Screwed out of FC by NWA again...
 

So, this week I was flying out of DTW on a commuter flight, and I was waitlisted for FC upgrade. As a Silver member, I know they are a few and far between reward. But I decided that I already had a bulkhead aisle seat, so I waited it out for the upgrade. Finally at the "final" boarding call I again asked how I ranked on the list. The GA told me that I was welcome to take my seat, that there was one person in the list ahead of me. Since the "final" call had been made, I plead my case for upgrade. I received the traditional non-committal response. So, as the last person making my way down the jetway, I tried again, this time with the FA. Success! I took my rightful seat in FC and began to settle in. The FA began their usual introductions and safety speech, when the GA came onboard, and approached me. She asked me to take my ticketed seat. Without wanting to make a scene, I did. But much to my dismay, I saw that the person "in line" on the waitlist ahead of me was a "deadhead" FA. I was downgraded from FC to coach so that an off duty employee could sit in FC.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!? One more reason why I hate the fact that NWA is the only direct flight airline.

You should write that up pronto. NW should know that the only thing keeping many of its elites around is the domestic upgrade program. When a gate agent denies an upgrade to an elite so she can seat a non-rev friend in F, it's very bad for business.

A more descriptive thread title would be helpful.

Write to NWA.

-RM

better?

Your thread title is not specific to anything. You need to open it to figure out what it is all about. You should be more specific.

There are instances where a FA maybe allowed to sit in FC ahead of upgrades. I do not know the specifics but it would be worth hearing from NWA employees on this one.

I tend to sympathize with you completely, but how did you know the person was a "deadhead" FA?

How to spot a "deadhead"...
 

Perhaps the FA was wearing one of those snazy Jerry Garcia ties from the Knot Shop? :p :rolleyes: Sorry gang -- I couldn't resist. :D

-Alan

She was still in uniform...

Dont know many other people that like polyester enough to wear it like an FA.

Could Be...
 

You're probably right about her deadheading then (even without the Jerry Garcia tie... :p). Does anyone know if the FA contract allows for when FA's deadhead? Are they allowed to take priority over a paying Elite PAX for an empty seat in FC? Any chance the FA was a supervisor or management? Perhaps her status allows her to take precedence when traveling on business? I would doubt that this is allowed in any scenario, but you never know.

-Alan

1st of all, it might be a union thing (like their meals).

2nd of all, some companies believe in taking care of their own. Over the holiday weekend, I was seated in F on a DC9 along with 3 pilots (NW and FedEx), 1FA, 1 NW Corp employee, and 1 ground crew member. I know that there were some elites who were waiting around the podium when I boarded for upgrades, so the employees seem to have taken precedence over revenue pax.

3rd, be a gentleman and give your seat to a lady.

Finally, I don't understand why you would ask a FA for an upgrade. The F seat was obviously being saved for someone other than yourself. It seems like you thought it was a conspiracy on behalf of the GA to leave an empty seat in F. You weren't downgraded, you were just never upgraded. If you don’t like the seating policies, try Southwest Airlines. I hear they have good peanuts.

Wow, the excuses sure are flying on this one.

While there may be reasons this should happen, the likelihood is very small. It's possible the FA was on a revenue F ticket and going standby on an earlier/later flight. Or it's possible that the FA was on a revenue Y ticket and also an Elite herself. Sure they're all possible, but they're unlikely. If you assess the situation based on reasonable possibility, it looks like something fishy happened here.

And for the chivalry idea, geez! I'd like to see a man hand over an upgrade to some random woman in the back simply because her anatomy is different. :rolleyes: Equal rights, after all.

Give the OP a break, he has a legitimate gripe here, it looks like procedures were not followed, and it should at a minimum be investigated.

Maybe the FA paid for the seat and the FA commutes enough on a paid basis to get into F with miles or status?

Returning home to ORD after the July 4th weekend I was in F with only myself, two other passengers and a FedEx pilot in uniform. I counted 3 FA's heading to the back which is not unusual as there are quite a few NW crew living around Chicago. If there was some conspiracy to place crew ahead of paying customers in F you would think that when the F seats are there for the taking the FA's on this flight would have been in F instead of in the back.

I'm sorry, but this is 2005. I totally support a woman's right to equal employment/compensation, etc., and cringe when our male dominated society denies equal opportunity to anyone based on their race, sex, etc., and the old "give your seat to a lady," is a total cop-out meant to deny women of their due rights in what really matters!

Seriously, are you kidding me? That is so ridiculous it's not worth my time to argue.

And just so you people know, it is NW policy that employees traveling on pleasure can book a Y seat for $20 and an F seat for $50. Employees of the airline cannot have Elite status nor be members of the WorldClub. The benefit is that they can fly anywhere for 20 bucks.

And P.S. I once gave my F seat to a woman and took her Y seat on a MEM-HSV flight.

Then why did you argue your case with the statement that you once gave your seat to a lady? C'mon, let's face the reality of the world. Women still make a fraction of what men make for similar jobs. Do you feel threatened? BTW, I am not female, but have two very capable daughters who are being paid a fraction of what they would be if they were my sons!