Booted after given Standby seat
May 9, 2017, 1:41 pm
#31
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May 9, 2017, 1:48 pm
#32
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May 9, 2017, 2:00 pm
#33
Join Date: Oct 2010
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One time it took so long the pilot told the gate agents to get off the plane and figure it out after we left.
May 9, 2017, 4:06 pm
#34
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In fact, I've had the other experience of running up to the gate 1 minute prior to departure as they're closing the door. I ask if I can get on, and they say "we've already given your seat away". They don't go down the jetbridge and get my seat back from someone else, even if that person was originally a standby. It's no fun being on that side of the equation, but most FTers have had it happen to them at one point or another. I assume I lost my seat at the exact instant the standby passenger was issued it.
May 9, 2017, 8:19 pm
#35
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My $0.02: it's when they've issued me a BP on the new flight. I assume that's also the point in time when my seat on the later flight is released. They issue the BP, I scan it at the gate, and I'm a passenger only on that flight. As far as I know, there isn't a point after boarding the flight where I'm still in the system as a passenger on both the earlier and later flights. If this actually isn't true...if I'm only a "provisional" passenger on Flight 1 and confirmed passenger on Flight 2 until the door closes or brake is released or something else, I'd love to know that.
In fact, I've had the other experience of running up to the gate 1 minute prior to departure as they're closing the door. I ask if I can get on, and they say "we've already given your seat away". They don't go down the jetbridge and get my seat back from someone else, even if that person was originally a standby. It's no fun being on that side of the equation, but most FTers have had it happen to them at one point or another. I assume I lost my seat at the exact instant the standby passenger was issued it.
In fact, I've had the other experience of running up to the gate 1 minute prior to departure as they're closing the door. I ask if I can get on, and they say "we've already given your seat away". They don't go down the jetbridge and get my seat back from someone else, even if that person was originally a standby. It's no fun being on that side of the equation, but most FTers have had it happen to them at one point or another. I assume I lost my seat at the exact instant the standby passenger was issued it.
The Dr Dao situation does not apply to every single person who possesses a boarding pass and is seated on the plane with the door open. @:-)
I guess I shouldn't be surprised by the response from all the SW apologists on here, but you are all missing the point. I fly SW enough to earn a-list preferred so I certainly understand how they operate. In this case, they provided lackluster service and should be held accountable. My primary concern isn't about the amount of compensation (if $100 is reasonable, so be it) but rather their actions in the first place.
It's not ok to allow passengers to board and then take their seat away at the last minute. It's even worse to not be apologetic and provide no explanation at the gate. When people are accepting of airline behavior like that, they'll continue providing service like that.
It's not ok to allow passengers to board and then take their seat away at the last minute. It's even worse to not be apologetic and provide no explanation at the gate. When people are accepting of airline behavior like that, they'll continue providing service like that.
May 9, 2017, 8:50 pm
#36
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I guess I shouldn't be surprised by the response from all the SW apologists on here, but you are all missing the point. I fly SW enough to earn a-list preferred so I certainly understand how they operate. In this case, they provided lackluster service and should be held accountable. My primary concern isn't about the amount of compensation (if $100 is reasonable, so be it) but rather their actions in the first place.
It's not ok to allow passengers to board and then take their seat away at the last minute. It's even worse to not be apologetic and provide no explanation at the gate. When people are accepting of airline behavior like that, they'll continue providing service like that.
It's not ok to allow passengers to board and then take their seat away at the last minute. It's even worse to not be apologetic and provide no explanation at the gate. When people are accepting of airline behavior like that, they'll continue providing service like that.
Last edited by Grog; May 9, 2017 at 8:55 pm
May 10, 2017, 7:15 am
#39
Join Date: Feb 2014
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The definition of an apologist is "a person who offers an argument in defense of something controversial" which you, and others, clearly are. If you refuse to see the poor customer service demonstrated by giving someone a boarding pass and putting them on a flight only to make them deplane later...then you are incredibly accepting of mediocrity.
I don't think anyone's questioning the customer service aspect. We're telling you how it is.
On the flip side, if you showed up 15 minutes before your flight and they tell you the seat has been given away, you would be ecstatic at the great customer service when they went on the plane and opened up a seat for you.
May 10, 2017, 9:36 am
#40
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The flight isn't closed until after the door is closed, which is why standbys can be removed after boarding. Same for volunteers -- if none are needed during the boarding process, but then someone does show up before the door is closed, if you had volunteered, you would be asked to deplane.
However, I'm not convinced that "flight closed" is the most important determining factor here.
May 10, 2017, 2:58 pm
#41
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So if I'm reading some posts correctly...by definition a standby cannot be IDB'd. What if the situation reversed? An earlier flight cancelled and passengers dispersed to later flights some as standbys. They make it on the flight then booted because of some unstated reason I would certainly consider that an IDB.
May 10, 2017, 3:11 pm
#42
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Really an odd set of circumstance here. Miscount? OP had a seat. He took someone else's seat that just happened to be in the bathroom? LGA geographic position wouldn't exactly known as a huge connecting or thru station. W&B issue on a full flight? No. Something does not add up...
Given a BP, deleting his confirmed BP for the next flight, he now has a confirm seat on a plane. Doesn't this seem like IDB to anyone? What if it was full fare and not standby and the later was simply swapped for the earlier fight, is that not IDB too?
Given a BP, deleting his confirmed BP for the next flight, he now has a confirm seat on a plane. Doesn't this seem like IDB to anyone? What if it was full fare and not standby and the later was simply swapped for the earlier fight, is that not IDB too?
May 10, 2017, 3:38 pm
#43
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So if I'm reading some posts correctly...by definition a standby cannot be IDB'd. What if the situation reversed? An earlier flight cancelled and passengers dispersed to later flights some as standbys. They make it on the flight then booted because of some unstated reason I would certainly consider that an IDB.
Really an odd set of circumstance here. Miscount? OP had a seat. He took someone else's seat that just happened to be in the bathroom? LGA geographic position wouldn't exactly known as a huge connecting or thru station. W&B issue on a full flight? No. Something does not add up...
Given a BP, deleting his confirmed BP for the next flight, he now has a confirm seat on a plane. Doesn't this seem like IDB to anyone? What if it was full fare and not standby and the later was simply swapped for the earlier fight, is that not IDB too?
Given a BP, deleting his confirmed BP for the next flight, he now has a confirm seat on a plane. Doesn't this seem like IDB to anyone? What if it was full fare and not standby and the later was simply swapped for the earlier fight, is that not IDB too?
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on a general note:
One way to ensure this doesn't happen is to make ALL the standbys wait until everyone else with confirmed reservations boards the plane, and it's no earlier than ten minutes prior to departure, and there is no chance that someone from a late inbound connection is running for the gate. This virtually *guarantees* you a middle seat. The flight would have to be pretty empty for you to have an aisle or window seat when you're literally the last one to board.
Personally, I would much rather be given a high priority BP on standby for a flight that appears to have enough available seats in exchange for the very very very small chance that it doesn't work out.
May 10, 2017, 3:46 pm
#44
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I'm talking about when cancelled passengers are moved to later flights as standbys. But may not be confirmed until next day.