Unauthorized passenger in premium seating?
 

Hi all,

I'm on flight DL 2821 from JFK to PDX, and frankly at a loss at what to do. I am thankful I got upgraded to Economy +. After boarding, there were two empty seats next to mine.

Before takeoff, two individuals who look Indian moved up and took those seats, and the flight attendant told them ​​​​that the seats are not the same and that they cannot move up. They moved back to their seats.

Shortly after takeoff a Caucasian guy also sneaked up and took the outer seat. I alerted the flight attendants but they didn't do anything. Instead the same person I notified handed him the premium snack menu.

On one hand I don't particularly care as it doesn't affect me personally. On the other hand, it's rather unfair. Personally I think Delta should try to give as many complimentary upgrades as possible to the people most likely to benefit from them (seniors, disabled individuals, etc.), but there should be a process and that it shouldn't go to "most brazen."

Any suggestions?
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Tell the flight attendants again or ask them why he is allowed to stay. Maybe they told him he could sit there for some CS reason...

Posting on FT isn't going to help. Either do something that matters or forget about it. I know it can be easier said than done but it is really the best answer.

First of all, welcome to FlyerTalk Delta forum! :)

I think you did all you can do. Technically, it's not really your business, but, you chose to tell someone in authority, and they didn't seem to care, so, that should pretty much end the story right there, in my opinion.

Now, THESE 2 remarks:

Personally, I don't care, but, I expect some people to jump all over you for his remark. I don't think what their origin is has a single iota to do with the reason for your story.

As to THIS:

There IS a process! Delta typically gives upgrades to Medallion frequent flyers, usually starting from the top status tier down. This is done at the gate before boarding, mostly. I'm not sure why you feel that a senior would appreciate this more than someone else? I have certainly seen people with injuries, etc, getting onboard upgrades at times.

I think, in general, Delta DOES try to keep passengers in the cabin that they paid for. Sometimes, I suppose, it can be a little difficult, depending on the circumstances.

That said - It may have simply been a case of a friend of a flight attendant who was told to move up there after takeoff, in which case, there's nuthin' you can really do about it. You could send in a complaint, but, I don't think that would accomplish much.

:)

Sounds like you do care and you wanted to be the first to pile on.... :rolleyes:

It wasn't stated in any offensive way and could be of interest, of course probably just cause for more speculation.

I thought the OP's post was appropriate but also kind of implied that the passengers might have been treated differently because of their race.


Kind of releated and what I though the OP would be...

I was flying cross country with my family and my wife and I and boarded much later than the kids (we were all in F). When I finally board someone is sitting in my seat. When I stop at that row and look at him incredulously he says "oh...my bad" and walks back to Economy.

Ahhhh!!! Okay! I didn't think of that! Sorry. :o :o :o

I have an acquaintance who always says . . .

I saw a <insert race> person doing . . . . <whatever>, and sometimes I call her out on it.

I guess part of the problem is that, there's a physical divider behind the F cabin, but, nothing solid to distinguish, or enforce between the 2 Y cabins.

I have certainly seen flight attendants telling people NOT to move in front of a certain row in Y after takeoff. I actually heard a flight attendant say to another flight attendant - - - We have to be sure no one moves up "here". They pay MORE for these seats!

On transatlantic, my understanding is that the Purser has the option to ask the seat poacher if they'd like to pay the C+ price (typically $99-119) on the spot with their little terminal they use to sell booze (well, sell booze on domestics, since it's free TATL).

Since C+ is a different 'cabin experience' and fare bucket on most routes other than TATL, I'm not sure what options there are other than 'scram' or 'eh, okay' from the FAs.

I've actually seen something worse than this just very recently. When I was flying from DCA on the day of the ZDC nightmare before boarding the GA said we must be in the air by 10pm or we will return to the gate, it was 9:25 and boarding hadn't even started. The flight before the GA reprocessed UGs (many PAX got off the flight with our 4 hour delay) there were 25 pax on the UG list before the delay and only 20 afterwards with 11 empty seats and 0 before. There were also 0 Y seats but after the delay there were 70. The GA has the computer auto do the UGs and we board. At 9:50 we are just about to leave as we only had 10 min to leave and the FAs were rushing as quickly as possible to meet the 10pm curfew when there were 3 empty FC seats still. A PAX sitting behind me had someone he knew is 5B who signaled for him to go up to 5A which was empty. He does and the FA ask another FA why he moved up and she says she has no idea (she's standing in Row 13 exit on a 321 and I'm in row 12). The FA doesn't want to risk having the flight cancelled so she just shrugs it off! Another PAX sitting further back sees the FA doesn't care if he moved up so she just gets up and walks and takes a seat in 3D (3C was still empty and remained open). I checked my DL app to see if anyone had been UGd and it showed 3 empty seats. It's now 9:52 and the door just closed and we took off right at 10pm. Now I'm not complaining as I was just happy to get to ATL that night and the middle seat was open but even when we got in the air the FA never told them to move back and even gave them snack basket etc. Also half way through the flight 2 PAX who were booked on the 11:34pm flight to MCO (we landed at 11:24) came up and just sat in 10E and F for about half the flight. I was rebooked on the 6:55am flight to MCO and just stayed the night in ATL.

Sounds like musical chairs.

Just contact Ann Coulter and she will have this all over social media ASAP.

Put on your headphones, watch a movie or read a book, and enjoy some complementary coca-cola products.

1) When you're ready to lie down, simply rest your feet on the lap of the seat poacher.

2) Cough aggressively without covering your mouth directly towards the seat poacher, if possible, do this while holding eye contact.

3) If seat poacher has taken the aisle seat and you're left in the window, get up to use the lav constantly.

4) Engage in a lengthy conversation with the seat poacher about a very personal/awkward/controversial topic until they are so uncomfortable they must leave.

The problem with common sense is that it's not that common.

Is there something about Native Americans accessing C+ which OP knows and the rest of us don't know?

Seriously, rather than speculating about whether the individuals in question were authorized to sit in C+ or not, the fact is that OP had a C+ seat and the rest is up to DL. If it wants to sell, upgrade freebie, or just let people wander up, that's up to DL.