FA given upgrade over CPU?
Apr 22, 2014 | 3:47 pm
#61
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: What I write is my opinion alone..don't read into it anything not written.
Posts: 9,721
I completely feel your pain and if it makes you feel any better it happens on paid F situations too. I was on my way back from HKG when mechanical delays caused me to miss connection in SFO to ORD. They were able to reroute me home but sat me in 38 F when I was on a paid F fare. As I was boarding I walked by 6 FA's sitting in E+ when I was two rows in front of the toilet. When I wrote 1k to ask why that happened here was their response.
"Dear Mr. XXXX,
I have forwarded your concern to the Airport manager for internal review
of this specific matter. The standby employees should only be offered
seats once all paid passengers are boarded. A 1K should be offered an
Economy Plus seat before a standby employees and your concern will be
addressed.
Thank you very much.
Regards,
XXXXX
Corporate Customer Care
7319363"
When I asked for compensation and refund in fare class difference they said they would refund the diff (never actually did they refund it) and that I was not eligible for any compensation because I just received compensation for my mechanically delayed outbound flight to HGK two days earlier. (4 hour delay, 1.5 of which on the tarmac, then they proceeded go back to gate and cancel rebooking for the next day)
Sometimes things just don't go your way.
"Dear Mr. XXXX,
I have forwarded your concern to the Airport manager for internal review
of this specific matter. The standby employees should only be offered
seats once all paid passengers are boarded. A 1K should be offered an
Economy Plus seat before a standby employees and your concern will be
addressed.
Thank you very much.
Regards,
XXXXX
Corporate Customer Care
7319363"
When I asked for compensation and refund in fare class difference they said they would refund the diff (never actually did they refund it) and that I was not eligible for any compensation because I just received compensation for my mechanically delayed outbound flight to HGK two days earlier. (4 hour delay, 1.5 of which on the tarmac, then they proceeded go back to gate and cancel rebooking for the next day)
Sometimes things just don't go your way.
SFO-ORD is hub to hub. Often crews are moved positive space confirmed vs standby. Whose to say that they were standby to begin with? If they were confirmed on the flight as a resource movement (deadhead or other,) they have as much right to E+ at booking or check in as any other E+ eligible confirmed passenger.
Sounds like the person writing the email to you didn't address that potentiality at all, which MAY have alleviated some of the feeling of wonder.
Apr 22, 2014 | 7:36 pm
#62
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 8,634
Really, I don't think thats true. When ever I'm number #1 or even #2 on the UG list, I monitor the UG list via my BB after boarding. Several times I've seen that I've been upgraded after boarding, generally at about the 10-15 minute mark before departure. The GA then finds me packing up my stuff in anticipation of the move to the Front part of the plane.
Apr 23, 2014 | 2:51 am
#64
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SEA
Programs: Atmos Platinum
Posts: 848
In Feb, I boarded a redeye SEA-IAH with my family. We were #2-5 on the upgrade list (2 RPUs and 2 CPUs). After we boarded, one of the RPUs cleared, and my wife was sent up to F. I assumed that #1 was a no-show. Just before the door closed, they sent my wife back to E+ and the #1 guy was taken up front. They obviously corrected a mistake.
My wife and I didn't think it was a big deal, but the passenger next to her in F said that it was bad form to downgrade her.
Airline employees wear uniforms if they are nonrevs, even if they are not traveling for business.
Apr 23, 2014 | 4:24 am
#65
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: What I write is my opinion alone..don't read into it anything not written.
Posts: 9,721
If they are wearing a uniform, I would say 95% of the time they are either confirmed and being moved by the company or commuting, in which case most of them would be standby and not confirmed.
Apr 23, 2014 | 7:07 am
#66
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: Marriott Ambassador, UA Mileage Plus 1K, AA Executive Plat, Marriott Ambassador Elite
Posts: 2,797
Well, if it's awkward, that's life.
In Feb, I boarded a redeye SEA-IAH with my family. We were #2-5 on the upgrade list (2 RPUs and 2 CPUs). After we boarded, one of the RPUs cleared, and my wife was sent up to F. I assumed that #1 was a no-show. Just before the door closed, they sent my wife back to E+ and the #1 guy was taken up front. They obviously corrected a mistake.
My wife and I didn't think it was a big deal, but the passenger next to her in F said that it was bad form to downgrade her.
Airline employees wear uniforms if they are nonrevs, even if they are not traveling for business.
In Feb, I boarded a redeye SEA-IAH with my family. We were #2-5 on the upgrade list (2 RPUs and 2 CPUs). After we boarded, one of the RPUs cleared, and my wife was sent up to F. I assumed that #1 was a no-show. Just before the door closed, they sent my wife back to E+ and the #1 guy was taken up front. They obviously corrected a mistake.
My wife and I didn't think it was a big deal, but the passenger next to her in F said that it was bad form to downgrade her.
Airline employees wear uniforms if they are nonrevs, even if they are not traveling for business.
Apr 23, 2014 | 9:50 am
#67
Join Date: Oct 2013
Programs: GS, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold, *gold
Posts: 121
Apr 23, 2014 | 2:32 pm
#68
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Chicago
Posts: 1,480
FA given upgrade over CPU?
Several of these anecdotes of arbitrarily auctioning off upgrades may be an unfortunate outcome of the incompetent Shares reservation system United inherited from Continental. The hole notion of hauling somebody up front from coach when already seated an stowed is lame. Never saw that happen on pmUA - that system had everything completed by the time of boarding.
Apr 23, 2014 | 2:43 pm
#69
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 8,634
Several of these anecdotes of arbitrarily auctioning off upgrades may be an unfortunate outcome of the incompetent Shares reservation system United inherited from Continental. The hole notion of hauling somebody up front from coach when already seated an stowed is lame. Never saw that happen on pmUA - that system had everything completed by the time of boarding.
Apr 23, 2014 | 4:05 pm
#70
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: IAD
Programs: UA Gold, Marriott Rewards - LTPP
Posts: 4,242
Several of these anecdotes of arbitrarily auctioning off upgrades may be an unfortunate outcome of the incompetent Shares reservation system United inherited from Continental. The hole notion of hauling somebody up front from coach when already seated an stowed is lame. Never saw that happen on pmUA - that system had everything completed by the time of boarding.
Apr 23, 2014 | 6:13 pm
#71
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: DEN/OGG
Programs: UA lowlife
Posts: 1,494
I'd wish UA would go back to 500mile vouchers and ends the CPU mess
Apr 23, 2014 | 6:37 pm
#72
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: PDX
Programs: DL DM, Hyatt Globalist, Amtrak peon, Colbert Lifetime Platinum, Walk Score 100
Posts: 4,553
Yup, the empty F seats thread dates to 2010, back when UDU started. But speaking from anecdotes, SHARES made a bad situation worse. Even if the more recent GUI additions to SHARES have helped GAs do their job more efficiently, I'm sure the same bad apples can now hide behind "system issues" if accused of cutting corners or engaging in shenanigans.
Apr 23, 2014 | 8:12 pm
#73
Ambassador: Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: BWI
Posts: 7,393
There are so many elites now that the upgrade list will easily have more elites than F seats available the vast majority of the time.
I am going to fail clearing my CPU tomorrow on both flights and settle at 5/12 on my CPUs YTD. The second flight, I am exactly half way down the upgrade list as a 1K. After this trip, I will not have any revenue tickets booked on UA, somewhat weird for me, but UA did that to themselves with all of the cuts out of PIT making it incredibly difficult to have my schedule work around UA's significantly limited options that is only going to get worse with the LAX flight getting axed [E145 flights to IAH/DEN is not an option for me either].
Apr 26, 2014 | 7:02 pm
#75
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Ewa Beach, Hawaii
Posts: 10,977
How was your RPU wasted? Did they take it? Or was there 2 segments and you got the upgrade on the short leg? If only 1 segment and you didn't get the upgrade you will get your RPU back. Not entitled to anything else. And if 2 segments and you got upgraded on 1 the RPU is considered used and you still are not entitled to anything. Now complaining about the FA getting the upgrade when you were number 1 on the list might get you a few miles but I doubt it. Upgrades are never guaranteed.