Quote:
Originally Posted by roz  Have fun! I just returned from a quick trip--first to Florida, then to London for business. But I managed to squeeze in lots of fun--exept for the flying--wow service stinks for us revenue paying passengers! |
Sorry, pet peeve of mine!
Not accusing you of this so please don't think I'm barkin' at ya!
Seriously, I'm not.
Ok, lots of people buy groceries all year on their credit cards, gain miles, travel inexpensively and expect to be upgraded to first class automagically.
First class upgrades, domestically, are handed out like dinner mints so people stop paying for first class because the upgrade comes so easy. Less revenue from selling first class seats means less cash to lavish first class passengers domestically. Basically more people paying less and demanding more while being a
frequent CC charger and not necessarily a
person who flies frequently
International first class/business is different. Largely, if you don't pay for the seat, chances are the passenger isn't going to be upgraded to that class. It happens sometimes on US carriers, but on foreign carriers with the white glove service, freshly cut prime rib and all-you-can-eat king crab, if a passenger doesn't pay for the seat, there's a snowballs chance in heck they're going to upgrade them to first/business.
Many foreign carriers FF programs are for
frequent fliers not frequent credit card chargers so the perks and benefits are greater on foreign carriers because they have a higher revenue stream.
So long story short, the seats go unsold.
But access to unsold seats is part of an employee's hard-fought benefits package.