It seems from what I've heard that on Continental, you can go ahead and preboard with the other Elites, and if their are First Class seats available after everyone gets on, the gate agent will come back and get you, and you can move up front.

On US Airways, if you preboard, you are basically taken off the upgrade waiting list. They only give out upgrades after boarding to those in the gate area. So, if you need to preboard, you're out of luck for an upgrade. If the flight is overbooked, though, they might move you up to free up your coach seat.

What do other airlines do? Which policy do you think is better? The first policy might delay the flight a little, but might be safe if the gate agent is sure not to hold up the flight.

What do you think?

CP

Continental's policy is superb, both in theory and in practice!!! They really seem to adhere to it, at least they have with me on numerous occasions. It is so much more convenient to pre-board with the elites knowing that if I am entitled to a seat up front, it will be protected. America West seems to follow the same fine policy, also.

I have never noticed that their policy slows down the push at the gate. I actually feel it can expedite it. When persons hover around the gate area waiting for possible upgrades that don't materalize, then board in coach at the last possible moment, usually with carry-ons and no bin space available, they seem to slow down departures!

By the way, Monday evening at a gate in Newark I observed a CO agent informing a passenger (a CO pilot) that no first was available for the EWR-LAX flight and offering him a choice of jump, several center seats or one window seat toward the rear of the 757. He chose the window seat. A few minutes later the same agent paged another passenger (a wait listed for upgrade, Platinum elite) and informed him that he had a seat up front. Now that's integrity!!!

[This message has been edited by MRLIMO (edited 10-28-1999).]

This has happened to me only once on NW in ANC. The gate agent who had initially refused my request for 1st due to a sold out situation, came and rescued me from 2 very obnoxious seatmates. She asked if I was still interested in moving "up front". No one had to twist my arm, and you should have seen the expressions on those **** passengers' faces. It was a Kodak moment for sure!

United...nope. You gotsta wait at the gate while all the overheads fill up.

I love it when the F/A comes into the back with my new F/C boarding Pass on Continental. I have seen employees moved to the back to accomodate elites on several occasions.

Premex:

It's never happened to me on United, but I saw it happen to 4 other pax a couple weeks ago on a ORD-OAK 757. After we were all on and boarding was completed the gate agent went back and got 4 pax out of coach and moved them up to first. I assume they had been on the wait list.

I watched this wondering if the upgrades were freebies. Certainly appeared so, as the agent seated the pax, turned and headed for the door. Just shy of the door she stopped and suddenly returned. She realized she had forgotten to collect the upgrade coupons Nope, no freebie tonight ... she stood there and waited while each of the pax dug for their coupons.


Robert Johnson
danville 1K

I've been upgraded by Continental several times after boarding. This does seem to expedite the boarding process. It lets the elites board, and get access to the overhead bins, and lets the gate people take care of the standby's and checkin. All this without,
6 people crowding around the gate agent, waiting for an upgrade.

It's a very customer friendly and civil approach.

I have had this happen several times on CO. What I suggest is that if you are waitlisted and told to board in coach, using your elite status (obviously) get on first and place your bags in the bins just behind FC, this way if you are upgraded (which usually happens), when getting off your bags are close by!

Well....one time, I watched on UA as a flight attendant was upgraded after she was seated in coach (hey, you ASKED)

Not on Canadian Airlines...it's clearly stated on the upgrade stickers. Once onboard, cannot be used.

The only exception is when the flight is overbook, they'll caome in and find someone for an operational upgrade to J class in order to accomodate the overbooked pax.

Regards,
Empress

I don't know what the official policy is with DL, but I have seen them come and get people from coach after they boarded, but I personally don't trust all gate agents to do this so I wait at the gate.

Beckles, I'm not sure DL has an official policy. I've seen it both ways over the past 3 years. Had a gate agent in SLC tell me "You must wait in the gate area. We will not come onboard to get you, we're just too busy to do that."

Then had an agent at DFW come get me from my bulkhead seat about 5 minutes before pushback
& move me upfront.

AA is like United, etc. You need to hover or loose your seat, generally. Once, I removed myself from the list, boarded, and then was called, but it was due to a pleasant agent, not the airline.

I've been plucked out of coach and put in business on a couple of occasions on UA. It has always been a case of economy being oversold.

Normally on UA at IAD, The gate agent will announce about 20 minutes prior that passengers X and Y should remain in the boarding area, and all others should take their seats. The final upgrades are done 10 mins prior to flight.

A few weeks ago, I had the gate agent tell me to board. When the FC pax didn't show up by departure time, she came to get me in the back, and offered me a seat up front. I got to the front, gave her my certs, and as she urned to depart, ran smack into the fellow someone else had let on board, coming for my seat. She apologized, stating that he should not have been allowed to board, and returned my coupons to me. Of course, when I reurned to the back, I had to throw a guy out of my isle seat (empty middle - the young lady in the window was cute too).

[This message has been edited by tgrove (edited 10-28-1999).]