IAH agent 'shuts door' on Big Bang Theory actress
Feb 13, 2019, 6:59 pm
#61
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Posts: 3,360
Feb 13, 2019, 8:00 pm
#63
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
Maybe when the GA said the other people could go and she couldn't because her bag wouldn't fit on the aircraft and theirs would it was because...
...their bags could fit on the aircraft and hers couldn't?
...their bags could fit on the aircraft and hers couldn't?
Feb 14, 2019, 1:16 am
#64
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,412
Feb 14, 2019, 1:27 am
#65
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SAN
Programs: 1K (since 2008), *G (since 1990), 1MM
Posts: 3,219
This doesn't make sense to me:...But this doesn't jive with the lazy theory either -- not too lazy to let 5 people on and yet too lazy to let 6 people on?
Based on what I've heard, we're missing a piece of the story. What was different about this pax? Size of suitcase? She was already offloaded? She started shouting at GA? Was "at about the same time" really about the same time? It's very hard to say without more info....
Based on what I've heard, we're missing a piece of the story. What was different about this pax? Size of suitcase? She was already offloaded? She started shouting at GA? Was "at about the same time" really about the same time? It's very hard to say without more info....
Arriving flight to from FRA to SFO was delayed but I ran to the gate and arrived five minutes before the other connecting pax (about four of us) after they have started boarding. My BP beeps and I am asked to step the side but the others who got there after me go through. They inform me they have given away my FC seat and I say then please put in Economy - it is only SFO-SAN and I want to get home. They try to tell me there is no room as they are taking STBY pax and that I was late - I point out that I arrived before the other connecting pax that they let on the plane. They seat me on the plane and then take me off for another STBY pax. I was pleasant and polite the whole time and the other GAs cannot work out why I did not get to keep my original FC seat, why I was offloaded and then offloaded again (after I sat in my seat). So I believe it is as reported because it happened to me! Now admittedly it was SFO and not IAH but United has a pattern of doing this as I have spoken to other pax who had this happen to them in SFO as well.
I did end up with Euro 600 out of the whole exercise but would much rather have arrived home on time.
Feb 14, 2019, 7:45 am
#66
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Houston, TX, USA
Programs: UA 1K, AA Lifetime Platinum, DL Platinum, Honors Diamond, Bonvoy Titanium, Hertz Platinum
Posts: 7,969
this actually happened to me with United about two years ago ... was delayed but I ran to the gate and arrived five minutes before the other connecting pax (about four of us) after they have started boarding. My BP beeps and I am asked to step the side but the others who got there after me go through. They inform me they have given away my FC seat
Of course, this isn't to say that there aren't sometimes GA shenanigans, but for the most part, when I read stories like the ones in this thread, there are perfectly reasonable explanations other than GA malice that can explain the situation.
Feb 14, 2019, 11:39 am
#68
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: All of them, UA-Plat, 1MM*G
Posts: 881
Perhaps all overheads were full and AFF insisted that an empty seat be used to strap-in her bag and she would sit in another seat. Then the GA was confronted with either let AFF use up two seats and disserve two of the other connecting pax -- or disserve AFF and serve two other connecting pax. I think I know the choice I would have made if I were the GA and AFF did not have two seats reserved.
Feb 14, 2019, 2:42 pm
#69
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SAN
Programs: 1K (since 2008), *G (since 1990), 1MM
Posts: 3,219
There are several explanations for this. In general, if you arrive late at the gate, you're subject to being removed from the flight. They don't do this just because they're mean and want to punish people, but in order to accommodate standbys. If in your case there were four late-arriving passengers but only one passenger on the standby list, then I can easily see how only one of the late passengers (i.e. you) gets removed from the flight. They don't remove all 4 late passengers and prevent them from boarding just because they need 1 seat for a standby "just to be fair." Sometimes you get to be the unlucky one. In your case, there was an additional factor: you were in FC. If the standby passenger happened to be a displaced FC passenger, then guess which late passenger gets their seat taken?
Of course, this isn't to say that there aren't sometimes GA shenanigans, but for the most part, when I read stories like the ones in this thread, there are perfectly reasonable explanations other than GA malice that can explain the situation.
Of course, this isn't to say that there aren't sometimes GA shenanigans, but for the most part, when I read stories like the ones in this thread, there are perfectly reasonable explanations other than GA malice that can explain the situation.
I did write into United and get my EC261 payment. They paid it to me straight away.
So I do think that AFF had the experience she shared and hope United starts to look at some of their practices in this area. United has a late arrival and knows pax are connecting don't give away their seats and if there are seats available on the flight give them to the pax whose seat you gave away.
Feb 14, 2019, 10:41 pm
#71
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Raddison Platinum, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 5,271
Story sounds off. As if she has never flown on a plane before.
I don't see why a GA would unnecessarily deny boarding since it is extra for from the GA to rebook the passenger.
Bottom line, there is obviously more to the story. She posted just enough information online to stir up some headlines. The full details and whatever really happened will either never get reported or forgotten quickly.
Ironically, I just watch a UA "Connections Matter" video about a couple and sick infant who was also at IAH. They arrived at the gate and the door was closed. Several pax not able to board. This couple says they need to be on the plane because their sick infant needs to get surgery the next morning. GA re-opens the door and lets them on (not sure about the others). So apparently the GA has the ability to get people on the plane but who knows by what criteria. In this actress's case, it wasnt enough
I don't see why a GA would unnecessarily deny boarding since it is extra for from the GA to rebook the passenger.
Bottom line, there is obviously more to the story. She posted just enough information online to stir up some headlines. The full details and whatever really happened will either never get reported or forgotten quickly.
Ironically, I just watch a UA "Connections Matter" video about a couple and sick infant who was also at IAH. They arrived at the gate and the door was closed. Several pax not able to board. This couple says they need to be on the plane because their sick infant needs to get surgery the next morning. GA re-opens the door and lets them on (not sure about the others). So apparently the GA has the ability to get people on the plane but who knows by what criteria. In this actress's case, it wasnt enough
Feb 15, 2019, 2:21 am
#72
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2003
Programs: UA 1K 1MM (finally!), IHG AMB-Spire, HH Diamond
Posts: 60,174
UA corroborated her being put on a later flight.
Okay just walked from C7 to Near A1. I get the huffing puffing and broken roller bag. From C to B - first stairs, not even an escalator. Then later escalator back up to B (which are out of order, so stairs it is). I can see being in a rush can cause havoc.
IAH is ridiculous. Thank my stars for SFO...
Okay just walked from C7 to Near A1. I get the huffing puffing and broken roller bag. From C to B - first stairs, not even an escalator. Then later escalator back up to B (which are out of order, so stairs it is). I can see being in a rush can cause havoc.
IAH is ridiculous. Thank my stars for SFO...
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Feb 15, 2019 at 9:22 am Reason: merging consecutive posts by same member; need personal comment removed
Feb 18, 2019, 5:13 am
#74
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 57,592
Agree. I was connecting once in LHR, and the bus carrying me from T4 to T3 (yes, it was that long ago) had a flat tire. When I got to the gate, my J seat on a 747 was gone. I got an empty row to myself in Y and several free drinks in exchange.
Feb 18, 2019, 5:47 am
#75
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.8MM
Posts: 6,349
Ironically, I just watch a UA "Connections Matter" video about a couple and sick infant who was also at IAH. They arrived at the gate and the door was closed. Several pax not able to board. This couple says they need to be on the plane because their sick infant needs to get surgery the next morning. GA re-opens the door and lets them on (not sure about the others).