In my experience, generally speaking, confirmed passengers get priority above unconfirmed passengers when being reacommodated on another flight, irrespective of the class of travel, or fare basis, of any unconfirmed passengers. (A "confirmed" passenger being someone holding a ticket marked as confirmed for that specific date and flight) I have been in this situation holding a business class ticket but not being confirmed on a particular flight. In that situation, confirmed economy passengers on that same flight had precidence over me, even for business class seats where none were available in their cabin. This was the case irrespective of status with the airline.

However, I dare say it is probable that the entire manifest of passengers on this BA flight in question were confirmed and holding seats at the time of cancellation, in which case a further pecking-order emerges. Confirmed, ticketed first class passengers irrespective of fare paid will get precedence over confirmed economy passengers, which in my view is entirely reasonable (unless there happens to be a grievance passenger). Award tickets are treated as paid fares in their respective cabin of service. Within the group of first class passengers they would, if necessary, sort them according to status with BA and oneworld carriers.

To speak for BA's consistancy in these situations, the situation described in the initial post on this thread actually did happen to me on a longhaul BA flight (YYZ-LHR). We were all in the lounge, and they called all passengers holding First boarding passes, and they were accommodated on the next flight. They then called passengers holding Club World boarding passes, and so on.

When holding a confirmed First Class ticket on a flight, whether paid or award; I would as a matter of course expect that the carrier in question would regard this as more valuable than an economy class ticket. It is only reasonable that this would follow through when dealing wuth flight cancellations.

Are the drugs just starting to wear off, or just starting to take effect?

You claim all along that how much someone pays should have no bearing on whether they get priority in reaccomodation, then suggest a way where someone who pays more gets priority in reaccomodation?

In the words of MPFC: "You're a loonie."

I suspected from the moment I saw the username of the originator of this thread, and this gem just confirms it for me. sbrower is right -- troll.

I don't believe you, not for minute.

I still think you're a troll, and that your username explains it all -- someone looking for absurd situations to make lame arguments for some obsure "right", perhaps to boost post count.

Consider this....

AA guarantees its EXP members a seat on any flight, if you book 24 hours in advance and pay full fare. On an overbooked flight, that means AA may have to involutarily deny boarding to a confirmed passenger in order to get the EXP member on that flight.

How's that for passenger rights?

Money talks, and the more you have, the more persuasive you are.

I think "OK" status means that EVERYONE that has an "OK" status is "in the same boat"... That is, one person's "OK" isn't better than someone else's "OK" status, regardless of fare paid, class, elite level etc.

A carrier may "CONSIDER" full fare first class passengers more valuable, but "CONSIDERING" that, and following the law, in particular the laws of disclosure and fraud are two very different things. I really believe a Judge would say that airlines should be required to disclose pecking orders at time of ticket purchase... at a minimum, force them to put it into the Contracts. Unfortunately, most Judges probably travel First Class, and might have a personal incentive to continue to keep the pecking orders secret.

And yes, an auction for seats isn't the best solution, but the point I was making was that it was OPEN to everyone, and fair to all. It's not a big secret hidden pecking order determining things...

And to Ken, who thinks I'm not a frequent flyer, ("not for one minute..."), perhaps you should spend LESS time wondering about my travel schedules, and a little MORE time thinking about how self-important you must feel.

Oh, wouldn't it be interesting to see the replies if this topic were on a NON frequent flyer board... that is, a BOARD of the vast majority of travelers, who usually travel in economy class, and expect only transportation between two points. I doubt one of them would think fare paid should even remotely be considered in rebooking distressed passengers....AND ONE MORE POINT: IF fare paid is the most crucial factor in determing the pecking order, are you suggesting that ticket agents put in monetary order, and give preference to those that paid the MOST for a ticket for priority on the next available flight? Remember, there may be a First Class passenger who paid $1,000 for a ticket, and ANOTHER First Class passenger who paid $800 for the same ticket... Does the $800 guy get left stranded? We don't know, cause airlines won't disclose things they should be REQUIRED to disclose... and I DON'T trust corporate America... look at today's stock market tumble, and ask yourself if you trust most corporations... And what if there are TWO first class passengers, who paid the same amount for their ticket, and have the same elite level with the airline... who gets to go, and who gets stranded? What's fair in that situation?
Jim

I can't believe this thread has gotten so long. It's apparent to me, and most likely everyone else that has read this, that the only reason that you feel that First Class priority is not fair is because you weren't a First Class passenger. Had you purchased a full fare First Class ticket and then been denied re-accomodation for a passenger that was traveling on a free ticket, simply because they checked in earlier, you would be screaming to a different tune. I rarely travel First Class when I have to pay for a ticket. I have been on flights that have been cancelled or suffered long delays. The airlines almost always accomodated their First Class passengers and high ranking frequent flyers before accomodating other passengers - this never surprised me, nor did I think it unfair. These people are the ones that the airlines make their money on. Discrimination is only illegal when it is based on race, ethnicity, sex, age and physical handicaps - and in some places, sexual orientation. Never is discrimination illegal when it is based on what one paid for their product or service. You have lost this argument with the airline and nobody here is on your side either - why continue? Next time, if you want to have more rights when you travel, you'll know to buy a full fare First Class ticket. Hopefully you won't think that your mileage award FREE ticket entitles you to the same rights as a First Class passenger.

See the post right above yours.

You can be confirmed "OK" on an AA flight which runs perfectly, and AA will deny boarding to you if that's what it takes to get an EXP member on the flight.

Clearly, "OK" doesn't mean what you think it means.

I actually agree with flyrights.

Just testing.

Interestingly, usually in a case like this, I spend a few minutes comparing and contrasting the style, content. logic and syntax/structure of an obvious wacko's posts to my list of known FT trolls (list available on request http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif) It generally only takes a minute or two.

But, there is no obvious correlation to anyone else on my official list-- which is quite surprising. These rantings appear to be 100% original and unique.

I say give credit where credit is due people!

JonNYC: will you pay for our cardiac tests tomorrow?

TransWorldOne: tried to look up "equitabally" in your dictionary site and it didn't work. Huh?

Plato90s: "Palpatable" is very cool too.

flyrights: you are very funny, Jim. It is difficult to assimilate your weird posts and claimed flyer experience. Cognitive dissonance and all that....

Well then, stand up for what you believe -- take it to court!

Highly improbable. But frequent flyers would probably know that.

I figure I'm about as important as a bug that hits a windsheild -- noticible, until you press the wash/wipe button, then forgotten.

Oh, this is fun.

It is a practice for some FF�ers to pay the fare difference to full first/ business/ economy class when things are looking difficult (storms, major snafus, whatever) to ensure that when reaccomodation starts, they are higher up the pecking order, and that their ticket is as flexible as possible

Note that in Europe, flying Business class is often the same seat as economy (or used to be) The differential is all in the flexibility of the ticket, including being looked after better when things go pear shaped.

Let me guess...you're not a Republican are you?

I know when discrimination is ILLEGAL... but that doesn't make LEGAL discrimination moral. Not disclosing that different tickets come with different rights is fraud and is illegal. I agree with Plato that "OK" does not mean what I think it means... I always thought it meant "ok"... I've found out it doesn't mean "OK". What it means is, "we'll try to get you on, but if someone with more money wants your seat, you're out of luck... we guarantee nothing".
I get the feeling that you "frequent flyers", aren't used to one of your own, (that's me), who actually has some compassion for the people getting stepped on by you folks for all these years--those are the people who pay most of the bills and taxes. Yes, I'm too lazy to take the matter to court... and I doubt any politician would take up the cause of passenger rights, since the politicians, no doubt, want the perks and priority reserved for themselves and their rich campaign donor friends.
And Ken, if you really are a frequent flyer, which I highly doubt you are, you would know that First Class passengers on the same itinerary can pay ALL SORTS of different prices for identical routings and classes. Let's educate Ken: different corporations have different contract rates with airlines, passengers can use upgrades, some travel agencies sell at different prices printed on tickets, there are even consolidator first class tickets in some areas... So now Ken has learned something. Also, Ken, please don't attempt comedy... you're much better at making allegations about things you have no knowledge of.
Jim (going First Class to New York and India next week)

"OK"

We've cornered flyrights and he's lashed out; We've all been astonished/amazed at differences in opinion/world-view.

I have come around to thinking of this thread as some type of performance art, and have decided it's not worth my time to read it any more.

have fun you all!
-BP

p.s. this is all written with a smile on my face, but this thread isn't providing me with any new/useful/interesting information at this point.

Edited to add: And, that's one of the beauties of the structure of flyertalk; each of us have the choice to read or ignore any particular thread...

[This message has been edited by BlatheringPenguin (edited 07-16-2002).]