American Airlines Upgrades Employee before Elite
Nov 21, 2021, 7:00 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2021
Location: Miami
Programs: AA DL
Posts: 1
American Airlines Upgrades Employee before Elite
Who's noticing American Airlines upgrading their own employees before elite status paying cusomters? I'm Executive Platinum, 175K this year. 150+ segments. Have witnessed several times employees get the last 3 or 4 first class seats before paying customers. Not just once or twice, have witnessed this first hand about 20+ segments the past few months.
Who else is seeing this with American Airlines? How can we constructively inform the loyalty program management about this monkey business the staff seems to be pulling off?
Side note. Seems to be more frequently with the old timer self entitled legacy AA staff and not so much of the original perky America West employees.
Who else is seeing this with American Airlines? How can we constructively inform the loyalty program management about this monkey business the staff seems to be pulling off?
Side note. Seems to be more frequently with the old timer self entitled legacy AA staff and not so much of the original perky America West employees.
Last edited by Hotelwings; Nov 21, 2021 at 7:02 pm Reason: typo error
Nov 21, 2021, 8:11 pm
#5
Join Date: Feb 2020
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EDIT: I've also heard stories of AA gate agents putting employees into First over elites because they want to take care of their people. Sounds great and all but they wouldn't be able to take care of those people if it weren't for their elites giving them boatloads of money. Corrupt and shady stuff going on with that.
Last edited by coke cans and winglets; Nov 21, 2021 at 9:12 pm
Nov 21, 2021, 9:12 pm
#6
Join Date: Feb 2005
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I thought this is pretty hard to do in the 21st century with all the automation software and algorithms plus some backend data warehouse job should flag this is happening internally. 20th century I know this happened a lot. Sad to see this going on again.
Nov 21, 2021, 9:23 pm
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
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Hotelwings Welcome to FT. Hope you keep contributing to FT
What you do not know is the reason why those 6 were travelling and what they are entitled to under their union labor contract. They may not have been "upgraded" but entitled to fly up front from the start.
There is a difference between AA employees travelling for work(duty) and those travelling for themselves(off duty commuting etc)
We get threads like this every few weeks (often a rant). The threads can get locked
There is a difference between AA employees travelling for work(duty) and those travelling for themselves(off duty commuting etc)
We get threads like this every few weeks (often a rant). The threads can get locked
Nov 21, 2021, 9:41 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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And given AA's seeming inability to fire bad employees.... See PHL as an example of what happens when the rot spreads.
That said, all threads about shenanigans aren't necessarily so. But shenanigans do exist.
Nov 21, 2021, 9:45 pm
#9
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: Jacksonville, FL
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Hotelwings Welcome to FT. Hope you keep contributing to FT
What you do not know is the reason why those 6 were travelling and what they are entitled to under their union labor contract. They may not have been "upgraded" but entitled to fly up front from the start.
There is a difference between AA employees travelling for work(duty) and those travelling for themselves(off duty commuting etc)
We get threads like this every few weeks (often a rant). The threads can get locked
What you do not know is the reason why those 6 were travelling and what they are entitled to under their union labor contract. They may not have been "upgraded" but entitled to fly up front from the start.
There is a difference between AA employees travelling for work(duty) and those travelling for themselves(off duty commuting etc)
We get threads like this every few weeks (often a rant). The threads can get locked
Nov 21, 2021, 10:30 pm
#10
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: LAX
Programs: MVP100K, A-list, Marriott/IHG Plat, CHP525 Ticket Plat, CHP Solo Carpool 100K, Costco EXP, Tinder 1K
Posts: 828
Happened to me twice this year so far. Both times I'm the only one on UG list. And I'm a AS 75k (UG priority after platinum pro)
First time happened on LAX-RNO, CRJ7, 2 empty seats in F, 2 non-rev traveling together on standby list. They cleared into F. I talked to GA and supervisor was nearby. He apologized and gave me the UG. I was the only one on UG list.
Second time happened on DEN-LAX, A321S, 6 empty seats in F, 6 non-rev on standby list. GA cleared all 6 into F. Confronted GA as I was really furious. I was the only one on UG list yet even under that condition they gave all 6 seats to non-rev. GA shrug and gave me the UG and bumped someone else. No apologies.
It happens once in a while, but the majority of GA follow the rules, revenue pax first, then standby non-rev, if seats are still available.
First time happened on LAX-RNO, CRJ7, 2 empty seats in F, 2 non-rev traveling together on standby list. They cleared into F. I talked to GA and supervisor was nearby. He apologized and gave me the UG. I was the only one on UG list.
Second time happened on DEN-LAX, A321S, 6 empty seats in F, 6 non-rev on standby list. GA cleared all 6 into F. Confronted GA as I was really furious. I was the only one on UG list yet even under that condition they gave all 6 seats to non-rev. GA shrug and gave me the UG and bumped someone else. No apologies.
It happens once in a while, but the majority of GA follow the rules, revenue pax first, then standby non-rev, if seats are still available.
Nov 21, 2021, 10:33 pm
#11
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: Tucson, AZ USA
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Posts: 1,577
When you see an employee in uniform boarding a flight with a boarding pass, there are several possible scenarios ...
1) the employee is flying on a "pass"
Passes are an employee benefit at most airlines. They are "space available" meaning there is no confirmed reservation and you're only given a seat assignment when it's clear that all confirmed passengers can be accommodated. Depending on the flight, the boarding pass might be issued hours in advance or just a few minutes before departure. If requesting First Class, the assignment will most likely not happen (if at all) until boarding. The employee is flying on their own "dime & time" and might owe a small service charge.
It's common for crew members who live in one city (IE: AUS) but are based out of another (IE: DFW) to "commute" to/from work using passes.
2) the employee is being "deadheaded"
This is when an employee assigned at one station is needed to cover schedule at another station.
Depending on the specific reason to get the employee to another station, they may be designed "space available" (standby) or "must ride" (bump a confirmed passenger if needed). Either way, the employee is traveling on the airline's "dime & time".
This is rare among Agent and other groups, but common among crews (Pilots & Cabin Crew) who are not based at all stations.
Depending on the length of the flight the employee is covering, union contracts sometime call for the employee to be accommodated in First Class to ensure they're 'rested' for whatever long haul flight they're covering. The airline will gladly inconvenience one passenger a complimentary upgrade on the 'deadhead' flight versus affecting 100+ passengers by cancelling the flight that needs employee coverage.
3) the employee is actually a paid passenger. They might even be an Elite. They might even be an Elite level higher than yours.
This is common among crew members. Many simply choose not not live at any of their airline's crew bases. Some live at one of the bases, but as they moved to higher positions (IE from First Officer to Captain) the higher position often means being based at a lower seniority station. They chose not to relocate, knowing that they will eventually have the seniority to hold their new position at the base where they live.
Either way, they need to commute to work for awhile. They have the great benefit of option #1 and using passes to commute, but passes don't garuntee transportation, leaving the the commuting employee being (seriously) late for work.
Therefore, many commuting airline employees buy a ticket just like you and me. That paid ticket entitles them to the same benefits you and I get.
When you see a uniformed employee boarding a flight, you most likely have no idea which scenario they fall into. You seem to be assuming all employee travelers are "space available/pass riders"
As an ex Gate AAgent, I'm going to say that upgrading "pass riders" over eligible "ticket holders" (regardless of their employer of uniform) is rare do to the possible repercussions.
I'm curious as to how you can tell the difference ?
For a long time time now, the uniforms have been the same.
Even the station doesn't say too much. Starting as a Gate AAgent at DFW in 1983, I assume I'm an "old timer self entitled legacy AA staff", yet I ended my career in PHX. I'm not gonna say if I ever considered myself "perky" or not other than I feel my station assignment had nothing to do with it
1) the employee is flying on a "pass"
Passes are an employee benefit at most airlines. They are "space available" meaning there is no confirmed reservation and you're only given a seat assignment when it's clear that all confirmed passengers can be accommodated. Depending on the flight, the boarding pass might be issued hours in advance or just a few minutes before departure. If requesting First Class, the assignment will most likely not happen (if at all) until boarding. The employee is flying on their own "dime & time" and might owe a small service charge.
It's common for crew members who live in one city (IE: AUS) but are based out of another (IE: DFW) to "commute" to/from work using passes.
2) the employee is being "deadheaded"
This is when an employee assigned at one station is needed to cover schedule at another station.
Depending on the specific reason to get the employee to another station, they may be designed "space available" (standby) or "must ride" (bump a confirmed passenger if needed). Either way, the employee is traveling on the airline's "dime & time".
This is rare among Agent and other groups, but common among crews (Pilots & Cabin Crew) who are not based at all stations.
Depending on the length of the flight the employee is covering, union contracts sometime call for the employee to be accommodated in First Class to ensure they're 'rested' for whatever long haul flight they're covering. The airline will gladly inconvenience one passenger a complimentary upgrade on the 'deadhead' flight versus affecting 100+ passengers by cancelling the flight that needs employee coverage.
3) the employee is actually a paid passenger. They might even be an Elite. They might even be an Elite level higher than yours.
This is common among crew members. Many simply choose not not live at any of their airline's crew bases. Some live at one of the bases, but as they moved to higher positions (IE from First Officer to Captain) the higher position often means being based at a lower seniority station. They chose not to relocate, knowing that they will eventually have the seniority to hold their new position at the base where they live.
Either way, they need to commute to work for awhile. They have the great benefit of option #1 and using passes to commute, but passes don't garuntee transportation, leaving the the commuting employee being (seriously) late for work.
Therefore, many commuting airline employees buy a ticket just like you and me. That paid ticket entitles them to the same benefits you and I get.
When you see a uniformed employee boarding a flight, you most likely have no idea which scenario they fall into. You seem to be assuming all employee travelers are "space available/pass riders"
As an ex Gate AAgent, I'm going to say that upgrading "pass riders" over eligible "ticket holders" (regardless of their employer of uniform) is rare do to the possible repercussions.
For a long time time now, the uniforms have been the same.
Even the station doesn't say too much. Starting as a Gate AAgent at DFW in 1983, I assume I'm an "old timer self entitled legacy AA staff", yet I ended my career in PHX. I'm not gonna say if I ever considered myself "perky" or not other than I feel my station assignment had nothing to do with it
Nov 21, 2021, 10:44 pm
#12
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Houston , TX
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Posts: 703
Who's noticing American Airlines upgrading their own employees before elite status paying cusomters? I'm Executive Platinum, 175K this year. 150+ segments. Have witnessed several times employees get the last 3 or 4 first class seats before paying customers. Not just once or twice, have witnessed this first hand about 20+ segments the past few months.
Who else is seeing this with American Airlines? How can we constructively inform the loyalty program management about this monkey business the staff seems to be pulling off?
Side note. Seems to be more frequently with the old timer self entitled legacy AA staff and not so much of the original perky America West employees.
Who else is seeing this with American Airlines? How can we constructively inform the loyalty program management about this monkey business the staff seems to be pulling off?
Side note. Seems to be more frequently with the old timer self entitled legacy AA staff and not so much of the original perky America West employees.
Nov 21, 2021, 10:47 pm
#13
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Nomad
Programs: AA MM EP, QF Gold, UA Silver, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LTT, HH Gold, National Exec, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,110
When you see an employee in uniform boarding a flight with a boarding pass, there are several possible scenarios ...
1) the employee is flying on a "pass"
Passes are an employee benefit at most airlines. They are "space available" meaning there is no confirmed reservation and you're only given a seat assignment when it's clear that all confirmed passengers can be accommodated. Depending on the flight, the boarding pass might be issued hours in advance or just a few minutes before departure. If requesting First Class, the assignment will most likely not happen (if at all) until boarding. The employee is flying on their own "dime & time" and might owe a small service charge.
It's common for crew members who live in one city (IE: AUS) but are based out of another (IE: DFW) to "commute" to/from work using passes.
2) the employee is being "deadheaded"
This is when an employee assigned at one station is needed to cover schedule at another station.
Depending on the specific reason to get the employee to another station, they may be designed "space available" (standby) or "must ride" (bump a confirmed passenger if needed). Either way, the employee is traveling on the airline's "dime & time".
This is rare among Agent and other groups, but common among crews (Pilots & Cabin Crew) who are not based at all stations.
Depending on the length of the flight the employee is covering, union contracts sometime call for the employee to be accommodated in First Class to ensure they're 'rested' for whatever long haul flight they're covering. The airline will gladly inconvenience one passenger a complimentary upgrade on the 'deadhead' flight versus affecting 100+ passengers by cancelling the flight that needs employee coverage.
1) the employee is flying on a "pass"
Passes are an employee benefit at most airlines. They are "space available" meaning there is no confirmed reservation and you're only given a seat assignment when it's clear that all confirmed passengers can be accommodated. Depending on the flight, the boarding pass might be issued hours in advance or just a few minutes before departure. If requesting First Class, the assignment will most likely not happen (if at all) until boarding. The employee is flying on their own "dime & time" and might owe a small service charge.
It's common for crew members who live in one city (IE: AUS) but are based out of another (IE: DFW) to "commute" to/from work using passes.
2) the employee is being "deadheaded"
This is when an employee assigned at one station is needed to cover schedule at another station.
Depending on the specific reason to get the employee to another station, they may be designed "space available" (standby) or "must ride" (bump a confirmed passenger if needed). Either way, the employee is traveling on the airline's "dime & time".
This is rare among Agent and other groups, but common among crews (Pilots & Cabin Crew) who are not based at all stations.
Depending on the length of the flight the employee is covering, union contracts sometime call for the employee to be accommodated in First Class to ensure they're 'rested' for whatever long haul flight they're covering. The airline will gladly inconvenience one passenger a complimentary upgrade on the 'deadhead' flight versus affecting 100+ passengers by cancelling the flight that needs employee coverage.
Business travel (duty travel) is nearly always "positive space," and the onboarding cabin (economy, business, or first) depends on level of the person and whether it's domestic or international. Where employees are not onboarding into a premium cabin for duty travel, they usually have a high priority for upgrades to premium cabins. I believe, depending on the airline, that can be above unconfirmed elites. Positive space is between "standby" and "must ride." Positive space tickets are confirmed bookings and take a seat out of inventory, but in an involuntary denied boarding situation, positive space passengers are likely the first to be offloaded. "Must ride" passengers will not be off-boarded regardless of how many passengers need to be bumped off a flight (though now carriers will not remove already boarded passengers to accommodate even must rides).
Nov 22, 2021, 5:03 am
#14
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: FSD
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Posts: 463
Sometime you never really know I guess.
I was just on a paid F flight this week from GNV to DFW and the flight was F1 with 3 people on the waitlist. I was in 1A and was listening in when the GA came onboard with a jump seat pilot who went straight to the cockpit and dropped her stuff. They discussed moving the pilot to 1F over the next passenger on the upgrade list. The GA left it to the FA to decide and left and pulled back the jet bridge. The FA offered the pilot the seat and she declined and stayed in the cockpit jump seat. By the time all this happened it was time to close the door and the seat went out empty.
The person on the UG list probably never knew the seat went out empty.
Stuff happens. If you want to sit in the big seat, pay for it. That’s what I do…
ymmv
I was just on a paid F flight this week from GNV to DFW and the flight was F1 with 3 people on the waitlist. I was in 1A and was listening in when the GA came onboard with a jump seat pilot who went straight to the cockpit and dropped her stuff. They discussed moving the pilot to 1F over the next passenger on the upgrade list. The GA left it to the FA to decide and left and pulled back the jet bridge. The FA offered the pilot the seat and she declined and stayed in the cockpit jump seat. By the time all this happened it was time to close the door and the seat went out empty.
The person on the UG list probably never knew the seat went out empty.
Stuff happens. If you want to sit in the big seat, pay for it. That’s what I do…
ymmv
Last edited by jhalapin; Nov 22, 2021 at 5:06 am Reason: I can’t spell
Nov 22, 2021, 5:34 am
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP / LT PLT / 3MM, Marriott LT Gold
Posts: 35,919
I've taken close to 1,000 AA flights and have never noticed the phenomenon that the OP and others speak of. I'm also usually minding my own business and not looking for things to get outraged about.
I mostly buy premium cabin now but my upgrade record as an EXP since 2004 has been over 95% (100% on international).
I mostly buy premium cabin now but my upgrade record as an EXP since 2004 has been over 95% (100% on international).