Dec 29, 2017, 7:11 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
Please Read
It is the desire of the FT UA Moderation Team to keep this thread open, as there is still much to be learned. While realizing this incident has some elements that have led to some very active discussion; such as the Congresswoman is local to a major UA hub and familiar to many UA flyers, FT has certain rules for discussion. This forum is focused on travel with UA and there are better places for other types of discussion.
After some discussion among the FT UA Moderators, we wish to clarify what is appropriate and what is not.
Not appropriate and better elsewhere
And all the standard FT rules apply including not commenting on other posters and not posting unnecessarily inflammatory, inciting or provocative comments.
Generally, if you are not discussing the incident, good chance you may be Off Topic.
WineCountryUA
on behalf of the UA FT Moderation Team
It is the desire of the FT UA Moderation Team to keep this thread open, as there is still much to be learned. While realizing this incident has some elements that have led to some very active discussion; such as the Congresswoman is local to a major UA hub and familiar to many UA flyers, FT has certain rules for discussion. This forum is focused on travel with UA and there are better places for other types of discussion.
After some discussion among the FT UA Moderators, we wish to clarify what is appropriate and what is not.
Discussion of the actual incident and how it might have happened
Discussion of how UA has handled the event
Discussion if the congresswoman or others forced this to happen
Discussion of UA granting unearned GS status
Discussion of how UA has handled the event
Discussion if the congresswoman or others forced this to happen
Discussion of UA granting unearned GS status
Not appropriate and better elsewhere
Overly political or racial comments about the congresswoman (or anyone else)
General comments about politicians, government officials unrelated to the actual incident
General ethics discussion concerning corporate/government officials accepting complimentary status
General comments about politicians, government officials unrelated to the actual incident
General ethics discussion concerning corporate/government officials accepting complimentary status
And all the standard FT rules apply including not commenting on other posters and not posting unnecessarily inflammatory, inciting or provocative comments.
Generally, if you are not discussing the incident, good chance you may be Off Topic.
WineCountryUA
on behalf of the UA FT Moderation Team
Pax accuses UA of giving her F seat to US Rep
Dec 28, 2017, 9:53 am
#211
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No way that SJL met the spend requirement for GS using GSA City Pairs.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Dec 28, 2017 at 11:41 am Reason: quote updated to reflect Moderator edit
Dec 28, 2017, 9:59 am
#212
Join Date: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,877
Huh? No way? YCA is about $500 one way between IAH and DCA/IAD. If she does this route every week, that's about $50,000 per year on UA fares, which is about at the line for GS at a hub. She probably does a bit of personal travel on UA and other government travel, which might or might not be on UA depending on who has the contract for the route. [Especially given her tendency to decide on flight times at the last minute, I'm pretty confident that SJL uses YCA rather than HCA or whateverCA fares, which of course are cheaper.]
Aside from her political status, and flying between IAH and DCA, she does not fit the GS profile, IMHO. Remember, she is, I am sure, flying only on GSA City Pair fares.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets...8TM/edit#gid=0
Last edited by DelrayChris; Dec 28, 2017 at 10:12 am
Dec 28, 2017, 10:22 am
#215
Join Date: Jul 2011
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https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/ai...ecause-n832726
Dec 28, 2017, 10:42 am
#216
Join Date: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,877
According to this NBC report, she does have GS status. Question is, did she earn it like everybody else, or has UA been handing it out to politicians as a favor (in which case it is probably not just her).
https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/ai...ecause-n832726
https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/ai...ecause-n832726
I imagine if SJL is GS, that she simply calls GS number and says, "I need to get on a flight to IAH and am on my way to the airport," at which point GS agent makes it happen.
Makes you wonder if GS agents use these types of tactics more often.
Dec 28, 2017, 10:49 am
#217
Join Date: Aug 2017
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Then you have to wonder of the GS agent, who has more authority than a GA from what we have been told, was the one who orchestrated the bump of the individual traveling on a mileage award.
I imagine if SJL is GS, that she simply calls GS number and says, "I need to get on a flight to IAH and am on my way to the airport," at which point GS agent makes it happen.
Makes you wonder if GS agents use these types of tactics more often.
I imagine if SJL is GS, that she simply calls GS number and says, "I need to get on a flight to IAH and am on my way to the airport," at which point GS agent makes it happen.
Makes you wonder if GS agents use these types of tactics more often.
Dec 28, 2017, 10:56 am
#218
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Then you have to wonder of the GS agent, who has more authority than a GA from what we have been told, was the one who orchestrated the bump of the individual traveling on a mileage award.
I imagine if SJL is GS, that she simply calls GS number and says, "I need to get on a flight to IAH and am on my way to the airport," at which point GS agent makes it happen.
Makes you wonder if GS agents use these types of tactics more often.
I imagine if SJL is GS, that she simply calls GS number and says, "I need to get on a flight to IAH and am on my way to the airport," at which point GS agent makes it happen.
Makes you wonder if GS agents use these types of tactics more often.
Dec 28, 2017, 11:27 am
#220
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Exactly. So I think there is no way in heck that she "qualified" for it, however, I would not put it past UA to "give it to her" on the "down low" in which case, would cause SJL House ethics issues:
If UA is bumping her into FC on flights when SJL did not warrant the bump (i.e., through upgrade, etc.) this would also cause SJL House ethics issues as the FC seat has monetary value.
Hopefully, investigative journalists are digging in to this given SJL's district and UA's business there.
If UA is bumping her into FC on flights when SJL did not warrant the bump (i.e., through upgrade, etc.) this would also cause SJL House ethics issues as the FC seat has monetary value.
Hopefully, investigative journalists are digging in to this given SJL's district and UA's business there.
Dec 28, 2017, 11:52 am
#221
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It's too bad that apparently no one from FT was on the flight, especially someone who had been watching the upgrade list and seat maps. Some questions would be solved by viewing the upgrade list just as the flight departed. It's unfortunate that the displaced passenger wasn't a FT junkie who would have been obsessed with checking stuff like this--including her own PNR.
Dec 28, 2017, 11:53 am
#222
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: NYC: UA 1K, DL Platinum, AAirpass, Avis PC
Posts: 4,599
As OP pointed out, there are people in the 2018 GS Qualification thread who are past the $50k spend who are crossing their fingers for GS invitations.
Aside from her political status, and flying between IAH and DCA, she does not fit the GS profile, IMHO. Remember, she is, I am sure, flying only on GSA City Pair fares.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets...8TM/edit#gid=0
Aside from her political status, and flying between IAH and DCA, she does not fit the GS profile, IMHO. Remember, she is, I am sure, flying only on GSA City Pair fares.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets...8TM/edit#gid=0
That said, Delta has been publicly known to comp out top tier status to politicians as an 'in kind' contribution...
Deal gets perk; Delta does, too
Dec 28, 2017, 11:54 am
#223
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Tried to link an interesting photo from Twitter, but unsuccessful.
Dec 28, 2017, 12:44 pm
#224
Join Date: Apr 2011
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No way that SJL met the spend requirement for GS using GSA City Pairs.
Dec 28, 2017, 12:54 pm
#225
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Exactly this ^ and while I'm not saying strings were pulled but if strings were in fact pulled, United needs to fess up quickly before it gets made public as this will add to this already growing PR nightmare