FlyerTalk Forums - Seat switched when check-in

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Originally Posted by shynelong (Post 7960408)

For those who are interested in more details..

I didn't have a printer with me so I thought I'd go to the airport earlier and printed out the boarding pass. Last time I checked in without printing out the boarding pass and the crew member gave me a hard time.

You can (and should) OLCI anyway, as early as possible. As a Silver, this would improve your odds of an upgrade, as this would put you ahead of other Silvers within same fare class. And you probably have a better chance of not getting moved around.

If you don't have a printer, you can still check in early and a) later go to an easy check in kiosk and reprint your BP, or b) have your BP faxed to your hotel room.

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I am elite, but only SILVER. Yet I don't think it makes any difference even I were Platinum.

When I approached the counter, I told them that my seat got switched and asked them if it's possbiel to find me a better seat. And they simply looked at me and said they changed the aircraft and it's a full flight. When I went ahead and asked them more questions, they simply talked to each other and totally ignored me, pretending I was not there. They were definitely the rudest crew I've ever met.

Something's at least comfort me a little. When I took a look at the person sitting at 6C, the seat supposed to be mine, was a kind old lady. Very polite and smiled all the time. Somehow it soothed me.

You will earn Karmic points for this, especially since you appreciated the nice old lady having your seat. What goes around comes around. Just wait for your reward; it will come when you least expect it.

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The lesson I learnt, definitely NOT to deal with the check-in crew, especially those in EWR. I don't want to generalize it but over all the whole EWR made me feel unwelcome. From the crew members to TSA officers. I know it's a big airport and I understand it's a tiring job. But why do they have to have the attitude? I've been to many airports and I'd say ERW is the worst.

Anyway, just something to complain about. It didn't affect my liking for NYC. I'll probably still take continental but I'll make sure I'll pay least for the most. That's the way I get back to them :)

Thank u all!

Maybe EWR agents are just trying to put you into that New York state of mind. In HNL, they say Mahalo and give you leis. In MCO, it is a Mickey Mouse operation and everyone acts Goofy. In ATL, everyone's down-home Southern friendly and slow. So maybe in EWR they just want to give you the full New York experience :-)

Seriously, you may have gotten the short end of the stick while losing your seat (presumably due to aircraft change), but there is no excuse for rudeness or ignoring you, whether you're Silver, Platinum or GM. I think a nice, polite little note to CO Customer Care is in order. Issue is not so much that they changed your seat (that does happen, albeit rarely and presumably for a good reason), but the issue is the CO staff's rudeness in dealing with you as an affected passenger, through no fault of your own. I would suggest some form of compensation useful to you, ranging from some OP miles, to a free confirmed upgrade to a travel voucher. Mind you, I think too many complain about too many things, but it sounds like you were not treated appropriately.