Recently on a JFK-SFO, I volunteered for a VDB. The gate agent told me she was giving my seat away to someone and as I was near the gate, I talked to the person she gave it to. Right before the door closed, she said actually she didn't need me, gave me back my original BP, and told me that she would make room for my carryon, and move the other passenger back to the back.

Well, it did happen to me, awhile ago now. Sitting in F enjoying a cup of coffee when red coat boarded maybe a minute before doors were going to close. Agreed, quite shocking and bad things happen sometimes but I never felt the need to begin a new thread whining about what most likely will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Welcome to the club! ^


DL did not embarrass either one of us. Any embarrassment you felt was whatever you created. Something in there about responsibility, eh. I admit, though, on the Walk of Shame to the back, wondering if the other pax were thinking I pulled a fast one to take that seat in F. It was an awkward feeling but simply irresponsible to blame others for the way we feel.


Hmmm... You don't board, the other pax gets the seat in F, flt moves on without any disturbance, and DL cancels the remainder of your itinerary. Not exactly sure what your protest would accomplish but admire your courage under fire. ;)

If they claim they made a mistake, and are forcing you to move to the back middle, I don't see why they couldn't give you your original seat back and make that person move back. Why is it okay to move the OP, but not okay to move the person now occupying the OP's original seat.

I think I can top that.
 

My gf and I were on the MSP-LHR flight booked in Economy Comfort in late June. We were called at the gate and were op-up to Business. About 5-10 minutes before they closed the door, the gate agent came up and told us that we had to move back into coach. Apparently, 2 passengers in Y were complaining that they were incorrectly booked into Y.

So, the gate agent had us moved back into Y. When I asked about our EC seats, I was told that they were already gone and gave us seats in row 40's in the middle aisle and $100 voucher for our troubles. Since my gf was upset at the loss of our EC seats, I sat in the middle. Fortunately, the flight attendants were able to find room for our carry-on.

To make matters worse, the guy sitting next to me got a whole pot of coffee spilled on him at dinner. He spent the next several hours on the flight with a very red arm. I don't know if it was the result of the coffee spill, but he spent the next 2-3 hours twitching around and elbowing me in the sides.

The only mitigating factor is that I can sleep practically anywhere. So, aside from the cramp seats and elbowing, I was able to get about 4-5 hours of sleep. My gf wasn't as lucky.

D3hswu8

You are lucky, this often does not happen when a GA gives your seat away and then ends up not needing your VDB. This is why I always confirm with a GA prior to volunteering that they will not give away my seat until they confirm they will need me.

VERY poorly handled. It is unreasonable of them to not give you back your original seat. I would complain.

[QUOTE=LegalTender;19019645]No one should be preferred over a DM whose upgrade was reversed. Not even a GA's blind mother-in-law.[/QUOTE

How about someone who paid for the seat as opposed to OP who, DM or not, was on a freebie?

The most likely ocurrence here is that the GA jumped the gun and gave OP a paying F pax seat a little early. The guy showed up and the mess ensued.

Agreed. Not sure why people are attacking the OP for this thread (oh wait, it's the DL forum).... Actually, this would make me a bit upset. I could handle being given to my original seat, but not a middle seat elsewhere.

There are much sillier threads in this forum...

Thanks - that was my point. Stuff like the mistake on the upgrade happens. But when I was reasonable and immediately vacated the 1st class seat, I got kinda shafted for being such a nice guy (middle seat at the back rather than my original bulkhead window). And then the promised stingy 5K voucher never materialized. They talk a lot about how much they like their frequent flyers. Talk is cheap.

...
 

did you move with or without a boarding pass to the 17E seat?

that said...


NO WAY i would have taken 17E.

NO

FREAKING

WAY


Throw me off the plane, whatever...

Quick chat with the Captain of the plane in a civil tone probably would have fixed this -

i made the mistake of "giving up" my up front seat while onboard - ONCE. She never brought me the promised boarding pass --- and certainly never gave me any miles like she promised in my case as well.... hell, i wonder if this is the same GA (??)

Without a boarding pass that reflected my original seat, I would NEVER - EVER move.

Don't care if the plane is delayed or not.

Matter of fact, regardless of what Delta's T&C's say, once I am seated on the plane with a valid/scanned boarding pass reflecting my seat... pretty sure you can call the cops to get me to move. Never again will I take the walk of shame because some stupid GA screwed up.




d

Worst upgrade experience ever !
 

I'm with OP on this. Depending on the mood I was in, I MAY have let it slide for 5k miles since the duration was fairly short. But a transcontinental? No way.

I understand that it's easier on the GA to piss off one person than it is two. But if I'm the person who took OP's original Y seat and the GA or
FA told me I needed to move back to a middle seat, I'm taking it and going. It's the right thing to do.

Good luck with that approach. Let's hope for you and everyone else on the plane it never happens.

I think 5k is acceptable amount for a short haul. Now that OP didn't receive it, you should call corporate and get at least double that.

Incompetent gate agents need to be terminated. There is no place for bad service in this industry when there are plenty of people out there who will do the job correctly and with a smile. Delta needs to start making some examples out of these employees.

I feel for the OP, the situation was handled very poorly.

As others have suggested...POLITELY refusing to accept the situation is your ONLY leverage. As long as you are STANDING the plane is NOT going anywhere....

It is extremely important to stay polite (which can be hard when you've been mistreated) and simply refuse to sit down and either the GA will fix the problem or the captain will get involved and likely be sympathetic to a pax who is being mistreated...

Without going into all the details...had a similar situation and I knew there was a later flight that would work for me so I politely told the GA that if something couldn't be worked out that I would be happy to get off the plane and SDC to the later flight...

Of course that would create paperwork for the GA to deal with...and that was incentive the GA needed to fix the problem....