Empty F seats even with CPU (EUA/UDU)?
Apr 12, 2010, 9:24 pm
#91
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Apr 15, 2010, 11:47 pm
#92
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UA 73 SFO-HNL
4-15-10
747
6 seats open in C on main deck and 2 seats open in C on upper deck. F was full. Y was probably 75% full.
I asked the FA why there were open seats with UDU. He said they wondered the same thing and they think that the GAs are mad about UDU and aren't processing the upgrades.
4-15-10
747
6 seats open in C on main deck and 2 seats open in C on upper deck. F was full. Y was probably 75% full.
I asked the FA why there were open seats with UDU. He said they wondered the same thing and they think that the GAs are mad about UDU and aren't processing the upgrades.
Apr 15, 2010, 11:53 pm
#93
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I suppose then if you were a eligible you could ask once aboard the plane. I sure know I would, assuming I could see empty seats up there. Or I would be waiting for the "we're sorry for those of you waiting for upgrades, but all seats have checked in full" announcement - and if I didn't hear it I would ask at boarding...
Apr 16, 2010, 12:18 am
#94
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That is what I don't understand. Why aren't the FAs moving eligible people up. They have a manifest showing status of all passengers. If I were in the back and found out there was space in C on this domestic flight, I would be more than annoyed.
Apr 16, 2010, 1:47 am
#95
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1) It is not part of the flight attendants scope to do so, it is work guaranteed in the CS contract to CS agents, and 2) The SW do not know what fare is paid, so a) they can't tell if you are on a free ticket which is not eligible, and b) which 1P would get it, the M fare or the V fare, as they have no data to tell the difference, even if it was part of their job.
Apr 16, 2010, 5:04 am
#96
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If that happened to me I'd make sure to save my ticket number and write a short letter to United Customer service. They need to know if GA aren't processing upgrades.
Apr 16, 2010, 7:16 am
#97
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What with the cancellation of Europe-bound flights due to the volcano ash, I would imagine there will be seats available on domestic feeder flights to IAD/ORD for the next few days.
Apr 16, 2010, 8:40 am
#98
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We realize your upgrade benefits are important to you, we know. So, time permitting, our gate agents will go onboard the aircraft to verify if there are any unclaimed seats due to "no show" customers. I am uncertain
why your upgrade was not cleared and I am sorry your upgrade request could not be accommodated on this occasion.
why your upgrade was not cleared and I am sorry your upgrade request could not be accommodated on this occasion.
Apr 16, 2010, 9:42 am
#99
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1) It is not part of the flight attendants scope to do so, it is work guaranteed in the CS contract to CS agents, and 2) The SW do not know what fare is paid, so a) they can't tell if you are on a free ticket which is not eligible, and b) which 1P would get it, the M fare or the V fare, as they have no data to tell the difference, even if it was part of their job.
I also agree with other posters that anyone who wasn't upgraded was due compensation as UA failed to follow their own rules. If I were mre5765 I would respond to that apology with a letter not accepting their apology and firmly stating that compensation is due.
Apr 16, 2010, 9:42 am
#100
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It seems like these kinds of problems are common across carriers that do UDUs. Are there any lessons UA flyers can learn from the other carriers' flyers about effective ways to work within a UDU system?
For example, it seems like seasoned "battlefield upgraders" in CO know when and how to politely ask a gate agent whether there might still be open F seats available for a complimentary upgrade.
They probably don't have very good advice about how to follow up if things don't work out, since I get the unfounded impression that CO doesn't do "we're very sorry, here's some compensation" as thoroughly as UA -- but it still might be worth checking out threads like http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/conti...-flies-fc.html .
For example, it seems like seasoned "battlefield upgraders" in CO know when and how to politely ask a gate agent whether there might still be open F seats available for a complimentary upgrade.
They probably don't have very good advice about how to follow up if things don't work out, since I get the unfounded impression that CO doesn't do "we're very sorry, here's some compensation" as thoroughly as UA -- but it still might be worth checking out threads like http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/conti...-flies-fc.html .
Apr 16, 2010, 10:28 am
#101
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Pat, my mom's boyfriend flew HNL-LAX on Tuesday and noted that there were at least four empty seats in F on his flight. I wonder if there just aren't a lot of elites on flights to/from HNL right now and the non-status passengers aren't willing to pay the upcharge to move up.
Apr 16, 2010, 10:59 am
#102
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The FA I was talking to said there were elites in the back. I was disappointed that he knew that and didn't do anything about it.
I agree that with the stiff co-pay on miles upgrades, few people will take a chance with that on the 2-class 757/767/777 on the route, but if I saw a 747 at the gate I would have plunked down the money + miles.
I agree that with the stiff co-pay on miles upgrades, few people will take a chance with that on the 2-class 757/767/777 on the route, but if I saw a 747 at the gate I would have plunked down the money + miles.
Apr 16, 2010, 11:07 am
#103
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I've mentioned previously that our disappointments with CO's system was one of the factors leading us put all of our eggs in the UA basket some years ago. We were in 6A-B due to SWUs on the final leg of a HKG-SFO-SEA flight. It was that first leg that was the nail-biter for me.
Apr 16, 2010, 11:11 am
#104
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Thanks for the official explanation of the cba rules. In the days before UDU I had occasion to see FAs pull someone up to the next cabin after the door closed. I thought once the door was closed they could do that. With UDU it seems it would be the appropriate thing to do.
I also agree with other posters that anyone who wasn't upgraded was due compensation as UA failed to follow their own rules. If I were mre5765 I would respond to that apology with a letter not accepting their apology and firmly stating that compensation is due.
I also agree with other posters that anyone who wasn't upgraded was due compensation as UA failed to follow their own rules. If I were mre5765 I would respond to that apology with a letter not accepting their apology and firmly stating that compensation is due.
Apr 16, 2010, 11:46 am
#105
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Let me add my thanks for chiming in here, fastair. Could you please provide any insight as to why some GAs are letting F seats go out empty while elites are still in Y? Were you not given instructions when UDU started to make sure that as many eligible elites as could fit in C or F were indeed upgraded?
I'll hazard a guess that certain GAs are overlooking this aspect of UDU for the sake of getting the flight out on-time. But it's unacceptable under the new system to let fare-paying elites (or any GS) sit in back while seats up front go out empty.
It absolutely should be within the purser's purview to pick up this slack that these GAs are leaving (but definitely shouldn't be leaving to begin with).
I'll hazard a guess that certain GAs are overlooking this aspect of UDU for the sake of getting the flight out on-time. But it's unacceptable under the new system to let fare-paying elites (or any GS) sit in back while seats up front go out empty.
It absolutely should be within the purser's purview to pick up this slack that these GAs are leaving (but definitely shouldn't be leaving to begin with).