| My wife and I plus our two daughters according to my retirement letter from staff travel had earned (by 20 years plus service) a free firm seat in GF economy, (first class if available), on two GF sectors once a year. We used this retirement perk last week LHR/MCT/LHR. At check in we were informed we had been downgraded to waitlisted. The GF station manager explained ...Reservations told you were firm but this was actually only in X class. X class is a limited number of economy seats made available to all staff. As as other passengers arrived you were down graded to waitlisted. The manager also said, Be aware not all station managers down route will provide overnight accommodation if you were firm in X class economy on your return flight and are subsequently bumped off that flight. So....Maybe a retirement perk ticket could get very expensive indeed. Prepaids via the internet such as hotel accommodation, car hire, and prepaid tours etc also become very expensive when firm becomes waitlisted and you do not make the flight. Luckily we got the last four seperate seats in economy and airborne LHR until touchdown LHr was just a perfect holiday and some things never change. At check in Muscat I was asked if I was still current to operate as they were presently still looking for a Captain. My wife and kids would like to thank the Captain of Gf 009 Mct/Auh 31 Oct for extending his duty hours to fly this sector and saveing them from any efforts by Dad. Last edited by scanscanscan : 4th November 2003 at 04:40. |