DL employees seated in BE over Diamonds on UG list??
Aug 2, 2012, 1:58 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: San Fran
Programs: DL Diamond x 4 yrs; SPG plat; Amex reserve
Posts: 27
DL employees seated in BE over Diamonds on UG list??
Flew SFO-JFK last week, there were only two BE seats showing availably for UG list at gate, 17 folks on list. Gratefully, I got the first seat, and to my GREAT surprise, about 10-15 minutes before departure, a delta employee (wearing civilian clothes but sporting a badge hanging around her neck) took the other open seat. I was shocked - there were at least a few other diamonds on the list after me, followed by other medallions. Is this practice permissible? I don't know if the DM's who weren't upgraded saw her get on and take the seat, but if it were me, I'd have said something. But it got me wondering, perhaps its their policy. Anyone know?
Aug 2, 2012, 2:03 pm
#2
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: DFW
Programs: Non-Affiliated
Posts: 7,430
Flew SFO-JFK last week, there were only two BE seats showing availably for UG list at gate, 17 folks on list. Gratefully, I got the first seat, and to my GREAT surprise, about 10-15 minutes before departure, a delta employee (wearing civilian clothes but sporting a badge hanging around her neck) took the other open seat. I was shocked - there were at least a few other diamonds on the list after me, followed by other medallions. Is this practice permissible? I don't know if the DM's who weren't upgraded saw her get on and take the seat, but if it were me, I'd have said something. But it got me wondering, perhaps its their policy. Anyone know?
1.) The employee was a DM.
2.) The employee was on paid business where Delta permitted BE travel for that segment.
Aug 2, 2012, 2:12 pm
#4
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Luxembourg
Programs: KLM/AF Platinum for life, IHG Platinum, Accor Platinum
Posts: 1,026
Were all 16 people on the list already on board? Was it a Pilot? Dispacher? FA? Ground Crew? Maintenance dept? Was the seat they took the "other" open seat? How do you know?
Employees travel for various reasons and especially if they are wearing civilian clothes, it could be because of about anything. Training, internal interview, meetings, death in family and the list goes on.
Employees travel for various reasons and especially if they are wearing civilian clothes, it could be because of about anything. Training, internal interview, meetings, death in family and the list goes on.
Aug 2, 2012, 2:13 pm
#5
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: DL FO, UA, AA, AsiaMiles, SPG, HHonors
Posts: 7,982
There are reasons why the employee could be validly entitled to the seat. James318 mentioned some of them. If none of those was the case, it was against DL policy and was improper, but we cannot know.
There are people on FT who have access to information about who actually sat in which seats, but it is available for only a short time after the actual flight. You have to ask quicker, preferably the same day.
There are people on FT who have access to information about who actually sat in which seats, but it is available for only a short time after the actual flight. You have to ask quicker, preferably the same day.
Aug 2, 2012, 2:28 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: San Fran
Programs: DL Diamond x 4 yrs; SPG plat; Amex reserve
Posts: 27
Were all 16 people on the list already on board? Was it a Pilot? Dispacher? FA? Ground Crew? Maintenance dept? Was the seat they took the "other" open seat? How do you know?
Employees travel for various reasons and especially if they are wearing civilian clothes, it could be because of about anything. Training, internal interview, meetings, death in family and the list goes on.
Employees travel for various reasons and especially if they are wearing civilian clothes, it could be because of about anything. Training, internal interview, meetings, death in family and the list goes on.
Aug 2, 2012, 3:10 pm
#8
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Tucson
Programs: Delta Platinum; Harrah's Diamond; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 950
Aug 2, 2012, 3:21 pm
#9
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: NYC, MSY
Programs: DL DM, 1.5MM, NEXUS, Sky Club Lifetime, Admirals Club Lifetime, LowValueCustomer everywhere
Posts: 6,447
This individual, making no attempt to hide her DL relationship, was most likely entitled to the seat as part of her compensation / job perk.
Aug 2, 2012, 3:21 pm
#10
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 273
well, if DL paid for that seat, what makes it any different than if Exxon sends a person on business first class? Should DL buy tickets on other airlines when they fly their business people around?
And anyhow, as I am sure someone else will say, upgrades are not a god given right and if people really want to sit in business, you gotta pay for it.
And anyhow, as I am sure someone else will say, upgrades are not a god given right and if people really want to sit in business, you gotta pay for it.
Aug 2, 2012, 3:44 pm
#12
Join Date: Feb 2005
Programs: DL DM+5MM, AAGold MM, UA 1K+2MM, BA GGL,LH Senator, SPG Plat, HH Diamond, HY Plat
Posts: 840
There are DL employees who also travel with confirmed space for company/work reasons, so to presume passengers are automatically "screwed" by not getting upgraded is pretty lame. Yes, I am sure it happens that some Shenas get through, but to consider it as a certainty, DL policy to put non-revs ahead of top elite passengers is ridiculous.
Aug 2, 2012, 3:53 pm
#13
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: UsA
Programs: Starwood
Posts: 658
Flew SFO-JFK last week, there were only two BE seats showing availably for UG list at gate, 17 folks on list. Gratefully, I got the first seat, and to my GREAT surprise, about 10-15 minutes before departure, a delta employee (wearing civilian clothes but sporting a badge hanging around her neck) took the other open seat. I was shocked - there were at least a few other diamonds on the list after me, followed by other medallions. Is this practice permissible? I don't know if the DM's who weren't upgraded saw her get on and take the seat, but if it were me, I'd have said something. But it got me wondering, perhaps its their policy. Anyone know?
what exactly would you have said, if you were one of the unlucky 16 on the upgrade list??? absolutely nothing
Aug 2, 2012, 5:17 pm
#15
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: DFW
Programs: Non-Affiliated
Posts: 7,430
Seriously, every time a Delta employee or employees are seated in the forward cabin does not warrant a thread. Also, to presume shenanigans each time is just silly.