The Kindness of Elites
Apr 9, 2019, 8:46 pm
#46
Join Date: Jan 2017
Programs: United
Posts: 73
My personal contribution to cabin maintenance: on long-haul flights, I make an effort to keep the lavatory refuse bin in-check by compressing the overflowing hand towels to the bottom of the bin. I’ll also go beyond cleaning the wash basin and give the toilet seat a wipe down (if necessary). I know — you’re all totally grossed out by the thought of me sticking my arm and shoulder into the trash, but I do give a scrub with soap and water afterward.
Apr 9, 2019, 11:15 pm
#47
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: BOS
Programs: UA 1K (2MM); AA LT Gold (1.9 MM); SQ; WN; DL; "Bonvoy Ambassador""
Posts: 398
Also, I try to help people who are not strong enough or tall enough to easily stow or remove their carryon in or from the overhead bin.
Last edited by BeanTownBoy; Apr 9, 2019 at 11:28 pm
Apr 10, 2019, 12:40 am
#48
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Latin America and USA
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Gold
Posts: 456
Despite my best efforts to give them away, I always end up with leftover drink chits. Usually that leaves me in January looking around for kind-seeming couples waiting at the gate that I can give the chits to. It's always nice to see somebody pleasantly surprised!
Apr 10, 2019, 2:04 am
#49
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Montréal, Canada
Posts: 1,610
Years ago, when my wife and I were both NW Plats, we were on a NW World Vacations package in Shanghai. We had become friendly with all nine others in our tour group, and when we were at PVG to return home, we asked at check in about upgrading, mentioning we were part of a NW package with nine others. You can imagine our surprise when the agent proactively upgraded all 11 of us to the upper deck of a 747-400. The others in our group thought we had some clout with NW, but really, all we did was mention the group. None of them had ever been in business class before, so you can imagine their excitement. My wife and I used to often chuckle about that, but it was completely not our doing, at least not overtly. In those days our upgrades had a 78% success rate, no instruments required.
Apr 10, 2019, 4:12 am
#50
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: LAX and LHR. UA lifetime Gold 1.9MM 1K , DL Gold Medallion, HHonors Gold, Marriott Gold, Avis President's Club
Posts: 3,592
Not so. The bins are made wider at the opening than at the back, and the wheels cause extra width, so wheels out is the correct positioning, provided that there's some sort of handle on the bottom which can be used to pull the bag out. It's the same sort of thing as in CRJs, where a rolling computer bag will simply not fit wheels in but no problem with wheels out.
Apr 10, 2019, 6:07 am
#51
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 38
For those of you who give away GPU's or RPU's, how is that possible? They are electronic coupons. And besides that, they are essentially useless. I have never been able to successfully use one for an upgrade.
Last edited by SpartyAir; Apr 10, 2019 at 6:08 am Reason: grammer
Apr 10, 2019, 7:07 am
#52
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: New Jersey
Programs: UA MM 1K, AA MM Gold, Marriott LT Platinum
Posts: 3,235
On the PMCO 772's in J, I'll always ask the person next to me if they've traveled in this type of seat before. If they haven't, I ask if they'd like a quick briefing, which they've always appreciated. First thing is I warn them that anything they put on the shelf in front of them will come flying out at them on take off. Second is a suggestion to put anything in their pockets that's valuable in their carry on, noting that if it slips into the gap between the seat cushion and side of the seat, that it will be a huge pain to retrieve it. And finally a few other pointers, like how to turn the overhead lights on/off without hitting the FA call button on the handset..
Apr 10, 2019, 8:18 am
#54
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 489
I've given some at the gate as well
And in regards to having them cleared, you can look at the thread "GPU success" and you'll see plenty of success stories.
If you need help looking for the space, you can PM and I'll gladly take a look
I always try to guest others into the lounge, I'll often pass by my departure gate and see if anyone is waiting there sitting uncomfortably working on their laptop and offer to bring them in.
The drink vouchers i just used a bunch on EWR-Den
was sitting in Eco+ (that's what happens when you book T-2hr lol) and a few pax next to be where about to pay for some beers so I politely asked the FA if I can "sponsor" and the look on their faces was worth so much, that I'm considering flying Y on the return as well
Apr 10, 2019, 11:00 am
#56
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: USA
Programs: UA Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,193
Wheels inboard are the preferred orientation on most aircraft but SOME bins are shaped so the only way to close them is for the largest side to be outboard and this is usually the wheel side. I've been on many flights where the only way to close the door was to have the rollaboard turned around with wheels out.
Apr 10, 2019, 11:04 am
#57
Join Date: May 2006
Location: New York, London, Sydney
Programs: United GS/2MM, DL*P, VS*G, AA*EXP, Avis CHM, Hertz Platinum, Sixt*D, HH*D, HGP*P, Starwood*P
Posts: 9,847
Wheels inboard are the preferred orientation on most aircraft but SOME bins are shaped so the only way to close them is for the largest side to be outboard and this is usually the wheel side. I've been on many flights where the only way to close the door was to have the rollaboard turned around with wheels out.
Apr 10, 2019, 11:20 am
#58
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2015
Location: BOS, YVR, ZRH
Programs: *G
Posts: 17,395
Apr 10, 2019, 2:02 pm
#60
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Carmel Valley(was Hawaii)
Programs: United 1K 2.7 MM
Posts: 1,173
To apply an instrument you need the record number, etc. which is best done before the individual travels. I just had two friends return to Hawaii using my GPUs that were going to expire this month. They love it, and it's a nice gesture