Trying to fiddle the system? The airline bites back !

[Nottingham Nick]

Link to elliott.org.

An interesting story - can't see how it would work with VS, but American smacked the passenger down - big style, and seemingly lost a very frequent flier in the process.

Nick

As an FF he should have known better and I have no sympathy for him. AA might have lost a 'valued' customer but it will probbaly gain in the knowledge that people won't try and fiddle the system.

Couldn't putting 'holds' on two seats to increase his chances of having his upgrade granted be considered fraud as he had no intention of paying for these seats?

He also lost the airline money by cancelling another trip because he didn't get the upgrade until the day of departure (there will be many people on here happy with an on departure upgrade!)

If he wanted to fly Business Class he should have BOUGHT a business class seat.

Just reading some of the comments on the article.

This chap is getting NO sympathy or understanding

What a tw&t - he got all he deserved IMHO. I am sure AA wont be grieving one bit at loosing his dubious custom.

[Scrooge]

One of the big issues with the American aviation world right now, everyone has status and expects to be upgraded to F/J no matter what.

This one got what he deserved.

One of the big issues with the American aviation world right now, everyone has status and expects to be upgraded to F/J no matter what.

You're right. I have no sympathy for Jim, but really this is a problem created by US airlines - as one reply said in the link Nick posted, US airlines have created such an expectation among their top tiers of always being upgraded, now people play the system to ensure they are.

I sometimes think that upgrades are more of a problem than a advantage. I never thought it whilst sitting in an F seat being bumped from J, but the aggression it brings out in some passengers is amazing.

I was once waiting at a check in desk in BKK whilst a guy went mental on a clerk because he was '6 foot 2 <insert swear word> and can't <insert swear word> fit in your <insert swear word> seats'. I'd had a few sherbets in the hotel lounge before leaving and told him 'your sort check in over there where it says 'economy' luv'. The most ironic thing was that I then got upgraded to F.

I'd say fly easyJet to avoid it, but even then Speedy Boarding causes havoc.