Stealth upgrade for VIPs?
May 5, 2009, 12:24 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Austin, tx, USA
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Stealth upgrade for VIPs?
I was on a IAH-DCA flight this morning and there was a US Senator on board. He was seated up front, and I ended up one row in front of his staffer in the back. I joked with her about how only the senator got to sit up front and she remarked that he had been upgraded, but that there hadn't been room for her. Curious, I checked the PDA site and the Senator's name and set number were not listed under the people who had been upgraded. I'm just curious if there is an official VIP upgrade policy, or if this is something done under the table. I'm not complaining, just curious.
On another note, after pushing back from the gate, despite there being about 30 planes waiting, we went straight to the runway and took off. I guess there are some advantages to having a VIP on board.
On another note, after pushing back from the gate, despite there being about 30 planes waiting, we went straight to the runway and took off. I guess there are some advantages to having a VIP on board.
May 5, 2009, 12:29 pm
#2
Join Date: Feb 2000
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Is it possible the senator was paid first, and therefore didn't show up on the upgrade list?
May 5, 2009, 12:29 pm
#3
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: retired from SFO Terminal 3
Posts: 7,437
Most Senators are heavy Elites. CO's policy changes from time to time depending on the political needs of CO. Once upon a time we were told to never, ever upgrade for free any politician. His aide probably couldn't get upgrade on his status due to a full F cabin.
May 5, 2009, 12:32 pm
#4
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May 5, 2009, 12:41 pm
#5
Join Date: Oct 2007
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Last summer I flew IAH-DCA Ron Paul got upgraded into the seat next to mine. I presume he is a fflyer but I saw him get upgraded at the podium before boarding at IAH.
I'll presume you saw John Cornyn, the junior senator from Texas?
Ciao,
FH
I'll presume you saw John Cornyn, the junior senator from Texas?
Ciao,
FH
May 5, 2009, 1:16 pm
#6
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It wasn't Cornyn. I'm pretty sure this person doesn't have status on CO as most of their 2008 flying was not commercial (that's a big hint as to who it was). Also, their aide said that they were "upgraded", which implies (at least to me) that it wasn't a paid F ticket.
May 5, 2009, 1:18 pm
#7
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Ron Paul flies CO regularly, he is an elite with them. I have see him in the IAH Terminal A PC a few times when he was taking a NW flight.
May 5, 2009, 1:18 pm
#8
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The only time I rode beside a senator on CO, we were both in Y.
May 5, 2009, 1:24 pm
#9
Join Date: Apr 2006
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I heard the FAs on my IAH-CLE flight this morning talking about him. You are correct, I would bet he didn't do ANY commercial flying in the first 10 months of last year.
May 5, 2009, 1:40 pm
#10
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Is this senator from Arizona?
May 5, 2009, 1:53 pm
#11
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Why are we playing "Guess the Senator"? Is their identity protected or something? 
May 5, 2009, 1:54 pm
#12
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May 5, 2009, 1:55 pm
#13
Join Date: Dec 2004
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I've flown with LH Senators and there was no special treatment
Maybe when CO joins *A there will be.
Maybe when CO joins *A there will be.
May 5, 2009, 2:00 pm
#14
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Arizona
Posts: 5,689
ALL OF YOU HAVE NO CLUE. Special phone numbers, special customer service agents, special service all arround, that go far beyond upgrades. Without attacking anyone I can not tell you disapointed I am that all of you know so little about Special Services. TWA was the master and the best but they are gone.
Last edited by Centurion; May 5, 2009 at 2:27 pm
May 5, 2009, 2:33 pm
#15
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,679
ALL OF YOU HAVE NO CLUE. Special phone numbers, special customer service agents, special service all arround, that go far beyond upgrades. Without attacking anyone I can not tell you disapointed I am that all of you know so little about Special Services. TWA was the master and the best but they are gone.
Of course, all the special phone numbers in the world didn't help Ted Kennedy when he ended up on the TSA watch list by accident.
