Interesting Upgrade Question
Mar 7, 2009, 7:29 am
#16
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Continental Onepass, Hilton, Marriott, USAir and now UA
Posts: 6,408
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Mar 7, 2009, 9:25 am
#17
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: Continental One Pass, HHonors, Marriott
Posts: 38
This happened to me on a EWR-SFO flight a few weeks back. Flight was full, but there was a battleground upgrade for one of a two person set. The were seated in 15C and 15D. The man and the women discussed it and they decided the man should go to FC. The man's aisle seat was reassigned. Then, the man decided it would be better if they sat together. He comes back to coach, and of course, his aisle seat is gone so he takes the middle seat next to his wife 15B and gives the upgrades the pleasently surprised man in it.
Only reason I noted was that I was number 2 on the upgrade list. I was next in line for the upgrade. I was in seat 14D, best seat for Y on a long flight, so I didn't bring up the matter the FA or GA, but i was curious what the official policy is. I have no problem giving an upgrade to a member of the party you are traveling, with, but a perfect stranger ??
By the way, when I looked back to them during the flight, I never saw the man and women talking to each other. Generally, they were asleep.
Only reason I noted was that I was number 2 on the upgrade list. I was next in line for the upgrade. I was in seat 14D, best seat for Y on a long flight, so I didn't bring up the matter the FA or GA, but i was curious what the official policy is. I have no problem giving an upgrade to a member of the party you are traveling, with, but a perfect stranger ??
By the way, when I looked back to them during the flight, I never saw the man and women talking to each other. Generally, they were asleep.
Mar 7, 2009, 3:00 pm
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: A menace to everything in the sky. Yes. Even birds.
Programs: Eh+ Rapid Rolleyes
Posts: 14,519
I too have been the next on the EUA list when someone in front didn't get a companion upgrade and then gave it to whomever was sitting next to their other.
Did it bother me? Meh. I wish people would have told the GA "all or nothing" to avoid the situation, but at the end of the day I paid for a seat in Y and that's where I sat.
In my opinion, CO's companion upgrade system is pretty stupid.
Did it bother me? Meh. I wish people would have told the GA "all or nothing" to avoid the situation, but at the end of the day I paid for a seat in Y and that's where I sat.
In my opinion, CO's companion upgrade system is pretty stupid.
Mar 7, 2009, 7:03 pm
#19
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Central NJ (Usually EWR but sometimes PHL)
Programs: UA-1K w/2MM & lifetime U-Club; Marriott-Lifetime Titanium; IHG-Diamond; National-Exec. Elite
Posts: 2,553
Mar 7, 2009, 7:49 pm
#20
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Round Lake, IL
Programs: UA GS, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 1,064
I concur on the companion upgrade comment. That is my biggest regret of moving from NW to CO. Maybe they can get it fixed and make it a much better system.
Mar 8, 2009, 9:20 am
#21
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,221
I would certainly offer to give up my F seat to the GA so s/he could upgrade the next elite on the list, but ONLY if she could guarantee to seat me exactly where I wanted to sit in coach (i.e., next to my companion). I suspect most GA's wouldn't be willing to do this, as it would get way too complicated. How do you get the non-elite sitting next to my companion to take some other random seat? Well, it's easy if you offer him an F seat. Maybe if the #1 on the upgrade list is in a good exit row seat it wouldn't be too difficult, but you have to find a GA willing to go the extra steps. Otherwise, I think swapping on your own is fine when there isn't any other reasonable alternative.
