Wow! This has really been an interesting thread. I've especially enjoyed Zorro's mock trial. (Where's Johnny Cochran when you need him?). Reading everyone's feedback its starting to sound more and more like this guy was lying to me. Special thanks to mikea3xx and AAORD for the insider feedback.
Here's another question: is it possible that the FAs on this guy's alleged LAX-SYD flight did in fact know that he was not supposed to be there, but turned a blind eye? Can someone "sweet talk" their way into a premium cabin? For example, I have personally had GAs "forget" to take paper upgrade certificates, as have many people on FT from what I've read on other threads. Could the same type of thing happen with FAs?What are other's experiences?
Thanks for the great thread so far!!!

Zorro, I cannot stop laughing form your mock trial. You put up such an awesome defence!

I have often experienced a variation on this sort of theft. The people who have coach tickets who stow their baggage in the overheads in the higher class of service. Twice I've gotten on flights in the past 2 weeks and all the bin space above my seat was full. All! In my best loud voice I said, 'there is no room for my carry on bag.'

I think I ran into Mike out of BOS as the FA sorted out baggage and pax. He announced that anyone leaving baggage in the forward rows would have to come forward to claim it or it would be removed from the airplane!

One man came forward and claimed 3 bags from overhead bins. 3!

Thanks to FA's who protect their pax.

that's hilarious (did you REALLY say that??)

I would not be surprised if some FA's turn their backs to it.... I have flown with some people who just do not have a backbones, contradicting what I said before about me not knowing anyone who would allow it, unfortunately, I guess I do. I have flown with other FA's that come up to me when I work first class and ask me if a passenger can sit in FC if seats are available. "Hello!, NO!" Why would they even lead this person to believe there might be a possibility! Tell them "NO" from the get go! I firmly believe that first class is just that, FIRST CLASS. I don't always have "first class" people sitting up there, but I do my best, with what is available to me, to make it first class. Sad to say, some may not appreciate it, but that will not detour me from doing what I can to make it that way. This does not include just the service, but keeping those people out of those seats and their bags out of those bins for which they do not belong! And asking such questions when they board, "if seats are available, can I just take one?" Or just taking a seat there when you are not ticketed is definitely not "first class".

At $10,000 to $15,000 for trans-pacific first class, well, if I ever actually pay for it (with cash, not miles), I'll be the one dragging a sleeper seat up the jetway!



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preez mine da pratform gahp.

Before I learned the upgrade game and became an Elite, a friend of mine, said he got upgrades to First class, often. That was when there was a REAL First Class Service!
I asked how this happened. He laughingly stated he didn't know. But he was a tall dark Italian MR. AMERICA from New York kind of stud. I never asked if this happened when he traveled with his wife and 2 wild children. But some how I doubt it, since the wife never confirmed the FC treatment.

I always suspected, that the FA's take care of their friends if they can.

What about going to the toilets in First ?

I recently flew a 14 hour flight in coach. At the end of the flight, as always, everyone gets up and goes to the restrooms, and so do I.

Seeing that half a dozen people were already waiting in line before each toilet, I decided to go through the curtains to the restrooms in First, as I sometimes do in these cases, and proceeded to wait in front as it was occupied, but noone else was waiting.

I was quickly sent off by an FA who told me that someone was actually waiting to go, and that I didn't belong here.

So, was I wrong ? Is going to the toilets in First also considered stealing ?

I know I might be in the minority here, but although I respect money and status other people have, I unfortunately do not consider that having to wait 20 minutes to go to the restrooms is normal, when people in First don't have to.

[This message has been edited by yann (edited 09-13-2002).]

For males, an empty water bottle works fine, especially if you're discrete. Women can also learn to do this.

http://www.restrooms.org/standing.html

I sure wish you would add a winking smilie to this post wherever you put it!

And if you're really serious, I have to ask: just how discreet (not "discrete") can one be on an airplane, for #@!'s sake! I mean, I've no objection whatever to peeing into a bottle or other container (and have done so when the necessity occurred) but it MUST be in private!

Oops -- looks like we've gone off topic here!

Kathy

I have to admit that I get cranky when I am seated in F and need to use the restroom and everytime I get up, someone from coach beats me to it. I wish there was nice way to say, " please let me go first". FA are more likely to let me linger at the F galley until the lav opens up again though.

lala

This toilet issue has been discussed plenty. Personally, I think that part of what you are getting with a FC seat is priority access to the bathrooms.

Some say that using the bathroom is a "necessary" fuction, hence it should be available to anyone. I wouldn't presume to walk into an airline club lounge if I weren't a member and use their bathrooms, just because it's a necessary bodily function. In the airport, as in the air, there are public bathrooms or coach bathrooms.

After hundreds of posts though, I don't think either side of the issue has ever convinced the other.

d

I've not had anyone snake my seat in this manner, but I have sat next to people who've tried to pull this, usually in domestic F.
Sometimes during the pre-departure service the F/As will go around and check people's boarding passes for whatever reason. They get to my row and I cheerfully hold it up/hand it over and my seat opponent will glare at me because they know the jig is up and steam back to 23E where they belong.

JD

What airline does this? I've never seen that before.

I've never seen a pre-departure boarding pass check unless there was a specific problem like someone already in someone else's seat, but they usually have a seating chart with names for taking meal orders. If someone is in a seat that should be vacant, they often ask to see a boarding pass

Switched within the same cabin to be next to someone? Fine. What would you like to eat?

Ought to be in a different cabin? Please return to your assigned seat, sir/ma'am.