Fun with a self-upgrader
 

This morning I was on the 12.45am LAS-IAH. Upgraded from 14D to 4E due to status, there were two empty seats left in F when they closed the door.

When no one was looking, a scruffy looking young man slid quietly into the seat next to me. I looked over at him, and he looked at me knowingly and put his finger to his lips - "SHHHHHHH." Had he just sat there I never would have known, but of course that made me ask "Have you been upgraded?"

"No one is sitting here," he said. "That's not the point," said I - "they're going to send you back. You should just go back now."

"Nah, no one is sitting here, it'll be ok," said he.

That really p*$$ed me off. As the FA walked down the aisle, I got her attention and said "Excuse me, but this gentleman has just upgraded himself."

She challenged him, he sat firm and repeated that no one else was sitting there anyway, and she sent him packing back to Y. As he stood up, he turned to me with and said "thanks a lot" (sarcastically of course) to which I replied "You're welcome."

So, should I have kept my mouth shut and let the FAs figure it out and then send him out? His attitude really hacked me off and I was angry that after all the BIS miles I fly, and after I wait patiently each flight for my upgrade (or not), this little twit thought it was his to just take.

What would you have done?

I personally wouldn't have waited so long. I also would've wanted someone in Y to snap a photo, showing the look on his face has he did the walk of shame back to his seat, with a PA announcement introducing him to the passengers... who says there's no IFE :D

You did the right thing. ^ Morons like that should be shot out of a cannon. Or at the very least, moved to the last row.

You are 100% in the right
 

You are 100% in the right my friend. I would have done the same exact thing that you did. It's not fair to the other pax for someone to just upgrade himself like that. If no one else was upgraded on your flight prior to the door closing, there were probably no other elite members on the flight to UG. You handled the situation like a gentleman and rightly protected the integrity of FC and of the EUA system. Bravo!

Charge him the upgrade fare for the privilege of sitting next to you.

Actually, that leads to a good idea... the FA should have let him sit there, then had a manager and a LEO meet the plane in IAH to charge him the full F fare (plus change fee, of course).

I would have let him stay. Why would you care if he is in the seat or not? Are you the same guy in a traffic jam that blocks the shoulder so people don't cut to the front? I can't be bothered worrying about what other people do unless it affects me.

It does affect you as a Gold Elite member and I think you are smart enough to figure out how. BTW - those jerks riding the shoulder never get past my Hummer. ;)

:D

I would've done the same thing.

- Pat

I think an "easier" way is to claim that you may have purchased both seats, and unless he can produce a boarding pass for that seat, he can't sit there. If he tries to challenge you to see your second boarding pass, well, then, just call the FA over. ;)

I'm sure it's not an original idea, but I've long thought that if there are empty F seats, maybe there should be a 'lottery' among Y pax for the seats. The manifest program could easily generate winners, I'd bet. Sure, there'd be a little marginal cost from the prime rib and vintage wine they would consume, but at the least there would be some folks relating great, high impact, stories at the other end, and at best, a few more very committed customers.

I would tell FA if someone sitting right next to me, making noise, reducing my meal choice, or kicking/touching my seat.:mad:

besieds that, actlike F pax and act politely, I would not say anything.

He sould've kept silence and sit in the coner.:D

Quite and rommy working environment is one of the benefit of F seats.;)

This is brilliant marketing which I'm sure makes no sense for most airlines.:eek:

It would have been a far more beautiful moment if a law enforcement officer cuffed the punk and dragged him through the economy cabin and out of the back door.

That "perp walk" would have been priceless!

Its not your job or position to tell the other pax to go back to Y. Who knows how he would respond do you when he got off the plane. I'll agree he shouldn't be there but thats the F/A's job not yours.