Comments

1. Nice use of the T-word in a negative connotation. Surely, that won’t offend the right-wing snowflakes.

   On the subject of upgrades, yeah, sure would be nice to always sit up front, but we’re not always that lucky, no matter how ‘loyal’ we are. Even if we purchase First/Business Class, the airline can down-gauge or oversell, so it’s best to remain calm, set low expectations, seek refunds, reimbursements, and courtesy miles, but otherwise be grateful for the privilege of modern air travel. Or, bitch. You can do that, too.

2. Yup.

   Last Tuesday I flew MIA-DCA and there were 3 pilots in F. This was the first MIA-DCA after a snow event at DCA effectively shut it down, so I expect there was some recovery to be had.

   My UG nevertheless cleared.

3. OMG, can some of us make a single, solitary post without somehow bringing in politics and insults to those on the other side?

4. Does Delta pay you to run negative stories against American? Serious question. You are constantly smearing American and rarely run negative stories against Delta or United.

   Delta and United have the same policy for seat accommodations for deadheading pilots, yet you never run any stories on them. Very suspicious on your part.

   Pilots deadheading to go fly a plane with hundreds of people onboard should be rested and in the best physical condition. Yes, free stuff is fun but if I want first, I’ll pay for it.

5. I believe on Delta and United same thing deadhead pilots go to the top and that is the reason the AA pilots added it to their contract. Now why a DH pilots flying PHXTUS needs first class for a 20 min flight I have no idea

6. @Thing 1

   Not to get too meta here, but Gary didn’t directly refer to His Majesty, but the word choice is the same (the T-word), so it’s ironic, if not purposeful, and clearly already drove engagement based on your reaction to his title and/or my comment, which helps the site, you know, because of the ‘clicks’ and ad-revenue and referrals, ideally.

   If it offends you personally, you don’t have to react. Some of us enjoy the banter. Politic is inherent in nearly all news these days because it is about people, culture, money, and power. Isn’t the ‘upgrade’ topic (seating on airplanes, classes of service, benefits of status, etc.) also about the same?

   Happy to ‘break the fourth wall’ for you or anyone, anytime. Feel free to attack me personally. I could use some fresh name-calling. I’m hungry. Feed me.

7. If you’re flying a trunk route or out of a larger non hub airport chances are there’s going to be a deadheading pilot. If you want first bad enough, pay for it. The cash upgrade offers if you bother to take the time to monitor usually become very reasonable.

   And I have no idea why some moron would think this is a “right wing issue.” It’s more of an issue of people that seem to think they should be given something for nothing. You’re not that all special Mr/Ms EXP.

8. So, the employees are more important than the customers ? Must be the new way to run a company?

9. @RobertBoltz, you are correct imo. Management 101, never put the employees above your best paying customers, period. Isom giving any employee (including via collective bargaining agreements) this entitlement over a paying customer is idiot management sub-101. Big reason, this EP & LTP has essentially stopped flying AA.

10. for those that are convinced that DL and UA have the same provisions so the same thing is going on at those two airlines, there simply is not the evidence to show that DL and UA bump revenue passengers out of FC upgrades to the extent that AA does.

    I am not a fan of anecdotal reports but if it existed, there should be evidence including by showing standby lists (which are available on all 3 US airlines to at least passengers on the flight) as well as pictures of DL and UA crews in FC seats while revenue passengers are still on the standby list.

    For whatever reason, AA agreed to this provision and it is further eroding their relationshp with high value passengers more than for other airlines.

11. I love the people demanding their free upgrade!

    Snowflakes! Give me free stuff!!!!!

12. @Tim Dunn – My understanding is AA does not bump revenue passengers from first for deadheading pilots, they are just put at top of the upgrade list, so if people want first they can either buy it or pay for an upgrade in advance then it is guaranteed (except in case if irregular ops or an equipment change).

    Gary – PLEASE quit posting the same thing about deadheading pilots getting upgraded to first ahead of passengers. It is reality (in their contract) and was negotiated against other issues so isn’t going to change. I believe UA has similar language. And for all you people saying they put employees over customers if you are flying on OPM and looking to get a FREE upgrade you frankly have no room to whine. BTW long time traveler (8 million miles or so over 40 years and lifetime 3 million miler with AA ) but I understand both the pilot contract and changing business reality (monetizing premium cabin is blocking your upgrades a lot more than pilots getting a seat) so get over yourselves.

13. @Robert Boltz, @D.A., et. al.

    Of course airline(s) management(s) are going to screw over the airline(s) most loyal customers, i.e., those who have earned status:

    They already have your money and they know that the screwed won’t do anything about it other than piss and moan and make abstract cases about how if the airlines screw over their “best customers”, it will come back to haunt them on powerless blogs, forums, and social media channels.

    As well, most airlines are doing great right now and everybody from the CEO on down will get paid; when there’s a downturn, the airlines will simply beg for bailout money (and get it) and, again, everybody will get paid. So why not screw a loyal customer and, many times, even a paying customer?

    The screwed will continue to belong to the loyalty program, hold co-branded cards (and some will use them), and fly the airline(s); all the righteous indignation and threats to “never fly XYZ airline again”, are nought but a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.

14. Here’s the thing with better data mining airlines have figured out that a lot of those road warriors, specifically the ones that travel only domestically aren’t all that profitable. Due to company/client policies they generally have to book cheaper coach tickets. They can’t book premium. So there’s a lot of revenue/volume but not a lot of profit while being generously rewarded. Loyalty doesn’t always equate to profitability.

    So airlines have shifted to awarding elite status based upon spend or ticket inventory class/code and those that heavily use co-branded credit cards. Also, monetizing what was formerly free. All the airlines are doing with only Alaska being the last hold out.

    We can go back to 1970s style pricing when airfares were designed to provide a positive margin and then give all kinds of benefits to profitable, higher volume coach passengers. But you’d know what the collective response would be.

15. The only ones complaining about this are people who dont pay for their own tickets anyway.

    Your beef is solely with your employer, negotiate sitting up front as part of your work travel, and stop whining.

16. You don’t know where that pilot is coming from or going. They may be flying a 14 hr flight from Dfw to icn but your complimentary upgrade on a 2hr flight from TPA to DFW didn’t clear. Let them have their rest. Pilots will need to have a dress code and change of clothes in order not to trigger other grown adults. Pilot fatigue is a thing and it’s in their contract.

17. In response to an American Airlines elite AAdvantage Executive Platinum passenger who was unable to use his systemwide upgrade certificate because the flight crew members were given priority for better seats in the premium cabin, American Airlines stated, “We understand the importance of having your upgrade cleared, and we’re sorry. Under our pilot collective bargaining agreement, pilots deadheading to operate a flight are added to the top of the upgrade list at their time of check-in.”

    George N. Romey replied, “If you’re flying a trunk route or departing from a larger non-hub airport, there’s a good chance there will be a deadheading pilot on the flight. If you want first class seats badly enough, you should pay for it. The cash upgrade options, if you take the time to monitor them, usually become quite reasonable.”

    I say, “You should consider becoming a union pilot so you can laugh, guffaw, and chuckle at all the elite passengers you bumped during your complimentary first-class seat upgrade mandated under the collective bargaining agreement while deadheading to operate a flight and, all while earning an enormous paycheck.”

18. @AC

    It’s sounds like you officially have 3 million miles flown ; not 8 million. You would need to provide proof and million miles earned post 2012 merger from spending and cabin bonus don’t apply. But 3m is still a huge number.

19. This is not standard United Airlines practice. Pilots may occupy any available seat, except on long-haul flights where a fully reclining bed is required; therefore, Polaris is the only suitable option.

20. So the video that was posted made sense. I guess the airlines CAN force a coach passenger to take the upgrade to first. Haha

21. D3Kingg
    Deadheading is considered on-duty time
    US regulations and union contracts do not allow a pilot to deadhead on a 14 hour segment and then do any work before or after that segment, so, no the pilots cannot be working a longhaul international flight with a deadhead.

    If the pilot flew as crew a MIA-TPA, deadheaded TPA-DFW, and then worked as crew a DFW-ORD segment, it might all be legal and the argument about having the pilot rest, but feel free to let us know the percentage of deadhead segments that are BEFORE a cockpit duty assigment.
    Otherwise, the pilots are simply repositioning and have to rest as would be the case in your DFW-ICN example

22. I would definitely leave a chocolate bar or two and I bathroom with a stick and rock so it will not flush

23. @D3Kingg – I said 3 million with AA. I also have 2.5 million with DL and around 2+ million more spread among United, Southwest and many airlines that no longer exist (Western, Pan Am, TWA, Eastern, etc.) Also, I started travelling heavily in the early 80s so the vast majority of my miles were earned “butt in seat” as opposed to based on credit card spend.

24. Speaking of American Airlines, our beloved Señor Leff won’t be hassled for suspected sex trafficking of wife while flying. Unfortunately the same can’t be said for others:

    https://us.yahoo.com/news/black-cop-accused-trafficking-white-192455949.html

25. Post on deadheading pilots again, I will repeat myself. I pay for F. My preference for unsold F seats: 1) empty, 2) deadheading pilots, 3) attractive single women from Y, 4) those with staus.