Just checked in at TPA and saw some odd behavior. I'm on the 4:30pm, delayed until 6:00pm. Trying to use the machine to check in, and it tells me I need to see an agent. I am on a Y->AU ticket. Conversation:

BJ: "Hello, it says I have to see an agent."

Agent: "Yes, we're making it do that since all the flights are delayed, and we're moving people to earlier flights. Here you go." <hands BP to BJ>

BJ: "This is a Coach seat. I would like a First Class seat."

Agent: "No First Class available on that flight; this is all we have."

BJ: "Uh... you changed me without asking?"

Agent: "Yes, I thought you'd want to go as soon as possible."

BJ: "My original flight is only an hour later. Please put be back in First on that flight."

Agent: "OK <type>, here you go." <hands BP for 3B>

BJ: "I had 2F. I would like 2F back."

Agent: "OK."

I'm no complaining, but IMHO, it's *strange* to change someone to an earlier flight and change their class if service without asking. I would have expected something like:

"Mr. [BJ], I can put you on the earlier flight, but only in Coach. Would you like to switch and give up First Class? I can waitlist you for F."

What's odd is that she was unable to waitlist me directly for F without the computer giving me a Y seat. I guess that's b/c I'm on a Y(AU) ticket.

What would have happened differently if I had spent the extra $40 for A?

Not upset, but it was odd.

FWIW, my flight is BF-equipped and now less delayed. ^

Hmmm... did you forget to bold BJ?

I think the agent should have asked you if giving up F was what you wanted to do to get home earlier.

Sounds like this agent jumped the gun. Usually they'll communicate and offer coach on the earlier flight, and let it be the customer's call.

As for the Y --> F, CO will always do that. I know you are (were) a UA flyer, and unlike UA, where you can tell them to please waitlist me for F/C, and only clear me if you can clear me in F/C, CO will not do that. CO will always book you in your purchased class of service, then waitlist you for an upgrade. So, if you're trying to standby, don't clear til 30 minutes out, THEN you can request an upgrade to F, the likelihood of having F is near 0.

Thanks for the info. So if I had an A ticket, I could have waitlisted directly for F (A)?

Yes, but not been cleared into Y, unless you pushed or specifically requested it.

Phew! Fixed it! Thanks! ^

And, once you clear the standby list on the new flight, you've lost your seat on the old one, so then you're stuck. That's what a cranky GA explained to me in EWR anyhow, after a woman at the CSC told me I could standby on an earlier flight for F only! Luckily I figured this out before I cleared.