I am curious as to if other non-rev's and their families have experienced any rude "encounters" from gate agents while trying to non-rev. This weekend was probably the rudest I have encountered. Granted, at times I know the agents are stressed by being understaffed, overbooked flights, cancellations/re-bookings, etc; so I am not complaining about that because I know it sucks. What does bother me, though, are the facts below: No problem checking-in downstairs with baggage and going through security. The flight was back and forth on seat availability so I opted to use my "SA-1" boarding priority (or so I thought until I found out afterwards). When we walked up to the gate to get our passes and announce that we are non-rev's, the agent snapped back at another non-rev and told her "well, NOW that THEY'RE here, you're chances are not good." hmm.. I said "well, THANKS." No greeting or acknowledgement whatsoever. Anyways, she said she'd let us know and ask if we'd split. "Yes", I replied. A few other stand-bys were cleared, which I thought must have been a "must rides" but not in uniform or they, too, could have been SA-1's. Most of us were cleared for a seat but not all so someone stayed back..no biggie. The next flight had seats. Well, when she tried ticketing for the seats, all that were left were emergency seats, which the kids could not seat. I said "we're used to it, we'll change once on-board." "What a pain in the ass", she said. Ok, she said she'd board everyone then us. At the end of the boarding process, the kept yelling "go, go, go" like she was herding cattle. Afterwards, when I asked to be rolled over to the next list, this is where it gets better. She asked (this time) to see my "ID". I presented my driver's license - a Gov't issued photo ID. She said "no, your employee id." Well, I never travel with it, as it is not a requirement, as I never travel in uniform. I told the agent I didn't have it. She looked at me dumbfoundly and made sure what she thought she heard was correct. "No, I do not have my employee ID; however, you can look at my travel profile if you have any questions."
She said "you don't have your employee ID?" "Where do you work?" "what do you do" "Why don't you have your employee ID?" (this was beginning to be a game of 20 questions) Granted I fly out of this airport all the time with no problems except for this particular trip. Previously, I contacted the Travel Bureau and inquired as to wether or not we need our employee ID to travel...the answer.."a Gov't issued photo ID is all you need to board. If any questions, the agent can look under the employee's travel prfile." I knew this and don't like being "questioned" by some nosey agent wanting to know everything. ANyways, once I made my connection, I went to the service desk for another issue. Curiously, I asked what boarding priority we were listed out of the previous city. I was told I was SA-4 and the rest were SA-3! Fuming, I wanted to know why were we boarded at a lower boarding priority when I clearly used a SA-1 on the ETC? "It looks like the agent changed your boarding priority." So, I not only wasted a SA-1 but also would have been screwed on my connecting flight had I not checked my boarding status...another full flight. Not to mention I could have probably gotten a seat before the others at the departure city instead of having to wait for the next flight.
All this being said, I never want to complain on another employee but this is just not acceptable. Now I have to try to get my SA-1 re-credited and wonder why the check-in agent was such a nasty person to another non-rev? Thought? Suggestions?
She said "you don't have your employee ID?" "Where do you work?" "what do you do" "Why don't you have your employee ID?" (this was beginning to be a game of 20 questions) Granted I fly out of this airport all the time with no problems except for this particular trip. Previously, I contacted the Travel Bureau and inquired as to wether or not we need our employee ID to travel...the answer.."a Gov't issued photo ID is all you need to board. If any questions, the agent can look under the employee's travel prfile." I knew this and don't like being "questioned" by some nosey agent wanting to know everything. ANyways, once I made my connection, I went to the service desk for another issue. Curiously, I asked what boarding priority we were listed out of the previous city. I was told I was SA-4 and the rest were SA-3! Fuming, I wanted to know why were we boarded at a lower boarding priority when I clearly used a SA-1 on the ETC? "It looks like the agent changed your boarding priority." So, I not only wasted a SA-1 but also would have been screwed on my connecting flight had I not checked my boarding status...another full flight. Not to mention I could have probably gotten a seat before the others at the departure city instead of having to wait for the next flight.
All this being said, I never want to complain on another employee but this is just not acceptable. Now I have to try to get my SA-1 re-credited and wonder why the check-in agent was such a nasty person to another non-rev? Thought? Suggestions?
