Empty Seats in First?
Jul 8, 2008 | 10:11 pm
#16
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: DCA
Programs: UA 1MM Gold, Hhonors Gold, Bonvoy Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 553
My sister was on the 9 am flight and as a silver she was the only one on the wait list with six seats still open after she got the u/g. She got an EAU, I guess the other 5 people were non-elites on Y? In any case that is a lot of battlefields, especially for a transcon. Sorry to bring the dreaded food discussion into this but she did say they announced before the flight took off that despite it being printed on the menu, there was no french toast at all. Two meal options left on a transcon seems a bit tacky.
Jul 8, 2008 | 11:45 pm
#17
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: NYC
Programs: UA GS (1MM), DL Gold, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Globalist, Avis CC
Posts: 526
May 24th 2008, The 06:15 flight from AUS-IAH on a 738 (20 seats). I was the ONLY first class passenger. There were only 50-odd people on the plane, but it was shocking to be the only person in F. Needless to say, I got some EXCELLENT service on the 30 minute flight (3 bloody marys!).
Jul 9, 2008 | 1:31 am
#18
Join Date: May 2005
Location: various cities in the USofA: NYC, BWI, IAH, ORD, CVG, NYC
Programs: Former UA 1K, National Exec. Elite
Posts: 5,487
For upgrades, go with 1027, the 5:30AM JFK-IAH flight. The last time I took it about 6 of 12 seats occupied. The elite (I assume) walking towards coach who sheepishly asked if there were any upgrades available made me chuckle.
What do you have against Anthony, Kansas? Too bad ANY doesn't have any scheduled flights.
What do you have against Anthony, Kansas? Too bad ANY doesn't have any scheduled flights.
Jul 9, 2008 | 3:50 am
#19
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: JZRO
Posts: 9,175
Lar' Baby needs to change his hackneyed slogan from "Meals as mealtime" to "Meal at mealtime." 
Jul 9, 2008 | 7:51 am
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: DEN
Programs: UA MM Plat; AA MM Gold; HHonors Diamond
Posts: 15,890
Yea, that's why I used the $25 get in FC option, shifting my outbound to the 2:20 PM 753 (which showed A4 and had only six folks on the upgrade standby list)...imagine my delight when I went from #8 on a fully booked (A0) flight to #1 on an A4...got the EUA at T-3:05. Yippie!! I love the new standby policy.
Jul 9, 2008 | 9:49 am
#21
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Philadelphia,PA
Programs: United 1K,Marriott Platinum Premier,IHC Platinum Ambassador,Hilton Gold
Posts: 1,898
Jul 9, 2008 | 9:50 am
#22
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: BTR
Programs: DL Silver, CO Silver, AA, Wyndham ByRequest
Posts: 309
Being based in BTR, I love that flight because it's a guaranteed upgrade. Like, upgraded a week and a half out as a silver, guaranteed upgrade. Other than a once daily CO 737, the NW DC-9's are the only planes with FC servicing BTR. Sadly, we're getting bumped down to CRJ's for the fall.
Jul 9, 2008 | 9:56 am
#23
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: SEA
Programs: DL Diamond, AS MVPG, Bonvoy Plat/LT Gold, HH Diamond
Posts: 1,527
June 9th: CO262 (YVR-IAH) - 3 empties out of 12 on a 733; the first empty seats in F I've seen on CO in years - a shame I used miles to upgrade myself and a friend.
July 6th: CO1097 (IAH-LAS) - 10 or so empties out of 20 on a 739; saw that when checking the incoming flight for our outgoing CO296 (LAS-IAH) which was full in F with only two upgrades. Neither is probably surprising for the Sunday after 7/4.
July 6th: CO1097 (IAH-LAS) - 10 or so empties out of 20 on a 739; saw that when checking the incoming flight for our outgoing CO296 (LAS-IAH) which was full in F with only two upgrades. Neither is probably surprising for the Sunday after 7/4.
Jul 9, 2008 | 10:10 am
#24
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: DL Diamond, B6 Mosaic, AS MPV Gold, UA Gold MM, Marriott Plat, SPG Plat, Nat'l Exec Elite
Posts: 16,679
Being based in BTR, I love that flight because it's a guaranteed upgrade. Like, upgraded a week and a half out as a silver, guaranteed upgrade. Other than a once daily CO 737, the NW DC-9's are the only planes with FC servicing BTR. Sadly, we're getting bumped down to CRJ's for the fall.
By the way, BTR is a rather nice little airport!
Jul 9, 2008 | 10:26 am
#25
Join Date: Feb 2005
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 563
I was pretty surprised this week when travelling back from MCO to CLE to see two empty seats in first (18 seat 737-800). Was even more surprised to get upgraded both ways at the 24 hr mark as a silver!! First ever EUAs since getting silver 2 years ago.
Jul 9, 2008 | 12:05 pm
#26
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: CLE
Programs: UA 1K, UA MM SPG Gold
Posts: 91
June 9th: CO262 (YVR-IAH) - 3 empties out of 12 on a 733; the first empty seats in F I've seen on CO in years - a shame I used miles to upgrade myself and a friend.
July 6th: CO1097 (IAH-LAS) - 10 or so empties out of 20 on a 739; saw that when checking the incoming flight for our outgoing CO296 (LAS-IAH) which was full in F with only two upgrades. Neither is probably surprising for the Sunday after 7/4.
July 6th: CO1097 (IAH-LAS) - 10 or so empties out of 20 on a 739; saw that when checking the incoming flight for our outgoing CO296 (LAS-IAH) which was full in F with only two upgrades. Neither is probably surprising for the Sunday after 7/4.
Jul 9, 2008 | 12:53 pm
#27
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: BTR
Programs: DL Silver, CO Silver, AA, Wyndham ByRequest
Posts: 309
It looks like it's just a fall quirk with all the cuts this year, as we go back to the 9's in November. Although, once DL takes over, it'll be nothing but ASA CRJ's. Glad you liked our airport. Little is the operative word, but it holds a fair bit.
Jul 9, 2008 | 7:48 pm
#28
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: SDF
Programs: -=- UA: LT GS 4MM; Hilton: LT Diamond; Marriott: Gold; Hertz: President's Circle
Posts: 701
CO230 CLE-BOS tonight on 737-800. 7 of 16 seats in F were filled. The back was ~70% filled.
I figured there had to be a mistake but checked pda site and it showed there was nobody on standby for F upgrade.
It has been YEARS since I have seen a CO flight with so many empties in F.
So many empties is concerning .... at that rate, CO will cut even more flights.
I figured there had to be a mistake but checked pda site and it showed there was nobody on standby for F upgrade.
It has been YEARS since I have seen a CO flight with so many empties in F.
So many empties is concerning .... at that rate, CO will cut even more flights.
Jul 10, 2008 | 1:55 pm
#29
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: UA-1K, MM, Hilton-Diamond, Marriott-Titanium
Posts: 4,497
So this whole thread has me rethinking my EWR-LAS rt in Sept. I was thinking of buying FC for EWR-Las (late AM on a Thurs) and do the back of the bus for the rtn. (early PM on a Tues) and hope for an upgrade.
I know EWR-LAS is awful for Elite upgrades but now maybe it will be better. Apparently the gamblers are cutting back too and not flocking to LAS as much.
I know EWR-LAS is awful for Elite upgrades but now maybe it will be better. Apparently the gamblers are cutting back too and not flocking to LAS as much.