Mean but fun - Stealing someone's upgrade...
 

This is a case where UA's AWESOME gate information display works against you... People have often asked "Why not provide all of the information?". Well, I have an answer for you... Read below.

This week - I was at the gate going from SFO-PDX, I had an economy plus seat, so no need to upgrade for a 1.5 hour flight.

A pax was berating the gate agent about how her upgrade hadn't cleared yet and how she applied for it a month ago, how she was entitled to the seat, etc. etc. She was #1 on a list of 1 with 1 seat left in First according to the gate information display. No one else was on the list.

I saw from her Boarding Pass that she was a Premier Exec (thanks to the HUGE new "PREMIERE EXEC" 48-point font on boarding passes).

After the 9th time she yelled at the gate agent, we were all fed up with the complaints (she was making a serious scene at the gate). So, I calmly walked up to the Gate Agent and asked to be added to the upgrade list. He said "with pleasure" and gave me a huge grin.

2 mins later the announcement came - "Passenger TFD, please check in at the front desk".

Voila - Seat 2B.

It was worth blowing an e500 upgrade just to watch the expression on this woman's face as she boarded the plane.

I am a mean b@st@rd.... But I must admit it was fun.

Without the UAL gate display system, I would never have been able to pull this off.

Have a great weekend everyone. I am ready for all of the flames of this post ;)

TFD

Good job.

Right about entitled, you pretty much lose any chance of it in the argument.

Is that really the spelling on the BP?

I find it really odd upgrading out of spite.

Nice work! ^

Wow, they even knew your FT nick! :) :)

Seriously.... this makes you happy.

would have loved to have been there
was the other person requesting the ug at the desk when you went up to request it?

normally i would feel sort of bad for the other person and would think you are sort of an a** for doing this, but if the person originally requesting the upgrade really cant sit in coach for a 1.5 hr flight, then i feel you were justified

On the OLCI printed BP, it's a huge and ostentatious "PR EXEC", wouldn't be surprised if it's 48pt. It's smaller on the other BPs.

Great going. I'd have done the same thing!

Well, as a lowly 1p I'd be tempted to flame you but a) I'm still on vacation and b) sounds like it wasn't the overhead display but the pax attitude that did her in.

I have marginal empathy for her however - we 1Ps are really getting squeezed out by you 1Ks and GSs these days! Justice may have prevailed, but sheesh! don't gloat! :p

She was close-by but lost in the sea of other gate lice. If she was right there, I probably would not have had the cojones to do this for fear of her beating the crap out of me. She was really militant. I actually thought that the GA may call security on her.

TFD

Sadly yes. And I fly about 1/10th as much as the top fliers on this site...

TFD

I love hearing "Passenger XYZ to the podium please." It is music to my ears.

Good - I am a 1P and I lose upgrades to 1Ks all the time but she had it coming. I can just see the steam coming out of her ears!!

+1 from another 1P. Any time you feel you are "entitled" and try to pull a "DYKWIA", deserves this type of response.

To the OP..... Well played^

FWIW, I probably give an entirely different response if it was a one time prodding of the GA. But (and I am taking TFD at thier word)... but even if you are exaggerating about "9 times", I trust it was more then 3 times, which is too much.

Now that I think about it, would've been better if you swapped seats with a 2P right in front of her. :)