CDG...they may but I don't think they should. The frequent flyer just paid for the upgrade with a different form of currency.

Last year my aunt flew on a NW red-eye transcon flight to attend her 50th high school reunion. Being a very infrequent flyer apprehensive about flying, my uncle had taken her to the aiport very early. During their wait, they struck up a conversation with "Mr. V", an older gentleman who happened to mention he was an ex-prisoner of war. So was my uncle, and the two instantly bonded like long lost buddies! Mr. V had a first class ticket on the same flight as my aunt.

A bit into the flight, my aunt was approached by a sweet FA who kneeled next to her and whispered, "Mrs. R, Mr. V was just telling me that you're the wife of an ex-POW. He would like you to join him up front." My aunt, settling in with her blanket against the window, replied, "Oh, that's okay, I'm fine here." The FA, sensing my aunt had no idea she was being offered a free upgrade, smiled and whispered, "Your friend would really like you to sit with him up front...here, I'll help you move your things..." Apparently Mr. V was a frequent flyer (with considerable clout?) and had told the FA of my sweet, 60-ish aunt who's afraid to fly, and of my uncle's service to our country. My aunt suddenly understood that Mr. V wanted her to join him in first class and agreed, but it wasn't a big deal to her, either.

She enjoys telling the story of how she had to be talked into an upgrade!

Now that I've read through this thread, it makes me wonder if the other 1st class pax were resentful of her presence.




[This message has been edited by SPort (edited 10-04-2000).]

My former Secretary and husband were flying UNITED Airlines to the MAJOR WWII reunion in Europe for POWs a few years ago. I believe it was the big anniversary event, that we saw on TV, but so few of us remember or care about. It might have been a D-DAY or V-DAY event or something related(?).

They have NO FF status with any airline, and are in their 80's. His plane was shot down and he was injured and 'death' marched by the Nazi. They were upgraded to FIRST CLASS from LAX to Europe without asking or anything else!! She credits me with teaching her how to be personable and friendly, when making reservations, as the only explanation for the upgrade. Perhaps the Airlines had a policy to upgrade the Veterans going to the event.

I do not fly UNITED for the most part, but I still think this has to be the NICEST and FINEST consideration by any airline, that I know of. Better then all the bonuses and upgrades, that I have ever got or read about on this Bullitan Board. It is one of those ONCE in a LIFETIME 'THANK YOU', that make a difference in peoples' lives, who made a difference in ours! HATS OFF TO UNITED!

Better then all the bonuses and upgrades, that I have ever got or read about on this Bullitan Board. It is one of those ONCE in a LIFETIME 'THANK YOU', that make a difference in peoples' lives, who made a difference in ours! HATS OFF TO UNITED!

[This message has been edited by ROADRUNNER (edited 10-04-2000).]

Sorry a duplicate.

[This message has been edited by ROADRUNNER (edited 10-04-2000).]

About a month ago, I was on a US Air flight from Charlotte to Denver with a 1st-class ticket. Just before the door closed, a man got on the plane and quickly hustled to the 1 empty seat in F and sat down. The flight attendant immediately asked for his boarding pass, and he said he didn't have one. He trotted out the "get on the plane and sit in any seat" story, but the flight attendant didn't buy it. As she took a closer look at his carry-on, she saw "CREW" tags and became suspicious. Within 2 minutes the police were on the airplane, cuffed the passenger, and took him off. Apparently US Air had been tipped off about someone who was not only sneaking onto airplanes, but using fake credentials to do it. Since the guy's primary objective was presumably to get to Denver, he might have succeeded had he gone to the back of the plane.

Somebody who knows more how airlines handle crew passengers can probably fill in some blanks: How did he get a boarding pass to begin with? Was this guy also a security risk - or just a thief? How did the airline get tipped off about the scam to begin with?

Anyway, moving on to a couple of other points.

(1) I've flown in F both on a real first class ticket (albeit rarely) and on upgrades. I think most people these days know the gig well enough to not get bitter about people who are there with awards or upgrades. Anybody who is purchasing a first class ticket probably also accumulates miles as well. If they are that smug about the whole thing, then they need to get over it. However, most people aren't like that.

(2) Airlines giving courtesy upgrades to biz/first: US Air is pretty good about this. I fly transatlantic with them a couple of times a year and get a bump about 1/3 of the time. I'm Gold Preferred (2nd-highest tier). I'm also Prem.Exec. on United (similar tier) and rarely get an upgrade for free. It definitely affects my buying decisions - I could use either United or US Air to get to London, and I'll always choose US Air if the prices are remotely similar.

(3) Trying to steal a free upgrade just sounds stupid. I *know* I'd get caught if I tried it. Related question, though: On some narrowbody jets, the best seat on the entire aircraft is in the exit row in coach. Usually, you must be an elite flyer to get one of those seats. If I'm not an elite flyer, and I move into an empty exit row seat after the door closes, is that stealing? I tend not to think so - I liken this to grabbing a better seat for the last couple of innings at a ballgame.

(4) And finally, on the subject of certificate upgrades: I've heard of people trying to swap out more-valuable upgrades for less-valuable ones, and I agree that this is deceitful and wrong. HOWEVER, the whole practice of using paper upgrades has been established - by the airlines - as a fairly interpretive thing. For example, the gate agents in Kansas City only ask for 1 800-mile upgrade to fly to Charlotte (808 miles). In Charlotte, they ask for two to get back to KC. On afternoon flights when they aren't serving a full first-class meal, they tend to be a bit more lenient on the certs. And most - but not all - gate agents will honor expired certs if you are still an elite FF member. The bottom line: using paper certificates is always somewhat of a game. Playing the game isn't stealing, in my opinion. Once everybody computerizes it, there will be less subjectivity.

Coach exit row is still priced just as "coach" as the last middle seat. It's like "stealing" an unoccupied window or aisle seat if you were assigned a middle seat (say the passenger didn't show). The fares are the same even though sitting quality is markedly different!

Great article! Thanks for sharing.

I've never had the pleasure of witnessing such an event but understand why the airlines police FC especially when it comes to international flights. I would say to comments made by Boomer and others that if a flight is not booked full in FC/BC that there should be an option to purchase/upgrade at time of check-in for a few extra $'s. The airlines at least increase the revenue figures for what would go for $0.

Some interesting stories; now for one of mine...

A few years ago, I was making one of my customary pilgrimages to CUN, (SFO-DFW-CUN, on AA) along with my GF and a couple of friends. Unfortunately, we didn't have enough stickers to upgrade everyone. So, there were 3 of us in F, and 2 (including my GF) in Y (Yes, this was OK with her). So I spent some time back in Y on the SFO-DFW leg, and we all boarded the DFW-CUN flight.

There was an extra seat aisle-across from me, and my GF sat down in it to talk to me before they closed the doors. We told the FA that she wasn't in F, but back in Y, and she said okay, no problem, just move back to Y when we shut the door.

Time came to leave, they began to close the door, and the same FA came to us and said "just sit there, nobody is using that seat today". She was served an F meal and drinks.

We also sent a few "F" beers back to the poor b&#$ard who had to fly Y solo.

Definitely made my GF and me very happy, and my loyalty to AA continues to this day.

Q: Did she do this because she looked me and my two buddies up and saw that all 3 of us were Platinum? Was she just being nice?

Who knows, but it was a very nice thing for her to do.

You know, I want all the free stuff I can get and it really is an addiction BUT, no matter how you look at it, getting something you haven't realy earned or been given is THEFT. You can toss it around all you want, it is still STEALING.

Having a small business, getting my employees to understand that neglient waste and stretching time (hours) is still stealng - Ha...from my pocket. You are a thief when you do it.

Interesting thing I've seen on Lufthansa...they walk through the cabin before boarding begins and turn on all of the reading lights in business class seats that are assigned. If they see someone sit in an unlit seat, they politely ask to see the boarding card. I suppose they have to be fairly diligent to make sure a light doesn't get flicked on when no one is looking...but it seemed to work.

Another thing I saw once...I guess there was a group of three who could not get seats together in economy. (They seemed, in fact, to know one of the FAs.) Immediately before pushback, the FA rounded up the three and put them in an empty row together in business. (Intra-Europe flight, so the seats weren't so much better than economy.) But even though they got the business seats, the FAs were careful to bring them economy breakfast. So while I ate my omlette and warm croissant from a real plate, they got cold danish from a cardboard box.

[This message has been edited by Paulo (edited 10-10-2000).]

I was on UA with my brother. I had upgraded to C but he hadn't gotten his, on a 3 cabin transcon. They insisted there was no space.

The plane took off and there was a seat available in C, several in fact. I politely asked the purser and she first turned me down. Then I pleasently insisted and she went and got my brother and brought him to C and let him sit there. They never did collect coupons from him when we left