Gate Agents filling E+ before E- with BG5 and Standbys?
Feb 7, 2018, 4:22 pm
#16
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: PWM
Programs: AA Plat
Posts: 1,335
And I think E- should be hardcoded for BE pax (not regular pax) but we all know that's not happening! Maybe. Idk. UA wants to be punitive but that doesn't mean we should. As a friend says: Kindness is Free.
Feb 7, 2018, 5:56 pm
#17
Join Date: Dec 2015
Programs: UA Silver, AA Gold
Posts: 221
Yup, all part of the tradeoffs we have to make. These days, I tend to choose Row 12 or Row 20 aisles if I can get them. Recline is a non-issue for me and I have the best chance of an open E+ middle there. Most GA's fill E+ front-to-back so if they do end up assigning middles, that's typically the best chance.
The downside of Row 12 or 20 is the (outside) possibility that the burgers are gone by the time the cart gets to me. Again, that's the tradeoff.
The downside of Row 12 or 20 is the (outside) possibility that the burgers are gone by the time the cart gets to me. Again, that's the tradeoff.
Feb 7, 2018, 6:32 pm
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 14,890
I would agree except that can you imagine the chaos with moving already seated passengers to make room for those with lower fares and no seat assignment? There is no way the gate agent has the time to do all that and still have an on-time departure. Once the plane is boarded and they confirm the number of empty seats, there is no way to start moving people based on fare or status. Assign empty seats and get the plane closed and departed.
And technology these days can dynamically manage, by flight, how many and which customers get this option. It likely wouldn’t be able to handle 100% of the seating, but enough where the remainder could be handled at the gate before boarding with just a bit of effort. It would likely take some time to get the exact balance right, but in today’s world, certainly possible to get an algorithm going that does his pretty well.
Feb 7, 2018, 7:09 pm
#19
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Morris County, NJ
Programs: UA 1K/*G, Avis Pres, Marriott Plat
Posts: 2,305
Feb 7, 2018, 7:24 pm
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: TOA
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott LTPP/Platinum Premier, Hyatt Lame-ist, UA !K
Posts: 20,061
LAX-CLE on Monday - Seated in 21D on a 738. Row 20 gets the last ciabatta and only 1 burger left by the time I get asked what I want for lunch. FA says only 4 of each were loaded onboard.
Upshot: Sit in the reclining exit row seats and quite likely not get anything left except a snack box on a cross country meal time flight.
David
Feb 7, 2018, 7:37 pm
#21
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2018
Programs: UA Premier Silver
Posts: 311
Can absolutely imagine, but why wait that long? UA uses enough technology that 90%+ can be done prior to the gate. They know the loads, how many are in BE, how many E-/E+ seats are left, how many are booked in Y, B, M, U, E classes, how many *Gs, etc. sure, you can have things change with last minute bookings, irrops, etc. but a ton of it is already In place and not changing. Many already check in online, using the app or at the kiosk. These tools can already ask things like ‘would you be interested in volunteering your seat and taking another flight’ - there’s no reason why it can’t say ‘congratulations - you have the opportunity to select a seat free of charge in our economy plus section - would you like to take advantage of this option, then show the customer an E+ seat map, and even allow an option, if the customer doesn’t like those options to select ‘no thanks - I’ll keep my original seats’. Could even try the upsell first, then if they decline, give this option.
And technology these days can dynamically manage, by flight, how many and which customers get this option. It likely wouldn’t be able to handle 100% of the seating, but enough where the remainder could be handled at the gate before boarding with just a bit of effort. It would likely take some time to get the exact balance right, but in today’s world, certainly possible to get an algorithm going that does his pretty well.
Feb 7, 2018, 7:54 pm
#22
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Morris County, NJ
Programs: UA 1K/*G, Avis Pres, Marriott Plat
Posts: 2,305
This is not a dilemma - it's truth
LAX-CLE on Monday - Seated in 21D on a 738. Row 20 gets the last ciabatta and only 1 burger left by the time I get asked what I want for lunch. FA says only 4 of each were loaded onboard.
Upshot: Sit in the reclining exit row seats and quite likely not get anything left except a snack box on a cross country meal time flight.
David
LAX-CLE on Monday - Seated in 21D on a 738. Row 20 gets the last ciabatta and only 1 burger left by the time I get asked what I want for lunch. FA says only 4 of each were loaded onboard.
Upshot: Sit in the reclining exit row seats and quite likely not get anything left except a snack box on a cross country meal time flight.
David
Feb 7, 2018, 8:44 pm
#23
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: EAU
Programs: UA 1K, CO Plat, NW Plat, Marriott Premiere Plat, SPG Plat, Priority Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 4,712
I was standby MCO-ORD recently, jumped to #1 on the list about 50 minutes prior to departure, booked full. Apparently three no-shows. Went up to the GA to let him know I was #1 on the list, he greeted me by name... of the guy now #2 on the list. Meanwhile someone flying what appeared to be positive space but not qualified for a jump seat showed up a bit before T-30 and didn't get the GA's attention until after T-30, which caused some consternation....
I ended up in a middle E- seat while the other two got the aisle E+ seats that freed up. (3 noshows apparently.)
I ended up in a middle E- seat while the other two got the aisle E+ seats that freed up. (3 noshows apparently.)
Feb 7, 2018, 10:31 pm
#24
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 14,890
They would then miss out on the people that do day of departure buy ups to economy plus. I haven't seen statistics on the number (and I doubt I will) of people doing that but it must be non-negligible. This would happen even if people thought they might get it for free - people offered $100 for a guarantee or $0 for a 50% chance at it, most people will likely take the free gamble.
Feb 7, 2018, 11:37 pm
#25
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: CO
Programs: UA OG-1K, Marriott Plat, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,360
Yup, all part of the tradeoffs we have to make. These days, I tend to choose Row 12 or Row 20 aisles if I can get them. Recline is a non-issue for me and I have the best chance of an open E+ middle there. Most GA's fill E+ front-to-back so if they do end up assigning middles, that's typically the best chance.
The downside of Row 12 or 20 is the (outside) possibility that the burgers are gone by the time the cart gets to me. Again, that's the tradeoff.
The downside of Row 12 or 20 is the (outside) possibility that the burgers are gone by the time the cart gets to me. Again, that's the tradeoff.
I never thought that people would get reassigned seats, just it would be nice of E- filled before E+. I'm more width sensitive than legroom sensitive.
Feb 8, 2018, 1:39 am
#26
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: RNO
Programs: AA/DL/UA
Posts: 10,775
It's ridiculous enough that UA has to close the door 15 minutes prior to departure. If they wanted to fill E- and E+ appropriately, they would have to make the cut-off time 45 minutes before departure.
Feb 8, 2018, 4:48 am
#27
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2018
Programs: UA Premier Silver
Posts: 311
Think of how many people decline even reasonable offers for first class upgrades for the chance of getting CPU when it's good and they don't care. I feel that if there is *ever* a step in which economy plus is offered for free, it'll become well known and people will wait for it instead of buying it. It's like us silvers waiting until T-24 for it.
Feb 8, 2018, 7:43 am
#28
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Raddison Platinum, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 5,271
I don't know how much I agree. My choice seats are Row 7 or 21 windows. I usually will check to see if I want to do an A/F switch depending on if the middle is open. Once I board, I will usually check the seat map again against the standby list and I will see them fill other rows first (especially non-exit row). I think for the most part, GA's fill E- prior to E+. There are many people that qualify for E+ so I'm not surprised to see E+ get filled as well. The one time I think they will break the BE policy is upgrading families. (IMHO an angry mom is far more likely to complain than a solo no status business traveler and I'm sure the GA will do whatever will result in the least drama/complaints and move things along).
Ofcourse, I have no way of verifying what is in each GA's head. This is just what I have noticed from my flying.
Ofcourse, I have no way of verifying what is in each GA's head. This is just what I have noticed from my flying.
Feb 8, 2018, 7:47 am
#29
Join Date: Jan 2016
Programs: UA 1K; *G, AA Plat
Posts: 1,700
Can absolutely imagine, but why wait that long? UA uses enough technology that 90%+ can be done prior to the gate. They know the loads, how many are in BE, how many E-/E+ seats are left, how many are booked in Y, B, M, U, E classes, how many *Gs, etc. sure, you can have things change with last minute bookings, irrops, etc. but a ton of it is already In place and not changing. Many already check in online, using the app or at the kiosk. These tools can already ask things like ‘would you be interested in volunteering your seat and taking another flight’ - there’s no reason why it can’t say ‘congratulations - you have the opportunity to select a seat free of charge in our economy plus section - would you like to take advantage of this option, then show the customer an E+ seat map, and even allow an option, if the customer doesn’t like those options to select ‘no thanks - I’ll keep my original seats’. Could even try the upsell first, then if they decline, give this option.
And technology these days can dynamically manage, by flight, how many and which customers get this option. It likely wouldn’t be able to handle 100% of the seating, but enough where the remainder could be handled at the gate before boarding with just a bit of effort. It would likely take some time to get the exact balance right, but in today’s world, certainly possible to get an algorithm going that does his pretty well.
Imagine the next headlines "United booked plane so full I couldn't sit next to my grandmother for 4 hours" or "United didn't let me sit next to my wife and instead let this stranger"