Infrequent Travelers (VBIT) taking over flights
#1
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Infrequent Travelers (VBIT) taking over flights
I guess it's that time of year. More and more VBITs. In fact, it would not be a stretch to say VBITs have essentially taken over my IAD to DEN route.
The good news ... they check in all their bags, every single one. So the overhead bins are nearly empty
The bad news, I don't really like having my seat knocked repeatedly throughout the flight. And I don't really enjoy the incredibly loud conversations and yelling back and forth throughout the entire flight. In fact, call me selfish, but I would even prefer to even have an empty middle seat next to me up in old E+.
Unfortunately, more and more VBITs appear to be taking advantage of the 'upgrade' to E+. This is causing a devaluation in 1 of 2 UAL benefits that I actually care about ... and the other one (Star Alliance awards) is virtually gone.
Roger
The good news ... they check in all their bags, every single one. So the overhead bins are nearly empty
The bad news, I don't really like having my seat knocked repeatedly throughout the flight. And I don't really enjoy the incredibly loud conversations and yelling back and forth throughout the entire flight. In fact, call me selfish, but I would even prefer to even have an empty middle seat next to me up in old E+.
Unfortunately, more and more VBITs appear to be taking advantage of the 'upgrade' to E+. This is causing a devaluation in 1 of 2 UAL benefits that I actually care about ... and the other one (Star Alliance awards) is virtually gone.
Roger
#3
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Very Bitchy Inconsiderate Traveler?
#4
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#5
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how do you tell a VBIT apart?
When you peek at their BP and there's no MP info (at all, not to say status) below the name?
When you peek at their BP and there's no MP info (at all, not to say status) below the name?
#6
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 617
This is good news...
The competition for upgrades should be less if these are all non-elite flyers.
#7
Join Date: Jun 2005
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Take the woman on my UAX flight from IAD-ABE last week. Dressed stylishly in a bare midriff top that revealed a "chain" tattoo circumferencing her (at least 36") midsection.
Dragged a huge - I mean huge - plastic bag filled with stuff onboard. Proceeded to empty the contents of the bag into various overhead bins and under various seats (except her own, of course!).
Once her "stuff" was stowed, she reclined her seat and began talking loudly on her cell phone and did not end the call until we were on the runway awaiting takeoff. Her seat remained reclined for the duration of the flight.
Seated in the exit row, she slept from the time we went wheels up until we arrived at the gate at ABE, and snored loudly the whole time.
#8
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Are you sure she wasn't a very clever FAM?
#10
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-- Have boarding pass, but ask GA if they need to check in again; seem skeptical when GA says they're all set
-- Insist on trying to board with Seating Area 1, with a 3 or 4 pass
-- Sit in E+, but board last
-- If sitting in E+ exit row, call their friends before take off to boast about the new E+ seats
-- If sitting in normal E+, ask FA if there isn't some mistake as they paid for upgraded seats with extra leg room
-- Mention they paid $40 for the upgrade to E+
-- Seem very surprised to hear I did not pay for my E+ seat
-- No carry ons
-- Get confused when the FA asks them if they can handle the responsibility of sitting in the exit row
-- Dress in t-shirts with racing cars, baseball caps, jeans, and sneakers
-- Read guide books
-- Try to hold a conversation with me in spite of fact I have my Bose on and am looking straight ahead
-- Yell back and forth up and down rows to displaced family members
-- Ask how to plug in headphones
-- Ask FA several times what the time change is from Washington, D.C. to Denver ...
-- ... and seem to struggle with setting their watches accordingly
-- Spend 5 minutes quizzing the FAs on the snack box ingredients
-- Continually bang into the back of the seat in front of them
-- Seat reclined entire flight
-- Make numerous trips up and down the aisles to visit friends and family members traveling with, but not sitting with, them
-- Etc.
-- Etc.
Anyway, thanks to UAL's latest revenue generating idea, this is the new face of E+.
Last edited by Roger Lococco; Jun 24, 2007 at 10:26 pm
#11
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#12
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How about:
On a widebody, they look at the seat number on their boarding pass, then pick the WRONG aisle to walk down.
On a widebody, they look at the seat number on their boarding pass, then pick the WRONG aisle to walk down.
#13
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#14
Join Date: Jun 2005
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Also a major to GAs who allow this--I 'reminded' a GA about boarding protocol yesterday at LAX who decided to make their own rule and allow anyone to board anytime, from the getgo.
#15
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Major to this. I just cannot understand why people think they should be allowed to board when it isn't their turn...
Also a major to GAs who allow this--I 'reminded' a GA about boarding protocol yesterday at LAX who decided to make their own rule and allow anyone to board anytime, from the getgo.
Also a major to GAs who allow this--I 'reminded' a GA about boarding protocol yesterday at LAX who decided to make their own rule and allow anyone to board anytime, from the getgo.
Mind you, I'm not saying it's correct. I just wonder what I would do if I were the GA, and I was earning the big bucks UA pays them. Somehow, the old expression, "They don't pay me enough to take this s***." comes to mind.