Overbooking of First Class
May 17, 2007 | 3:29 pm
#31
Join Date: Dec 2006
Programs: former
Posts: 197
>>>>>>"Our operations department overbooked First Class by two and you are unfortunately one of the passengers being moved to coach...
Sounds like George Mc Govern showed up late and unannounced. It's nice of them to also give him the adjacent seat so that he could stretch out a little and use the other meal tray.
Sounds like George Mc Govern showed up late and unannounced. It's nice of them to also give him the adjacent seat so that he could stretch out a little and use the other meal tray.
May 17, 2007 | 10:32 pm
#32
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 253
We do not earn FF miles. The airlines are mandated by congress to provide the seats the Federal Air Marshal Service request. I also know that in most cases the seats are booked more than 24 hours in advance. I receive my schedule six weeks out. Occasionally (weather, aircraft breaking down, ground delays, etc.) we may get rebooked at the last minute.
May 17, 2007 | 10:51 pm
#33
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 8,884
We do not earn FF miles. The airlines are mandated by congress to provide the seats the Federal Air Marshal Service request. I also know that in most cases the seats are booked more than 24 hours in advance. I receive my schedule six weeks out. Occasionally (weather, aircraft breaking down, ground delays, etc.) we may get rebooked at the last minute.
Maybe he knows something you don't.
May 17, 2007 | 10:58 pm
#34
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Houston
Posts: 8,957
May 17, 2007 | 11:05 pm
#35
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: Fallen Plats, ex-WN CP, DYKWIW; still PAL Premier Elite & Hilton Diamond
Posts: 25,429
FAM's on duty do not pay for their seats. Deadheading FAM's possibly pay for their seats at gov't rates.
May 17, 2007 | 11:42 pm
#37
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 1999
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Titanium, IHG Diamond, United Silver
Posts: 16,890
Probably... but paying business class customers seem to expect a lot, and rash decisions like that might be unwise.
I knew one million-miler FF who flew mostly paid biz. He'd redeem 4 biz awards a year to take his family on vacation at their usual spot. One year, his preferred carrier didn't have award availability when he wanted it - so he switched alliances completely!
That sort of "sense of entitlement" and the behavior that results from it is impossible for me to fathom... but then, I'm a member of the "working poor" in academia who always flies as cheaply as possible, and I'm profoundly grateful even for little things like preboarding, EUA or food.
Now, I'm sure he got comped on his new alliance, but I'm equally sure that sooner or later, his new alliance will screw up every bit as badly as his old one - because I've personally seen them do so!
I knew one million-miler FF who flew mostly paid biz. He'd redeem 4 biz awards a year to take his family on vacation at their usual spot. One year, his preferred carrier didn't have award availability when he wanted it - so he switched alliances completely!
That sort of "sense of entitlement" and the behavior that results from it is impossible for me to fathom... but then, I'm a member of the "working poor" in academia who always flies as cheaply as possible, and I'm profoundly grateful even for little things like preboarding, EUA or food.
Now, I'm sure he got comped on his new alliance, but I'm equally sure that sooner or later, his new alliance will screw up every bit as badly as his old one - because I've personally seen them do so!
May 20, 2007 | 9:55 pm
#38
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 253
Technically we do not deadhead. If we are on a plane flying to attend training or a conference, we book through a government travel office and fly armed, but in coach. When I fly on my own, I pay like everyone else. I do not get a gov't discount. And I fly coach.
May 21, 2007 | 7:04 am
#41
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 253
Last edited by mmartin4600; May 21, 2007 at 8:42 am
May 21, 2007 | 8:25 am
#42
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Astoria, NY: LGA, JFK
Programs: Delta PM; Sheraton's Vistana BOD; SPG Gold
Posts: 2,036
I was the beneficiary of a NW overbooked F cabin in LAS about 5 years ago. I was booked on the 1am flight to MSP. At the gate, I inquired about switching my window F seat to an aisle. The agent briefly consulted with another agent who walked over and said something like "sir, we're in an unusual situation and you seem like a nice guy, here's the situation...."
I was offered a Y aisle with empty adjacent middle seat + $300 voucher and about 3 amenity packets, which I gladly accepted.
I was offered a Y aisle with empty adjacent middle seat + $300 voucher and about 3 amenity packets, which I gladly accepted.
I had a similar situation a few years ago on a flight from LGA. I was called to the podium and told they had an "obnoxious and demanding" PE (I was gold at the time) who was demanding a seat in F. I was offered a cash voucher and guaranteed upgrades for the rest of my itinerary.
In this case, I would assume some compensation was offered to those who were downgraded.
May 21, 2007 | 8:56 am
#43
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Seattle, Wa
Programs: DL Diamond 1MM
Posts: 111
I was bumped from FC on a flight from DET to SEA. It was a connection with one from AMS to DET. I had changed my direct flight from AMS to SEA to try the new A330 that NW just started flying to detroit. i had checked in for both flights in AMS. When i got to Detroit, the waiting area was in total confussion. I tried to board with the FC passengers and when they scanned my boarding pass, it bounced. The lead agent told me that I did not have a reservation to SEA and that my flight was AMS-SEA. The fact thta I had a boarding pass for the flight did not chnange his story. I was finally offered a middle seat because of my pplat staus which I told him where to put. Waited 6 hours for the next flight and wrote a long complaint to NW. All they sent me were a few "bonus" miles for my trouble and never did get an explanation as to why i had a boarding pass in FC and no flight home.
May 21, 2007 | 5:09 pm
#44
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: Fallen Plats, ex-WN CP, DYKWIW; still PAL Premier Elite & Hilton Diamond
Posts: 25,429
Were the tickets actually reissued? Sometimes this little nicety gets overlooked before your trip starts.
I was bumped from FC on a flight from DET to SEA. It was a connection with one from AMS to DET. I had changed my direct flight from AMS to SEA to try the new A330 that NW just started flying to detroit. i had checked in for both flights in AMS. When i got to Detroit, the waiting area was in total confussion. I tried to board with the FC passengers and when they scanned my boarding pass, it bounced. The lead agent told me that I did not have a reservation to SEA and that my flight was AMS-SEA. The fact thta I had a boarding pass for the flight did not chnange his story. I was finally offered a middle seat because of my pplat staus which I told him where to put. Waited 6 hours for the next flight and wrote a long complaint to NW. All they sent me were a few "bonus" miles for my trouble and never did get an explanation as to why i had a boarding pass in FC and no flight home.
May 21, 2007 | 9:10 pm
#45
Join Date: Dec 2005
Programs: DL Diamond. LT SkyClub, AGR, passport
Posts: 742
Just returned from a trip, one segment on KLM was overbook by 14 in Biz class AMS-CDG 5/15, then on 5/17 DTW-MSP F was over by 1. (not sure what the compensation was but I know the guy got a middle seat in coach.)