ATL-FLL First Class goes out 5 empty! BIG Upgrade list
Jun 5, 2018, 11:55 am
#31
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 1,884
I have been in this situation myself, where I have been upgraded to either C+ or First on a domestic flight, but not given a seat assignment until boarding. It usually has happened when I was doing a SDC in First, or have been upgraded to one of the gate control C+ seats.
Apparently there are situations where people buy tickets but don't select seats in advance - though the very concept of doing that makes my eye twitch....
Jun 5, 2018, 11:59 am
#32
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ATL has gone from not so good to very bad recently. When flying within the US, most of my flights are now through ATL and in the last 3 months I've been disappointed many times. I'm starting to believe that my PNR has a "Skip this passenger" flag because it seems to be the norm that now I am skipped and my upgrade given to someone else below me on the list or to a standby. My only positive experience (but not so positive for anyone else in the list) was on an ATL-FLL flight were I waited until T-10 and was given a FC seat, the list had more than 10 people and 5 seats went empty.
They did so yesterday at T-58 so 4 F seats open for rebooking went to zero. They found my another flight that had C+ bulkhead open; gate agent cleared nonrevs into the two great C+ bulkheads at T-52. I spoke to her and she "undid" it and claimed there was a "glitch" because she "didn't see me as needing a seat" (she had cleared everyone else off every list but I was remaining)...
I almost had to play team board last today. GA pointed me out to move out to the empty F seat. FA comes up to me and says "retired military?" and I replied "no, I'm a DM who was next in line for the UG..."
Jun 5, 2018, 12:53 pm
#33
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I thought JFK was a bad place for upgrades also... saw a good one yesterday.
JFK-BOS, flight changed to departing 5 min early an hour before original departure.
Boarded, 2 F seats were open with 7 pax on upgrade list. GA came on board and FA said some pax were asking about upgrades due to the open seats... GA said she isn't processing upgrades and closed the door. Uniformed DL pilot was waiting in galley and took one of the open seats. Other remained open and flight departed. Then we sat off to the side of the taxiway for 30 min waiting for clearance into BOS.
Whole thing seemed very fishy.
JFK-BOS, flight changed to departing 5 min early an hour before original departure.
Boarded, 2 F seats were open with 7 pax on upgrade list. GA came on board and FA said some pax were asking about upgrades due to the open seats... GA said she isn't processing upgrades and closed the door. Uniformed DL pilot was waiting in galley and took one of the open seats. Other remained open and flight departed. Then we sat off to the side of the taxiway for 30 min waiting for clearance into BOS.
Whole thing seemed very fishy.
Jun 5, 2018, 2:31 pm
#34
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So here the phone call from Delta!!
apologetic but said they do not always process upgrades for no-shows. It’s based on timing. 100% defended the gate agent and the policy as to not hold up an entire plane for upgrades. Case closed !! I didn’t ask for compensation nor was it offered.
apologetic but said they do not always process upgrades for no-shows. It’s based on timing. 100% defended the gate agent and the policy as to not hold up an entire plane for upgrades. Case closed !! I didn’t ask for compensation nor was it offered.
Last edited by aero0729; Jun 5, 2018 at 6:15 pm
Jun 5, 2018, 3:12 pm
#35
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what no non-revs took the seats?? how could that happen..???????
my wife was #1 for an upgrade with 2 seats open. both of those seats were gone while she was standing at the gate ready to board.. you guessed it NON-REV.. she was so upset.. (well words that I would not use here)
my wife was #1 for an upgrade with 2 seats open. both of those seats were gone while she was standing at the gate ready to board.. you guessed it NON-REV.. she was so upset.. (well words that I would not use here)
Jun 5, 2018, 3:12 pm
#36
Join Date: Jul 2005
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I had a very similar situation a few weeks on an ALT - SLC flight, with 5 seats in F going out empty. I was #1 of 57 on the upgrade list and couldn't believe they would let 5 seats go empty. I logged a complaint on DL.com and a customer service agent called me within a couple of hours to apologize and offered me miles or a gift card for their mistake. I wasn't looking for compensation, only wanted to call out that protocol wasn't followed and she agreed that the GA screwed up.
Jun 5, 2018, 3:13 pm
#37
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I thought JFK was a bad place for upgrades also... saw a good one yesterday.
JFK-BOS, flight changed to departing 5 min early an hour before original departure.
Boarded, 2 F seats were open with 7 pax on upgrade list. GA came on board and FA said some pax were asking about upgrades due to the open seats... GA said she isn't processing upgrades and closed the door. Uniformed DL pilot was waiting in galley and took one of the open seats. Other remained open and flight departed. Then we sat off to the side of the taxiway for 30 min waiting for clearance into BOS.
Whole thing seemed very fishy.
JFK-BOS, flight changed to departing 5 min early an hour before original departure.
Boarded, 2 F seats were open with 7 pax on upgrade list. GA came on board and FA said some pax were asking about upgrades due to the open seats... GA said she isn't processing upgrades and closed the door. Uniformed DL pilot was waiting in galley and took one of the open seats. Other remained open and flight departed. Then we sat off to the side of the taxiway for 30 min waiting for clearance into BOS.
Whole thing seemed very fishy.
Jun 5, 2018, 5:37 pm
#38
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The moment any potential issue appears on the horizon, it would seem best to get the GA's name for record purposes. This way each GA can be sure to receive proper correction from above, lest it be an opportunity lost for a good learning experience.
Jun 5, 2018, 5:46 pm
#39
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So here the phone call from Delta!!
apologetic but said they do not always prices for no-shows. It’s bases on timing. 100% defended the gate agent and the policy as to not hold up an entire plane for upgrades. Case closed !! I didn’t ask for compensation nor was it offered.
apologetic but said they do not always prices for no-shows. It’s bases on timing. 100% defended the gate agent and the policy as to not hold up an entire plane for upgrades. Case closed !! I didn’t ask for compensation nor was it offered.
Jun 5, 2018, 6:13 pm
#40
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This is total crap response for your situation. The fact that you were sitting in the gate area and the GA told you you would loose your seat if you didn’t board now when there were still 5 no shows for FC is ridiculous. Having the GA come on-board also and not UG pax is ridiculous as well. If there is time for the GA to go on-board the aircraft, medallions should be moved up so there was definitely time. I would try to HUCA and get a better agent as he last time this happened to me, the agent took it seriously and threw some miles my way.
Jun 5, 2018, 6:22 pm
#41
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When a kettle accidentally gets precheck and takes their shoes off at the TSA checkpoint = 12 minute delay
when five DMs with three carry-ons each get battlefield upgrades and have to relocate to F = instantaneous
when five DMs with three carry-ons each get battlefield upgrades and have to relocate to F = instantaneous
Jun 5, 2018, 6:28 pm
#42
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 2,881
200 people shouldn’t be delayed so a few can upgrade. Imagine missing the last connecting flight of the day because someone else on your flight had to schlep their carryon up to First Class for a flight that only has one drink service. It would be like waiting behind a family of 5 who got PreCheck who didn’t know what to do.
Last edited by Widgets; Jun 5, 2018 at 6:35 pm
Jun 5, 2018, 6:35 pm
#43
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In this case I had no carry - on. He knew that. I was standing at the gate until T-12 when I was told to board. In some cases, I 100% agree that it may be a mess to do onboard upgrades and if you do for one, you must do for all. I do not think it really takes THAT long. Id say 5 minutes. Also in this case, the door was shut and done by 8:36 for the 8:40 flight. It does seem like other airlines do a better job figuring his out.
Jun 5, 2018, 6:39 pm
#44
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I wonder if passengers realize that "standby" in the context of the Standby List includes not only passengers who are *flying* standby (SDS, etc)... it also includes confirmed passengers who don't yet have a seat assignment.
I have been in this situation myself, where I have been upgraded to either C+ or First on a domestic flight, but not given a seat assignment until boarding. It usually has happened when I was doing a SDC in First, or have been upgraded to one of the gate control C+ seats.
Apparently there are situations where people buy tickets but don't select seats in advance - though the very concept of doing that makes my eye twitch....
I have been in this situation myself, where I have been upgraded to either C+ or First on a domestic flight, but not given a seat assignment until boarding. It usually has happened when I was doing a SDC in First, or have been upgraded to one of the gate control C+ seats.
Apparently there are situations where people buy tickets but don't select seats in advance - though the very concept of doing that makes my eye twitch....
Jun 5, 2018, 6:56 pm
#45
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 2,881
In this case I had no carry - on. He knew that. I was standing at the gate until T-12 when I was told to board. In some cases, I 100% agree that it may be a mess to do onboard upgrades and if you do for one, you must do for all. I do not think it really takes THAT long. Id say 5 minutes. Also in this case, the door was shut and done by 8:36 for the 8:40 flight. It does seem like other airlines do a better job figuring his out.
Other airlines might be willing and more consistent about releasing First Class seats earlier in the boarding process. It’s a trade-off. If you paid for first class, wouldn’t you be upset if the gate agent gave your seat away 15 minutes before departure so they could give it to someone who didn’t pay for it? I lean more toward releasing seats about 15 before departure, but I don’t think most paid F passengers would support that.