fti

This morning, 40 minutes before departure I got a call on my cell phone that the first flight was cxld (mechanical reasons) Called the local airport (no bus this time to MSP as is often common, so I said I would drive to MSP) and called the PE phone line to check options (no other options besides a later flight or drive to MSP - also told PE line I would drive). For those not in the know, with only carry on at a VERY small airport and OLCI, you only need to be at the gate/security (one and the same) 20 minutes before departure.

Drove to MSP, arrived at the gate just after F had been called for boarding. When my BP was scanned, it beeped – I had been moved to the evening flight and my F seat for this flight (upgraded 5 days ago) had been given away. Needless to say, my heart sank. I would not have DRIVEN 2-1/2 hours if I were going to take the later flight!

The GA’s talked and one did a lot of typing into the computer. Long story short, he downgraded someone already in F. Then when the other GA realized what he was doing, she said another person should be downgraded – an employee in training (EIT) who had somehow been UG’d as an "elite". She told the other GA that another employee must have wanted to give this woman an UG but if you look closely at her reservation, she was in fact not elite, just an EIT. Kudos for the GA’s in downgrading this person.

Two strikes against NW for continuing to have mechanical cxl with the SAAB’s (third time for me this year), and for allowing a system whereby an employee can manipulate the UG list to their friends’ benefit (and the GA allow it with at least 4 others on the standby list).

John

aSiAnRiCk

Send a TTU John ^

fti

Have been back and forth a bit on this with NW. They finally understood what I was saying about the upgrade list being manipulated (at first their response was "You were not at the gate 30 minutes before departure" <I was>, "therefore your seat was given to a NW employee" even though there were four other elites waiting for an upgrade.)

They ended the Email:

"We appreciate your continued support of Northwest/Delta Air lines."

Soon it will just say "Delta Air lines" (not sure why they put the space in there!).

raehl311

Because the official name of the airline is Delta Air Lines, three words.