front of your fireplace?

I wonder if the Marriott has a surveillance camera in the area where the carpet was stolen from?

It would not surprise me if they did. Someone who had one too many beers and got a little brave might get a surprise if they took it.

I laughed for about three minutes when I first saw that someone took it but it really is a sad case given the great hospitality CO and Cigarman provided.

I seriously doubt it... they can hardly get one elevator to work. I can't imagine them being able to run surveillance cameras.

I noticed/wondered the same thing :D

Are we sure that environmental services did not take it by accident??

I realize that is PROBABLY not what happened but, it might be worth a call to ask.

Dan

Given that the sign and the poles/ropes were left behind I think this is a HIGHLY unlikely possibility. I, too, wondered at the folks who got up in the middle of the presentation, but I figured folks had to go to the bathroom or something, as Larry was answering questions for a LONG time.

I'm amused by the sponsored link for Berber Carpets that appeared between the posts in this thread. :D

Are we :-: enhanced :-: or what? ;)

If it was indeed "borrowed" by a FTer, it would have most likely have been a local. If so, please do the right thing and return it.

By the way, Larry did slip an "enhanced" comment in Sat afternoon, in your honor I'm sure. I'll bet that he has been impressed with your technicolor commentary all these years...

Not if you fly AA
 

Hmmm flying AA they wouldn't have known what the carpet was.. I didn't think of that or... LOL

No I didn't take it!!!!

This local ain't got it. BTW, are we abolutely sure it was stolen? Maybe it was picked up by someone from CO and we don't have all the facts.

FWIW

DLM

I liked how he used the term "enhanced" sarcastically... that proves that he's picked up on that here. I believe that got the biggest laugh of the Q&A session.

wallet candy would have had to be a close second. :D

Forgot about that one.

Touring the World!
 

Perhaps it will be passed off like little Freddie to tour the world!

:D

@:-) ^ ^

What is "wallet candy"? :confused:

"Wallet candy" is a comp'ed elite card.

It is generally given to CEO's and execs who have corporate agreements with CO. They generally buy FC tickets anyway, but the comp'ed Plat card is candy in their wallet.

Hmmm... The carpet really nice at the enterence to my bedroom.. LOL j/k

I wouldn't mind one there though... but I'd like the "Elite Access / General Boarding" Sign for my bedroom enterence better!

-Vincent

Perhaps CO should sell them, and the carpets, too. @:-)

In the meantime, are we any closer to the resolution of this issue that affects the reputation of FT as a whole and the likelihood of a follow-on meeting in a couple of years?

Has anyone contacted CO about this matter? I know it would be embarrassing to ask, but let's not get in a tizzy if the carpet were actually removed properly by CO itself.

I agree, this could become a SERIOUS problem. They could take away our "unlimited complimentary upgrades" or even worse...reward ticket availability. And then what would happen is our OnePass miles would become worthless. What a nightmare!

Hey wait a second...they already did that.

Nevermind.

I really hope no attendee stole the carpet... would really be sleazy and low class.

Really?
 

Do you think that would stop some?

Unfortunately, I think that's what happened. Several people left in the middle of Larry's presentation and as far as I can recall did NOT come back. The doors were closed at the time and when they reopened the carpet was gone.

It is really sad that a person/s felt the need to take the blue carpet. Yes, it would be kind of cool to have one in your home but, CO was nice enough to bring a few to the meetings and it was really tacky to simply take it home.

Dan

Which is even more silly since they 1) not only took the carpet, but 2) also missed out on much of what Larry et al. had to say, which was one of the big reasons for flying down to Houston.

well thats only true for those of us who don't need a carpet

Any further leads? How is CO taking the theft?

Do we have clear reason to believe it was a theft...or did folks just notice it missing....'cause....

If you stop and think about it, there is never an elite access carpet as you LEAVE the plane...so why should there be an elite access carpet as you leave the meeting room? :eek:

Anyway...if it was "lifted," chances are it was someone outside our group anyway. It certainly wasn't this local!

I must be seeing things.. i've noticed elite carpets upon deplaning.. ususually there is another departure after we deplane.. hence a blue carpet

In which case....never mind! :p

It's one among hundreds so I doubt they'll miss it. It's the principle of this that I think infuriates most of us. Stealing from your host when invited over for dinner is most shameful. :td:

Why are so many convinced that it was stolen? Maybe the staff helping with the meeting took it away after the meeting commenced. A lot of the big meetings I go to usually have a morning-only registration that lasts until 08:00, and by the time the first break occurs around 09:30, the registration staff will have picked up all their stuff and left. What's to say something similar didn't happen during the presentations?

I did not attend, but I do have a question. Were the DO folks the only guests in the hotel? The event was during that time that many college fraternity and sorrorities have formals, other schools are on spring break, etc, etc. If other groups or events were going on than it is possible that a person affiliated with another group took it. From what I read though. It sounded like the participants of the DO made off with anything else in the area that had CO on it, so why would the carpet be "stealing" and the posters, etc, not be stealing. I have run many event in hotels and the housekeeping staff often puts things "aside" for us in there room with out asking, thinking that it was left behind.

I don't know if it was or wasn't stolen, or if it was or wasn't stolen by a fellow FTer, but unless someone admits to it, it will never be solved in this thread.

Not sure I want to know why...