First ever EUA as a silver, but with a problem
May 23, 2009 | 9:25 pm
#31
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 221
An happy ending!
I asked the gate agent whether our family could sit together; she shrugged and told me, "let's see how it goes." About twenty minutes later, she called my name and handed me two new boarding passes.
Thanks for sharing your wisdom with me.
I asked the gate agent whether our family could sit together; she shrugged and told me, "let's see how it goes." About twenty minutes later, she called my name and handed me two new boarding passes.
Thanks for sharing your wisdom with me.
May 23, 2009 | 9:36 pm
#32
Moderator: Avis and Rental Cars
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 8,070
Glad it worked out for you. It would have been interesting to see the upgrade list before the flight left, to see if they gave you seats that would have gone empty or if they were given in place of someone who "earned upgrade possibilities" with status...
May 23, 2009 | 9:52 pm
#33
Join Date: Mar 2009
Programs: UA Gold, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 51
Very cool. I thought it highly unlikely.
May 23, 2009 | 11:28 pm
#34
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 221
I checked pda.continental.com after receiving new boarding passes; there was still one empty seat with none wait-listed. So, it seems like the seats would have gone empty.
May 24, 2009 | 5:24 am
#35
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: NYC
Programs: Amtrak Select Plus, Marriott Platinum, Marriott Lifetime Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 3,133
Maybe I'm being harsh here, but I think GAs should follow policy. They lost revenue by not requiring payment for the upgrades.
May 24, 2009 | 5:56 am
#36
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Join Date: Aug 2007
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Wirelessly posted (Samsung Omnia: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 4.01; Windows CE; PPC; 240x320))
I think the agent used their discretion and operated within their bounds. the agent made a decision to upgrade a silver's companion with no one else on the list. Those seats it seems would have gone out empty anyway.
I think the agent used their discretion and operated within their bounds. the agent made a decision to upgrade a silver's companion with no one else on the list. Those seats it seems would have gone out empty anyway.
May 24, 2009 | 10:14 am
#37
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: NYC
Programs: Amtrak Select Plus, Marriott Platinum, Marriott Lifetime Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 3,133
Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8320/4.5.0.81 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/100)
"Discretion" can lead us down a slippery slope. I would prefer policy be followed.
"Discretion" can lead us down a slippery slope. I would prefer policy be followed.
Last edited by vatraveler; May 24, 2009 at 10:15 am
May 24, 2009 | 10:28 am
#38
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: GRR
Programs: UA - 1K, DL - Plat
Posts: 149
I disagree, a little discretion can lead a long way to loyalty. If the seats would have gone empty I see no issue with the GA upgrading his companions. I think a lot of time CO pushes a rule book too hard on the GA's and CSR's. This is a good example of a nice to do that causes no harm.
May 24, 2009 | 10:37 am
#39
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Certainly we don't want CO to adopt a 'no waivers, no favors' policy like Mullin brought to Delta and eliminate all discretion.
The only discretion we are trying to eliminate is the rare GA habit of tinkering with the upgrade list to suit a friend/preference.
May 24, 2009 | 10:55 am
#41
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May 24, 2009 | 8:31 pm
#42
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Exclusively OMNI/PR, for Reasons
Posts: 4,186
The upgrade is not a right or possession "given" to the OP. The seat remains the property of CO, and it's been well debated and determined here that if someone doesn't want their upgrade, they are to let the GA know so the next eligible person can receive the F seat.
You can swap with a spouse or travel companion, but not give your seat to a random person so you can sit in Y.
You can swap with a spouse or travel companion, but not give your seat to a random person so you can sit in Y.
It may have been "debated," but in this thread, it sounds like you're down a few points.
May 24, 2009 | 8:33 pm
#43
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It's a new seat assignment. That's all. All seats remain the property of CO, and if CO has a problem with me swapping with a person of my own choosing, I'm sure they'll let me know.
It may have been "debated," but in this thread, it sounds like you're down a few points.
It may have been "debated," but in this thread, it sounds like you're down a few points.
May 25, 2009 | 7:28 am
#44
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Exclusively OMNI/PR, for Reasons
Posts: 4,186
Yes, I'm sure the next-in-line elite would naturally seek me out and thank me for opting out of my upgrade. Or was there some other sort of "appreciation" I should expect from my fellow elites?
I'm reasonably sure anyone who I ask to swap my FC seat with will appreciate my generosity, Elite or not. And it's much more likely that I'll get the pleasure of a sincere "Thank you!" from the displaced passenger than a show of gratitude by any Elite should I elect to follow your "rules" instead.
I'm reasonably sure anyone who I ask to swap my FC seat with will appreciate my generosity, Elite or not. And it's much more likely that I'll get the pleasure of a sincere "Thank you!" from the displaced passenger than a show of gratitude by any Elite should I elect to follow your "rules" instead.
May 25, 2009 | 7:41 am
#45
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Yes, I'm sure the next-in-line elite would naturally seek me out and thank me for opting out of my upgrade. Or was there some other sort of "appreciation" I should expect from my fellow elites?
I'm reasonably sure anyone who I ask to swap my FC seat with will appreciate my generosity, Elite or not. And it's much more likely that I'll get the pleasure of a sincere "Thank you!" from the displaced passenger than a show of gratitude by any Elite should I elect to follow your "rules" instead.
I'm reasonably sure anyone who I ask to swap my FC seat with will appreciate my generosity, Elite or not. And it's much more likely that I'll get the pleasure of a sincere "Thank you!" from the displaced passenger than a show of gratitude by any Elite should I elect to follow your "rules" instead.