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Passengers 'upgrading' themselves - what do you do?

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Passengers 'upgrading' themselves - what do you do?

Old 12th Jan 2009, 19:10
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Passengers 'upgrading' themselves - what do you do?

Out of curiosity, I started a thread on a frequent flyier Forum earlier - and I wondered whether Cabin Crew have any amusing stories on the subject! (I love air travel and love hearing amusing stories about the goings on even more!)

Have you ever dealt with passengers who simply 'upgrade themselves' by moving to business/first class seats?

What did you do? Any funny stories?

I couldn't do this, the fear or getting caught and marched back, red faced, is more than enough deterrent!
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Old 13th Jan 2009, 22:34
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Happens all the time. You politely and firmly inform them that they may not sit in that seat and tell them to return to seat they have paid for.

I don't understand this mentality at all. Would you walk into a supermarket, pay for a carton of eggs then march back in and help yourself to cheese, milk and bread without paying for it? No, because you know it is called stealing.

Just because a seat on an airplane is unoccupied doesn't mean it belongs to you. It belongs to the airline and it's not for you to decide what will happen to it. A business class\first class seat is a product, the same as cheese in your supermarket. Having that seat empty if it hasn't been sold is worth quite a lot to the airline and to everyone else who has paid for the experience of sitting in that section. If you had just paid 400% more than everyone else on that plane you would not want someone on an economy fare sitting next to you.

If you want caviar then pay for it. If you'd rather pay less than enjoy the experience that you have paid for, which includes middle seats, less legroom and a full cabin.

I do not see someone upgrading themselves as fun and cheeky. I see them as someone who is not prepared to pay for the experience and is therefore entitled only to the economy seat they have paid for.
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Old 14th Jan 2009, 02:28
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I know people who have done it, but I wouldn't have the nerve.

I also know I would be less than impressed if, having paid good money for Business Class, some herbert took it upon himself to just sit there.
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Old 14th Jan 2009, 08:01
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Ask the passenger to move back to their original seat. If they refuse inform the passenger that you are going to ask the skipper to call the police to meet the aircraft as they have commited an act of theft and refused to comply with a crewmembers request.
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Old 14th Jan 2009, 12:14
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You can be nice about it, show them the features of the seat and service, as if they're just checking it out in case they'd like to travel there next time. It can avoid embarrassing them (if they pass the attitude test that is), and who knows maybe earn extra revenue for your airline in the long run.

Or just ask them if they'd prefer to pay with cash or credit card for the upgrade, usually sends them scuttling back.

When they try the "Well nobody else is sitting here, why can't I?" routine, ask them if you mind if you use their house while they're away on their trip.

Threatening to hand them over to police/security is pretty much a last resort.
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Old 14th Jan 2009, 13:13
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Or just ask them if they'd prefer to pay with cash or credit card for the upgrade, usually sends them scuttling back.
is it actually possible to do this? pay for a first class ticket while in flight?
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Old 14th Jan 2009, 13:26
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certainly is at some airlines - I personally only took cash.... kidding - at my previous employer you could pay for an UG with a credit card at a rate which was about 1/10 the full fare price so for instance M class to J class was £600 and M Class to F Class was £800 and some variations in between.

It is/was a cheap but unconfirmed way to get a better seat however you couldn't always provide the upgrade if for instance catering/other products were not available onboard - not just a seat availability issue.
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Old 14th Jan 2009, 13:46
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thanks, good to know
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Old 14th Jan 2009, 14:48
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We usually count our pax and check for any discrepancy on the PIL. It is very easy on Short and Medium Haul and in First because there is a limited number of pax. In bigger cabins we simply count the pax after T/O. After that you would immediately spot any ''new entry'', since you got to know the pax in your working zone.
It didn't happen to me often, usually on SH-MH, and every time politely informed the pax he made a mistake and asked to move back to the original seat.
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Old 14th Jan 2009, 14:49
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I was in economy next to some one who was 'size challenged'. Less than ecstatic at the prospect of several hours with him spilling over into my seat, but the flight was pretty full so decided (without much hope) to keep quiet and look for an empty seat after take-off. He started a campaign for an upgrade on the basis there was insufficient room for him. After a fair old rant the CSD came and agreed it was unreasonable to expect him to sit next to another passenger - and asked me (almost apologetically) if I had any objection to an upgrade. Beautifully done. The guy was furious - he had obviously got away with it several times before. Made my day.
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Old 14th Jan 2009, 16:25
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i was coming back from SVO to LHR with aeroflot, when a number of people were asking if they could sit up the front, i mean the cheek of it, i would never do such a thing, even on staff travel i was always happy to sit at the back (always like to sit just behind the wing, dont know why, but i always sit there). why cant people just put up with where they are sitted? if they dont like the seats they are in, check in earlier maybe? lol. makes me laugh watching them though, gives u a bit of amusement before u fly
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Old 14th Jan 2009, 16:28
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He started a campaign for an upgrade on the basis there was insufficient room for him. After a fair old rant the CSD came and agreed it was unreasonable to expect him to sit next to another passenger - and asked me (almost apologetically) if I had any objection to an upgrade. Beautifully done. The guy was furious - he had obviously got away with it several times before.
brilliant
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Old 15th Jan 2009, 02:01
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Originally Posted by flyin_phil
brilliant
I second that. I find such behaviour unacceptable, both as a SLF and as someone working in a similar industry. We didn't get into Club/Premium/Upper/First by cheating our way in, we earned it fair and square by either paying for it, or the airline rewarding us.

S.
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Old 15th Jan 2009, 02:23
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Just remember you are special, and so are the other 200 odd passengers on the flight...
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Old 15th Jan 2009, 13:12
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Saw a case on a flight from HKG to PEK on a Chinese airline. They asked the offending passenger for his boarding pass. He said he had lost it but insisted he was in business class. The crew finally gave up arguing and the passenger sat down smugly in business class. When we arrived in Beijing the police came on board and frogmarched him off the plane. The look on his face was priceless and not smug at all anymore....
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Old 16th Jan 2009, 10:21
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The majority of people who do this know they are 'chancing it' and when caught accept their fate with good humour.

But occassionally I get the odd one who finds it incredulous that if seats are empty they cannot use them. I usually ask what would happen if they went to a BMW dealership and bought and paid for a 3 series car. Upon collection they see a top of the range 7 series car sat unoccupied on the forecourt. Do they suggest to the salesperson that the car isn't been used so I might as well take it instead of my 3 series. What do they believe the response would be.

As I said, this is a rarely used back up tactic. A complementary newspaper of glass or bubbly and a cheeky grin resolves most issues amicably.
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Old 16th Jan 2009, 11:17
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I have to say that when I am positioning in uniform, the CSD on all the BA flights I have ever flown on has always kindly and discreetly upgraded us. A really wonderful way to start or finish the day.

But one question for CC here (specifically any CSD's). If I'm not in uniform (sometimes because its packed away) or I'm flying for personal travel what is the most polite way of enquiring about the possibilities of an upgrade? I fly long haul to see close family and a quiet corner in club would be much appreciated.

Would a hand written note with my ID help?

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Old 16th Jan 2009, 22:31
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Slightly off-topic, I know, but on one occasion flying Club World from Hong Kong to London a fellow-passenger persisted in arguing with a flight attendant over something (others were trying to sleep) to the extent that the crew decided to upgrade him to First, presumably for some peace. I did wonder whether this was a technique he used to obtain an upgrade. I was pleased to see the back of him but never got to know what he was complaining about.
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Old 18th Jan 2009, 00:22
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They should've upgrades you and the people around you. Not him. :-)

S.
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Old 18th Jan 2009, 02:44
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Unfortunately the annoyance factor pays dividends for some and that is why they persist in it. But you do find by and large people who habitually complain stress themselves unnecessarily and don't get the best of anything. You just don't bring out someone's compassion, understanding or thoughtfulness by complaining at them.

We all get irritated by little unavoidable things (slow queues, don't get the seats we want etc) but you've got two choices. You can decide its a small irritation and not get worked up about it, thereby having a better day. Or you can ruin your whole week over it by huffing and puffing, rolling your eyes and feeling extremely put out by every small thing.

This is life, stuff like this is going to happen often and if you decide to feel personally victimised and want compensation everytime it does happen you'll have a very unpleasant life.

Upgrades happen, but they are rare and are just someone's good luck if they do. If it happens to you sit in the seat, enjoy the experience and tell your grandkids about it for the next 30 years. Appreciate the fact you got something for nothing, that's rare in life. However, there is no way to ensure you continually get upgraded for free and nor should you expect it. If you want to guarantee yourself that experience then pay for it. It's not as painful as you think it is.

Sorry it's a little off-track, but I was inspired by the previous post to go there.
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