Does anyone have airline questions? Ask me!

Hi all!

I was just responding to someone looking for airline-related information on another thread, and I thought that maybe other UK-Yankees had encountered things they had always wondered about during their travels, but never got the chance to ask!

I've got a few years' experience with a major US-based international airline.  I've worked in pretty much every airport job there is.  My first job was as the guy who empties the toilet tanks when the planes come in.  Cleaning the actual toilets was a promotion!  Heh.  I've also worked in customer service, air freight, baggage handling, and now the maintenance department (though I'm not a mechanic.)

So ask me anything!  Maybe why things are done a certain way, or something technical about the airplanes?



ian

Cool thread!

What's the best way to get complimentary upgrades? And how come I seem to get better seats when I check in late? On my last trip, the bottom cushion of my seat came detached...should I have been worried?

I've been given the job to refill toilet paper and paper towels by a stewardess once on a BA flight. It was my first time flying BA, I thought that's how they save money...by asking passengers to help out.

In general, upgrades are awarded to the most loyal flyers as determined by frequent flyer mileage. As you build up mileage and thus elite status, the system will "reward" you with upgrade certificates you can redeem on future flights. Therefore, many times it's in your best interest to spend a little more in order to keep all your miles flown on the same airline, or at least in the same alliance partners. Also, if your chosen airline offers a credit card, use it to build up the miles. When a flight is overbooked and they need to make room in economy class, often times they will upgrade the highest-mileage people to make room.

Often times, a number of seats are held by the gate agents to allow for flexibility for seat changes. For example, families who need to sit together or disabled people who need special access to an aisle or near the loo. If it gets closer to departure and they're still open, usually you can have them.  Though now that they make you pay for the best seats ("Economy Plus"), it can be more difficult as that's where these seats usually are.

Your seat cushion is designed to come off. The cushions and fabric covers get changed out every so often during overnight maintenance. Also, the seat cushion can be used as a flotation device in the event your flight becomes a cruise.

. Also, the seat cushion can be used as a flotation device in the event your flight becomes a cruise.

Love it! WE are flying with the kids for the first time on a long haul tomorrow! I need to be near the front for a few reasons including one needs to get up I swear every hour to go to the bathroom so I am hoping they don't mess our seats up.

And upgrade would be awesome - I stay on delta.klm.airfrance for the purpose of raking up the miles *nodnod*

Well, if your seats are already booked, then they probably won't change unless they change the type of aircraft.  So you should be fine.  Also, don't be afraid to pre-board.  And I don't know how old your little ones are, but if they're of the age where they care about such things, pilots do still show kids the flight deck if it's early enough and they're not busy.  If not, you can at least get them those little plastic wings.  I used to love giving kids those back when I was a gate agent.

Also, if your chosen airline offers a credit card, use it to build up the miles. When a flight is overbooked and they need to make room in economy class, often times they will upgrade the highest-mileage people to make room.

Ooh love this! Ive got a VA credit card with 53,000 miles (i'm sure that's small change compared to a lot of people!) However my FF membership is in my maiden name and now that I travel in my married name they dont ever get tied up so last time i travelled i lost my miles. I've tried to change it but they want to see a marriage certificate by fax and we dont have a fax machine I always try to travel with virgin though however this time we did miles plus money so i believe we cant claim airmiles for those flights.....

emmy - scan it and email customer service - I did that with Delta anyway!

Or you could try an internet cafe or the post office.  Many of those types of places do faxes.  Also there are web-based scan-and-fax services, though I don't know if they do international.

From an airline point of view, you could still travel under your maiden name if it is notated in your passport.  If it's not there, maybe the embassy can put it on the endorsements page?  I know that's how Italy does it, your passport stays in your maiden name but they have a space on the second page for your married name.

Hi Ian - Just wondering if there's any scuttlebutt around about the possibility of Americans cancelling or changing flights due to the recent riots in the UK? (Wouldn't stop me  ) I have a flight booked later this month (Virgin) and just wondered if there might turn out to be more empty seats.

I haven't heard anything. If today's loads are any indication, everything seems normal.

Or you could try an internet cafe or the post office.  Many of those types of places do faxes.  Also there are web-based scan-and-fax services, though I don't know if they do international.

From an airline point of view, you could still travel under your maiden name if it is notated in your passport.  If it's not there, maybe the embassy can put it on the endorsements page?  I know that's how Italy does it, your passport stays in your maiden name but they have a space on the second page for your married name.

Ah, I am a UKC and i'm not sure if we can have endorsements added to our passports Plus ive had mine renewed already in my married name which im fine with, its just hassle having to update it! However if there is the chance of an upgrade for having lots of miles then i should get on it! Is it number of FF miles they look at or number of trips?

Well generally it's done by elite status. You get elite status by miles flown or by number of flights.  So technically it's both.

Well generally it's done by elite status. You get elite status by miles flown or by number of flights.  So technically it's both.

How many miles must you fly before you're considered elite? I have a regular membership, whereas my husband was given premier status upon joining. Somehow, when he books my flights for me I get better seats and get treated better. Go figure? Or maybe it's some kind of placebo effect...when someone else is paying for your ticket, it feels like a nicer experience?

Wow, your husband got premier upon joining? That's pretty nice.

It's not a placebo...generally, if a premier member books an itinerary for him/her plus others, the whole group gets the benefits.  So when I book travel for me and my husband, he also gets to sit up in the economy plus section.

I have over 25,000 miles with BA and have been told it doesn't give me anything special!! Never had a upgrade...