UA Returns to TPA
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: TPA
Programs: DL Plat, AA Plat Pro 2MM, HH Diamond, WoH Globalist, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 2,207
UA Returns to TPA
At least it did this morning.
(Sorry if the titled excited you, lucky9876coins.)
UA substituted an A319 for the TED A320 on UA 1591 to ORD. For the first time since May 2004, I was able to fly UA from TPA in a first class seat! It reminded me of the old days before UA relegated TPA, MCO, MIA, FLL, PHX, and LAS to the TED-die table.
(Sorry if the titled excited you, lucky9876coins.)
UA substituted an A319 for the TED A320 on UA 1591 to ORD. For the first time since May 2004, I was able to fly UA from TPA in a first class seat! It reminded me of the old days before UA relegated TPA, MCO, MIA, FLL, PHX, and LAS to the TED-die table.
#2
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
That's mean. I was just about to congratulate lucky.
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 23,999
*1,000!
Argggggggggggggh!
So, was it F service, or just Y service?
Almost had a heart attack there...
Argggggggggggggh!
So, was it F service, or just Y service?
Almost had a heart attack there...
#4
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: all over
Posts: 1,968
hehe lets rub in all TED for lucky a little more :rub: :rub:
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: TPA
Programs: DL Plat, AA Plat Pro 2MM, HH Diamond, WoH Globalist, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 2,207
Originally Posted by lucky9876coins
*1,000!
Argggggggggggggh!
So, was it F service, or just Y service?
Almost had a heart attack there...
Argggggggggggggh!
So, was it F service, or just Y service?
Almost had a heart attack there...
It was upgraded Y service with a pre-departure drink and frequent refills. No one got a full can of soda, but the 8 of us sitting in F did get offered a free snack box.
It was dark outside, and I didn't even realize it was not a TED plane until I started to board. The scanner rejected by OLCI BP, and the GA sent me to the counter to get my new BP. The GA at the counter (one of my favorites of an outstanding group in TPA) told me that the A319 was subbed in and that they assigned the 1K pax to the F seats. (There were 8 of us?) The flight left from E75 and I had been sitting at E72 to have an electrical outlet, so I missed the page.
Too bad this doesn't happen more often.
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 23,999
Originally Posted by Flying Buccaneer
Sorry to tease you like that!
It was upgraded Y service with a pre-departure drink and frequent refills. No one got a full can of soda, but the 8 of us sitting in F did get offered a free snack box.
It was dark outside, and I didn't even realize it was not a TED plane until I started to board. The scanner rejected by OLCI BP, and the GA sent me to the counter to get my new BP. The GA at the counter (one of my favorites of an outstanding group in TPA) told me that the A319 was subbed in and that they assigned the 1K pax to the F seats. (There were 8 of us?) The flight left from E75 and I had been sitting at E72 to have an electrical outlet, so I missed the page.
Too bad this doesn't happen more often.
It was upgraded Y service with a pre-departure drink and frequent refills. No one got a full can of soda, but the 8 of us sitting in F did get offered a free snack box.
It was dark outside, and I didn't even realize it was not a TED plane until I started to board. The scanner rejected by OLCI BP, and the GA sent me to the counter to get my new BP. The GA at the counter (one of my favorites of an outstanding group in TPA) told me that the A319 was subbed in and that they assigned the 1K pax to the F seats. (There were 8 of us?) The flight left from E75 and I had been sitting at E72 to have an electrical outlet, so I missed the page.
Too bad this doesn't happen more often.
My guess is that they upgraded all the 1K's (which most likely did not equal eight), and then the subsequent status levels. I usually peak at the manifest on Ted flights to TPA, and I am the only 1K 90% of the time. The rest of the time there is usually one other. Interestingly enough, on my flight Saturday evening, at least half of the plane was Asian (not disciminating, but they did not speak very good English), and almost EVERYONE had status. There were at least ten 1K's!
Also, you like the agents in TPA?!? I really, really find them to be bad, but I have very minimal interaction since I never check bags and always OLCI. Would you mind posting the first name of the agent that was good?
Lastly, I also remember a story about a sub into TPA where they pulled upgrade certs for those that wanted F, event though there was Y service.
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA 1K/1MM, Marriott Tit
Posts: 18,231
First, let me say I'm sorry I missed the dim sum!
Last weekend I did a SFO-IAD-TPA-IAD-SFO MR and noticed that the crowd milling around the gate in TPA was somewhat restless. Quite a few did not have BPs (although the GAs kept referring to them as "cards" not "passes"). One man in particular told me "I'll never fly this airline again". So no, I didn't think the ground crew was doing a very good job.
Of course, I had all 4 of my BPs before I left for SFO!
Originally Posted by lucky9876coins
In all of my Ted flights to and from TPA it has never happened! Hope I get lucky as well sometime!
My guess is that they upgraded all the 1K's (which most likely did not equal eight), and then the subsequent status levels. I usually peak at the manifest on Ted flights to TPA, and I am the only 1K 90% of the time. The rest of the time there is usually one other. Interestingly enough, on my flight Saturday evening, at least half of the plane was Asian (not disciminating, but they did not speak very good English), and almost EVERYONE had status. There were at least ten 1K's!
Also, you like the agents in TPA?!? I really, really find them to be bad, but I have very minimal interaction since I never check bags and always OLCI. Would you mind posting the first name of the agent that was good?
Lastly, I also remember a story about a sub into TPA where they pulled upgrade certs for those that wanted F, event though there was Y service.
My guess is that they upgraded all the 1K's (which most likely did not equal eight), and then the subsequent status levels. I usually peak at the manifest on Ted flights to TPA, and I am the only 1K 90% of the time. The rest of the time there is usually one other. Interestingly enough, on my flight Saturday evening, at least half of the plane was Asian (not disciminating, but they did not speak very good English), and almost EVERYONE had status. There were at least ten 1K's!
Also, you like the agents in TPA?!? I really, really find them to be bad, but I have very minimal interaction since I never check bags and always OLCI. Would you mind posting the first name of the agent that was good?
Lastly, I also remember a story about a sub into TPA where they pulled upgrade certs for those that wanted F, event though there was Y service.
Of course, I had all 4 of my BPs before I left for SFO!
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: TPA
Programs: DL Plat, AA Plat Pro 2MM, HH Diamond, WoH Globalist, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 2,207
Originally Posted by lucky9876coins
Also, you like the agents in TPA?!? I really, really find them to be bad, but I have very minimal interaction since I never check bags and always OLCI. Would you mind posting the first name of the agent that was good?
I apologize for not knowing any of them by name, but they treat me better than the CO/NW agents at TPA did when I used to fly them a lot.
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: TPA
Programs: DL Plat, AA Plat Pro 2MM, HH Diamond, WoH Globalist, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 2,207
Originally Posted by SFOTerry
Last weekend I did a SFO-IAD-TPA-IAD-SFO MR and noticed that the crowd milling around the gate in TPA was somewhat restless. Quite a few did not have BPs (although the GAs kept referring to them as "cards" not "passes"). One man in particular told me "I'll never fly this airline again". So no, I didn't think the ground crew was doing a very good job.
Of course, I had all 4 of my BPs before I left for SFO!
Of course, I had all 4 of my BPs before I left for SFO!
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 23,999
Originally Posted by Flying Buccaneer
Maybe that's an unfair statement on my part, and I don't know if lucky agrees, but we seem to get a lot of people in that airside who act like they have never been on an airplane.
Originally Posted by Flying Buccaneer
There are 4 that I seem to interact with every time I fly UA from TPA. One of the GAs at E-75 this morning ALWAYS seems to be there for the flights departing around 6:00 a.m. She is probably 40-something and very pleasant. There's another one who often works the departing flights who looks a lot like her except she has darker hair. There's also the guy with the southern accent and the African-American woman; these two know me by name. I think that's a good thing.
We need to do a mileage run together sometime.
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: TPA
Programs: DL Plat, AA Plat Pro 2MM, HH Diamond, WoH Globalist, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 2,207
Originally Posted by lucky9876coins
We need to do a mileage run together sometime.
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA 1K/1MM, Marriott Tit
Posts: 18,231
Lucky and FB
You obviously have more experience with TED at TPA then I do (which was none before Saturday), and I agree, the group waiting for the (packed) 11:40am flight to IAD did not seem very savvy (if I dare to make that assessment). I really didn't see the scene develop, since I had just gotten off the same plane. I guess there was a large # of stand-bys.
But I was annoyed that the agent kept referring to BPs as some sort of "card", and that you would need a "card" to get on the plane, and don't come forward until your name is called. I was wondering whether there was some strange procedure at TPA that I didn't know about, not having checked in at the gate.
Over all, I had no problems with the flights to and from TPA.
But I was annoyed that the agent kept referring to BPs as some sort of "card", and that you would need a "card" to get on the plane, and don't come forward until your name is called. I was wondering whether there was some strange procedure at TPA that I didn't know about, not having checked in at the gate.
Over all, I had no problems with the flights to and from TPA.
#13
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: SOW
Programs: UA GS 5 MM, Delta 1.6MM & Hilton Diamond, Avis Chairman, Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 768
Originally Posted by Flying Buccaneer
At least it did this morning.
UA substituted an A319 for the TED A320 on UA 1591 to ORD.
UA substituted an A319 for the TED A320 on UA 1591 to ORD.
#14
Used to be 'g_leyser'
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Brandon Johnson International Airport (expect delays)
Programs: AA PlatPro, HH Gold, Bonvoy Gold, IHG Plat, Reno Air MEGA Platinum
Posts: 10,036
Originally Posted by SFOTerry
But I was annoyed that the agent kept referring to BPs as some sort of "card", and that you would need a "card" to get on the plane, and don't come forward until your name is called. I was wondering whether there was some strange procedure at TPA that I didn't know about, not having checked in at the gate.