And this one really is different
 

Subject: Flight Experience
Reply: No

Message: Dear Customer Service
I am sorry to have to communicate yet again with Continental Airlines regarding an event yesterday .I was on my return trip from SFO to EWR/ LOC # XXXXXX on July XXth. My upgraded seat was assigned at 1B. I boarded the delayed( due to incoming flight delay no plane switching to the houston metal etc) flight #XXX and was chatting with my seatmate when the gate agent came on board and asked me to move to coach seat 5F as a more important person had arrived late (it was after midnight by now,long after the boarding time of the flight)and they needed my seat. As we all wanted to get the show on the road, I collected my belongings and relocated to a cramped window seat next to 2 large men and settled in for a long uncomfortable flight to Newark. The gate agent thanked me and said I would be comped on the in flight service to quote “ you will be treated as if you are up front”. When we were in the air, the stewardess came by and asked what I would like to drink.I asked for a glass of champagne and was told that she did not have that back here that my choices were red or white wine. This was not, in my mind being treated as if I was in my first class seat. How difficult would it be to pour me a glass of the sparkling wine from the front? I did not expect a meal as that would have been difficult but... Well yet again, I am sorry to register my disappointment with the overall service on this flight and my being displaced from my first class seat.
Jane T Lee

Flight Number: XXX

Flight Date: 7/XX/2008

Approximate Departure Time: 11:00 p.m.

Origin: SFO
Destination: EWR

Dear XX. XXXXXXX:

You are a valued Elite member of our OnePass program and we strive to meet your travel needs at all times. When we don't succeed we take it very seriously.

Our records indicate, that a last minute First Class seat was purchased so the need arose for the last minute seat change.

I am concerned, by the service you received from the flight attendant, you were promised First Class service and I agree you did not receive what was promised.

So as a goodwill gesture, 1,000 OnePass bonus miles have been deposited into your account.

Continental Airlines employees are committed to providing you an excellent and safe travel experience. We appreciate your business and look forward to serving you in the future.
Regards,

XXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXX

TRACKING NUMBER: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

I suggest you delete the names, confirmation numbers, and tracking numbers.

A last minute F seat was purchased and displaced an upgraded passenger? :confused:

Maybe the person that caused you to have to move was a displaced F passenger.

I'm curious what the OP's rights really were? She decided to not make a fuss so the flight could get under way, but I'd be like "my boarding pass says my seat is 1B, so no, I will not move to a cramped window seat." If she had to move, I would think they should restore her original seat (pre-upgrade), but then that could start a whole musical chairs thing throughout the plane.

When refused champagne, she should have asked to speak to the FA who moved her and promised her first class service. Make more of a fuss next time, you'll get more than 1K onepass miles.

I think a plat can bump someone whenever they fell like it if they buy a full fare within 24 hrs...guaranteed seat availbility .....or something like that.

Sounds like what happened....maybe. :)

Perhaps it was SFOGate working the flight or certainly one of her co-workers? I thought I read somewhere that she has late hours at SFO.

This only works for Y seats, not F nor AU. And it has to be more than 24 hours out, not within 24 hours.

The OP got hosed. I wouldn't have moved unless given a MUCH better explanation than "a more important customer" wanting my seat. And 1000 miles is a horrible response.

The rss-feed stil has all the personal informations with it.

Champagne in F on a transcon ? When did they start to offer that ?

Certainly sounds like a lack of communication between the gate agent and flight crew. Very sorry for your troubles, if I ever have you on a flight, the booze is on me :)

What seat assignment is showing on the PDA site? And was a new boarding pass provided for the move? I'm curious about how this transaction took place.

I was downgraded earlier this year when a gate agent was hunting for a seat (in a full cabin) to give to a paid F passenger. When I posted about the experience, CO Insider looked into it and figured out why it had happened. And I got more than 1000 miles for my troubles.

It was the GA that moved her (not the FA) and may not have communicated fully the situation to the FA. We would normally have NO problem comping a few drinks in this situation if we were told what was going on.

As to the champagne availability, it's supposed to be on transcon flights but it can sometimes be missing depending on the AC routing. Basically, if it leaves EWR for a transcon, it will have it. That means it will be on board for the likely return transcon. If it leaves IAH it usually won't have it even if the next leg is a transcon. I will have to say that the champagne catering is spotty and needs to be more consistent. The problem stems from the fact that liquor is ONLY catered at the three hubs and round trips back to one of them.

This response is one of the main reasons why I continue to fly CO. They have some of the best staff in the industry. I bet you could not find a response like this in any of the other forums!^

FAM?

Mike

Edited to add: OP, you may want to ask a moderator to change the title to something a little more clear.

I would put my money on that.

Obviously CO is unable to confirm that to be the case, but think about it...

-More important person(Who's more important on the plane than the guy with a gun?)
-First Class aisle seat (FAM needs first row, aisle seat)
-Ambiguous reasoning for move (obviously)
-Transcon flight out of SFO

Regardless, you do deserve better compensation for your inconvenience, IMO.