Jul 3, 2022, 3:33 pm
Upgrade Shenanigans? [Consolidated]
Jul 11, 2021, 12:48 pm
#46
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Flyertalk aside, I personally don’t get why anyone would assume employees habitually risk their jobs (both parties involved) by deliberately sidestepping the upgrade list to begin with.
To perform such an action would require one to be logged into the gate management system, using a company workstation where every keystroke, seat movement, upgrade/downgrade is monitored, timestamped, and recorded by United.
The seat management process is so easily tracked, it would be career suicide for both for the CS agent and the pass rider to pull such an act as is inferred by some posters here.
I get it’s not a perfect system and people can make mistakes. If you feel violated by all means continue reporting it to the airline and keep the agents accountable, it helps us all in the end. But I do think 57 pages worth of this is a bit much to do about nothing considering none of us have ALL the facts for each situation.
To perform such an action would require one to be logged into the gate management system, using a company workstation where every keystroke, seat movement, upgrade/downgrade is monitored, timestamped, and recorded by United.
The seat management process is so easily tracked, it would be career suicide for both for the CS agent and the pass rider to pull such an act as is inferred by some posters here.
I get it’s not a perfect system and people can make mistakes. If you feel violated by all means continue reporting it to the airline and keep the agents accountable, it helps us all in the end. But I do think 57 pages worth of this is a bit much to do about nothing considering none of us have ALL the facts for each situation.
Personally I don't see that UA takes complaints about these issues that seriously, or any more seriously than Delta, who has demonstrated over the years that they simply do not care.
If you want to prevent shenanigans, be vigilant, be proactive and be vocal when you see something isn't right.
Jul 12, 2021, 7:15 am
#48
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: KEWR
Programs: Marriott Platinum
Posts: 794
And you would be incorrect - it's been going on for years, and not just on United. If you want an even better example, check out the Delta forum as agents at ATL do this on a regular basis with impunity. Quite often the process for the gate agent is to move their friend/colleague or whoever into a premium cabin, then after the door closes, go back to the workstation and clear the waitlist so the customer shows up in the premium cabin, but never knew about it. In this case the only risk they take is the customer checking the waitlist status on the app before it disappears and finding out they were upgraded and making a fuss - a very low risk. In my experience a substantial number of agents don't even know we can access the list on the app away from the gate screen, and I've personally tripped up a few over the years by showing them my phone - and they were none too happy at all that I was able to monitor the list on my own, including one who was obviously planning a shenanigan move, but I foiled her plan and she needed to clear the list properly.
Personally I don't see that UA takes complaints about these issues that seriously, or any more seriously than Delta, who has demonstrated over the years that they simply do not care.
If you want to prevent shenanigans, be vigilant, be proactive and be vocal when you see something isn't right.
Personally I don't see that UA takes complaints about these issues that seriously, or any more seriously than Delta, who has demonstrated over the years that they simply do not care.
If you want to prevent shenanigans, be vigilant, be proactive and be vocal when you see something isn't right.
Best of luck with your travels Bud.
Jul 12, 2021, 8:49 am
#49
Join Date: Jan 2021
Location: ORD, MCO
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a substantial number of agents don't even know we can access the list on the app away from the gate screen, and I've personally tripped up a few over the years by showing them my phone - and they were none too happy at all that I was able to monitor the list on my own.
That's hilarious, how do they not know? I haven't stared at the screen in ages even when I am at the gate. I will say, however, that I know some nonrev friends who 'miraculously' clear into F (on a different airline)
Jul 30, 2021, 6:07 am
#50
Join Date: Dec 2008
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Onthesam +1 we're #1 and #2 on the list for a our flight today as of last night. Another party of 4 were #s3-6..
Woke up this morning and party of 4 are now 1-4 and we're 5-6.
Applied PPs but we're still 5-6. What gives?
Woke up this morning and party of 4 are now 1-4 and we're 5-6.
Applied PPs but we're still 5-6. What gives?
Jul 30, 2021, 7:27 am
#51
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They applied PPs and upfared? (Odd, but possible).
The list is just phenomenally incorrect (Sadly possible, especially if it's a flight with Premium Plus).
Jul 30, 2021, 7:59 am
#52
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Jul 30, 2021, 10:06 am
#53
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
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This has happened to me when checking in on an award flight where first segment was paid for and confirmed in I but just waitlisted for I for the second flight. Once checked in jumped way up the list, but who knows if that is the case here.
Jul 30, 2021, 10:41 am
#54
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I have applied PPs at or near T24 and never seem to significantly move on the UG list. I now apply them at the time of booking on basically every flight, I think it helps a bit as you are at least a head of similar status paxs that applies them after you.
Jul 30, 2021, 1:07 pm
#55
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Time of waitlist is (supposed to be) the very last tiebreaker. Status, then a whole bunch of random things like whether or not you're a Club Card member and whether or not your employer is a preferred partner, and then fare class, and then time of request.
Jul 30, 2021, 1:19 pm
#56
Join Date: Jul 2015
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Agree and yes that is what I have heard as well. But I guess all things being equal it is something. At this point I have the PPs so may as well use them. I haven't had much luck with CPUs lately.
Jul 30, 2021, 1:27 pm
#57
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Chicago IL US
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Posts: 946
We made our the reservation after the party of 4. Before we made the reservation they were #1-4. After they were #3-6 and we were #1-4, by inference I had higher status.
Theoretically we should have been ahead on instruments as well, but as one poster pointed out, not if a GS supported their upgrade (seems kinda unlikely ORD-LGA).
Anyways, we decided to head to EYW instead.
Jul 30, 2021, 3:29 pm
#58
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Agreed; that seems like a waste of PlusPoints even if you're really flush.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jul 30, 2021 at 3:43 pm Reason: repaoired quote
Jul 30, 2021, 5:55 pm
#59
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Jul 30, 2021, 9:09 pm
#60
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