Pulled off after boarding?

Have you ever been pulled off the plane after boarding?

In another welcome post to a new member, we digressed a bit about being boarded and then pulled off the plane. I started to post my story there but thought it would be an interesting new topic.

Randy actually new someone that was seated and the plane was taxiing. It had to return to the gate to deplane the nonrev when a passenger came out of the lav!!

Here's my story:

Once when my grown kids were small, I knew the flight was full and had prepared them to sit seperately. I boarded and had to search the plane for seats with all the passengers seated and watching my every move. I seated my first child then the second one. Then I slowly walked to the back looking from side to side with all the other passengers seated and watching. Horror - I reached the back and there were no more seats. I had to gather up both kids, get off and standby for the next one. http://www.nonrev.net/infopop/emotic...n_confused.gif

I'm glad that's only happened to me once. http://www.nonrev.net/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

Well I've been pulled off a plane (and replaced by an employee traveling on business) twice and been told to gather my things and move from 'first' to 'coach' (because of a late arrving pax) once. Trust me that walk from first to coach, carrying my little travel pillow, was one of the most watched 'boarding' of my life, with lots of pointing, quiet laughing and plenty of speculation on why I was being sent back to "take any seat" coach, just before takeoff. http://bestsmileys.com/whisper/1.gif
By the time we reached cruising altitude, the popular consensus was that I was a coach pax who had tried to sneak into first class, a theory that was later reinforced when my meal was 'held http://www.nonrev.net/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif' until everyone else in the cabin was served. *Ah for the days of meals in coach*
One thing I can tell you, it's no fun being thought of as an inept crook who got caught even before the door closed. http://www.nonrev.net/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif http://www.nonrev.net/infopop/emotic...on_biggrin.gif

Keep'em flying

I was traveling on company business and was pulled from a flight in OMA. I was flying "positive space" but it didn't seem to matter. I hung out at the tiny airport for about 5 or 6 hours waiting on the next MDW flight. I still have the refrigerator magnet bought at the gift shop!

While returning from my mother's funeral in Oklahoma our names were called but we were told to stay put - that we may or may not be needed. They just wanted us to be put on notice. I told them we were on "positive space" (a courtesy extended under such circumstances) but not the reason. A few minutes later they came to the back where we were seated, they had pulled our PNR to "unboard" us and noticed the reason for our trip. We were told to stay in our seats and that we would never be pulled under such circumstances. And, we weren't!

I have been pulled off before, but none of the times memorable.
What I have seen is the opposite. Some of the most amusing stories we have at the airport are when an agent (or Manager) gets stuck on the flight the door closes. I have had it happened to me. Most of the time the Flight Attendant recognizes someone is on that shouldn't be. There are times though that the flight pushes back and gets ready to taxi. The cockpit crew gets a big kick out of it and calls back to see if we are missing an employee. The truth is we are always tempted to tell them to take the employee with them so we don't ruin our OnTime performance. We can always have them sent back on the next flight.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by CSSup:
Some of the most amusing stories we have at the airport are when an agent (or Manager) gets stuck on the flight the door closes. I have had it happened to me. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

You Coyne,... now I'd like to hear more about that. http://www.nonrev.net/infopop/emotic...on_biggrin.gif

Keep'em flying

My wife was seated in Coach, I was up in First.
After being served my white wine, I was changed to Coach, so I walked back to Coach, next to wife with my wine. After take-off, the FA brought us more wine.
Just returned from CPT, and SAA still has free booze on international and......food and booze on domestic!

My father and I were pulled off in ATL...seems they had a no show so we were boarded - seperated in coach and middle seats...well the no show guy was in the gate house asleep and woke up right b4 they closed the door so they pulled my father and i off the flight (we couldnt seperate due the drive at the end of our flight) and allowed the rev passenger and 1 other non-rev to board...the flight took a 15minute delay to get the new passengers seated and carryon stowed..

Years back, when I was about 10 years old, I was traveling CVG-SFO with my mother and two brothers. We boarded the plane, a business class configured 757, in seats 4AB and 5AB. I had my footrest up, my blanket on, and was about to fall asleep. I think my brothers were already asleep. (It was the last flight out at about 10:00 IIRC) So we are waiting for the boarding door to close when all of a sudden a DL agent comes up with some other passengers and tells us to get out. Some CVG-SJC or CVG-OAK flight cancelled so they put them on our flight. I took off my blanket, put up my footrest, drank the rest of my drink, woke up my brothers, and we proceeded into the deserted airport. We had no idea what we were going to do so we tiredly made our way to the Drawbridge Inn. We proceeded to the airport early the next morning, didn't get out until around noon, and got middle seats in coach. What a trip.

I was pulled off a flight from Little Rock to Atlanta. The plane was too heavy! So they let our seats go empty.

I've decided that Americans are too fat to fly!!! http://www.nonrev.net/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

Never, in 15 years of nonrev travel.
I have never been stuck in another city. I have not made a flight in my home city, but that is ok, you just go back home.
Luck I guess.

I have never been pulled out of a seat either, and have never been stuck in any airport. The most I've had to wait was 3 flights before getting to where I need to go. Always on my own airline, no interline benefits used as of yet. Gotten first to/from Heathrow, Kansai, and Narita.

Of course I've only been in the industry for two years, so I'm sure it'll happen to me at some point.

Never been pulled off in the 40 years I've been flying. I was on a flt once,when the flt attendant asked if "Jim Smith (made up name) would identify himself to flt attendants". She came down and said something to him and then he gathered up all his carry-ons and left, and someone came on and took his seat. Hope I never have to go through that!

Last week I was desperately trying to make it home from SLC and after using an S2 and missing one flight home to CVG I finally by chance of people who were fed up with the delay (2hr) and decided to go Friday, was assigned a seat. 30E. I was sitting after getting fastened in and saying my thanks for making it when the gate agent came up and said I had to take 36E. The gentleman behind her took my seat. Today I wondered if he was higher priority than me or a revenue pax & if that was why he got the aisle and I the middle.? No matter I was happy as heck to be getting home after being stuck in SAN from tuesday night on to thurs. afternoon. And for not having to stay in SLC any longer.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Macq98:
I was sitting after getting fastened in and saying my thanks for making it when the gate agent came up and said I had to take 36E. The gentleman behind her took my seat. Today I wondered if he was higher priority than me or a revenue pax & if that was why he got the aisle and I the middle.? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

If I had to guess, I would say he was a revenue pax, however there is always the chance he was a close personal friend of the gate agent. http://www.nonrev.net/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif
BTW, welcome aboard Macq98

Keep'em flying

Personally, as I work as a gate agent on for AA in CMH, I'd try to avoid pulling non-revs off the plane. Thats why I clear them last if a flight is full, and wait till all revenue pax ar boarded before BP are given out. Unfortunatelly on rare occasion I have had to pull non-revs off the plane...

When it seating asignments, I always try to give the best possible seating to non-revs, however, revenue pax always have priority and the non-revs can get stuck in 32E ir etc... Hey, I've been there myself http://www.nonrev.net/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

Thankfully, I have never been pulled off the plane myself, although it's a little tense everytime till' the door closes and the bridge is off., and you can finally chill out...http://www.nonrev.net/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

Welcome aboard 44K.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by 44k
When it seating asignments, I always try to give the best possible seating to non-revs.... </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
I like your style. http://www.nonrev.net/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif http://bestsmileys.com/thumbs/7.gif

Keep'em flying

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (44k @ Jul 11 2007, 11:05 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

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Personally, as I work as a gate agent on for AA in CMH, I&#39;d try to avoid pulling non-revs off the plane. Thats why I clear them last if a flight is full, and wait till all revenue pax ar boarded before BP are given out. Unfortunatelly on rare occasion I have had to pull non-revs off the plane...

When it seating asignments, I always try to give the best possible seating to non-revs, however, revenue pax always have priority and the non-revs can get stuck in 32E ir etc... Hey, I&#39;ve been there myself http://www.nonrev.net/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

Thankfully, I have never been pulled off the plane myself, although it&#39;s a little tense everytime till&#39; the door closes and the bridge is off., and you can finally chill out...http://www.nonrev.net/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/b]

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Personally I am always worried whenever I&#39;m in F...I do the "C&#39;mon lets pushback...we push...C&#39;mon lets Taxi...we taxi...C&#39;mon lets get airborne...we rotate then I can let out some relief and ALWAYS...the passenger next to me goes "First time flying huh?" Haha.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Migflanker @ Jun 23 2006, 07:09 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

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<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:

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<div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by CSSup:
Some of the most amusing stories we have at the airport are when an agent (or Manager) gets stuck on the flight the door closes. I have had it happened to me. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

You Coyne,... now I&#39;d like to hear more about that. http://www.nonrev.net/infopop/emotic...on_biggrin.gif

Keep&#39;em flying[/b][/quote]

When working the ramp in SLC (before the DL/WA merger) and we only had 5 flights a day, we were already for departure of the flight to ATL when one of the pax in coach couldn&#39;t get their seatbelt to work properly. I ran down to WA&#39;s mtc. department and got a new belt. Ran back up to the plane and before I walked thru the door, I told the gate agent to remember that I was on board and not to push back. Well, as I was hooking up the new belt, I felt the jerk of the plane being pushed back. I told the crew to tell the pushback crew to stop the plane and drop the rear stairs for me. I wasn&#39;t about to go to ATL that day!

BTW, in 33+ years, I was never pulled off.....been upgraded and downgraded to empty seats before but never pulled off.

LOL. Well it happened to me again. I was in ATL 2 weeks ago for our new hire F/A graduation class -- major storms that day in the northeast and south Florida so the flights home were all oversold. We finally got on a flight to MLB and set to drive the rest of the way -- after getting settled the gate agent makes an announce that due to the storms in Florida they were adding fuel and pulling off the standby passengers, she pulled off 7 nonrevs. After that my buddies and I made ourway to Hertz and ended up driving the 8 1/2hrs from ATL to PBI.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (DeltaFlyer @ Feb 25 2008, 08:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

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-- after getting settled the gate agent makes an announce that due to the storms in Florida they were adding fuel and pulling off the standby passengers, she pulled off 7 nonrevs.[/b]

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DeltaFlyer, you&#39;re really going to have to learn to hide better. http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...#>/biggrin.gif
http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/9457/hidinggk0.th.jpg

We were on ASA in ATL, just before the door closed they boarded an over weight pax, the FA came back and took us off!

We were pulled off flying across the country - we made it GEG/MSP fine then MSP/MCO were pulled off at the very last minute. We were not sitting together and it was my husbands first time flying nonrev! (we were actually headed to a cruise for our honeymoon). As we walked off the plane 2 people running past us were saying sorry. The agent at the gate was really nice and said she hated when that happened to people and that we were on the next flight no matter what - and we were and sitting together!

Another time I was upgraded to first and at the last minute moved back. I think it was on United and at the time you walked onto the aircraft you took a lunch out of a refrigerator - but if you were in first you didn&#39;t need to do that - so I didn&#39;t and so had nothing since I was moved.

Oh well - I have been moved into first quite a few times and it is such a treat that I just enjoy it when I get it and don&#39;t worry about getting pulled.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (melaniee @ Apr 22 2008, 01:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

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Another time I was upgraded to first and at the last minute moved back. I think it was on United and at the time you walked onto the aircraft you took a lunch out of a refrigerator - but if you were in first you didn&#39;t need to do that - so I didn&#39;t and so had nothing since I was moved.[/b]

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Oh, for the good old days.....food in coach. http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...IR#>/laugh.gif
And to think I used to scoff at the Bistro meal.

My husband and I were traveling to Paris for a friend&#39;s wedding (in June!) - so we went on separate flights.

As he was seated in the last coach seat, he was paged by the FA to bring his belongings. Everyone around him assumed he was being "upgraded" - and, in fact, the person sitting next to him pretty much congratulated him http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...IR#>/smile.gif My husband just knew he was being taken off the flight.

But, much to his surprise - he WAS upgraded and put in First. Meanwhile, I flew coach DFW-MIA and Coach MIA-CDG! But we made it, so what am I complaining about http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...#>/biggrin.gif

We have both been taken off of flights before - but the story of having to take your two little ones off after getting settled sends shivers up my spine! I have a 2 and 6 year old and can&#39;t imagine. The first time we were ever even split up, my husband took the baby on the last seat from MSP to ORD and my older child and I stayed behind. We had taken IDs with us, so they were on a UA flight (I work for AA). So, on top of screaming at the top of her lungs in the airport "I don&#39;t understand WHY Daddy and Jessie are going without us!", she also started screaming "And WHY are they NOT on AMERICAN AIRLINES!" (Score one for the good guys http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...DIR#>/cool.gif ).

And one last story - we got the last two seats on an ABQ-DFW flight once because a pair of armed robbers (pre 9/11) had boarded our flight and were caught by our crack staff. They had flown from ICT to DFW and then bought tickets on the spot for ABQ. The police arrested them on the jet bridge after pulling them off the flight in DFW. The person sitting next to my husband was irate that they were delayed by taking those pax off - of course, he had no idea why they were removed.

-L

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (sydnerd @ May 16 2008, 01:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

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she also started screaming "And WHY are they NOT on AMERICAN AIRLINES!" (Score one for the good guys http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...DIR#>/cool.gif ).[/b]

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I love it. http://bestsmileys.com/clapping/5.gif Have to get that booster a AA cap. http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...DIR#>/wink.gif

Fun times. This happened to both my mother and I in the same week. She was in GPT, pulled of EV CRJ for another PAX. I was in DTW, pulled of OH CRJ for more gas.

And not the same situation, but I was forgotten about by an ATL gate agent who sent the flight out with plenty of empty seats. I got the 3rd flight to MDT after that.

I hope this doesn&#39;t happen too often, it&#39;s no fun.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (sydnerd @ May 16 2008, 03:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

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As he was seated in the last coach seat, he was paged by the FA to bring his belongings. Everyone around him assumed he was being "upgraded" - and, in fact, the person sitting next to him pretty much congratulated him http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...IR#>/smile.gif My husband just knew he was being taken off the flight.

But, much to his surprise - he WAS upgraded and put in First. Meanwhile, I flew coach DFW-MIA and Coach MIA-CDG! But we made it, so what am I complaining about http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...#>/biggrin.gif[/b]

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That has happened to me a few times but since the flights were so open, I knew they would not be pulling me off.
I was on a BA 747-400 from JFK to LHR with only about 50 people on it and they moved me up front.
Good times, good times.

Her Ladyship and I were seated in coach on a US Airways flight from PHL to Roma. As we nestled into our seats, an in flight came by and enquired: "Are you two our non-revs?"

"Damn," I thought. "They are going to chuck us off."

I thought about lying. Then I realized, of course, that they had paperwork that would reveal my mendacity. So I fessed up.

And the in flight said: "Oh good. When we are in the air, we&#39;d like you to come up and sit in first class."

Life is, as someone observed earlier in this thread, good. The downside of such treatment is that Her Ladyship expects to fly first class every time now. I fail her mostly, of course. </span>

I work in an outstation, so we are cross-trained. When I am at the ticket counter, I refuse to give out standby passes to anyone unless I know I can fit everyone for the rest of the day on that one plane. I have been in the position too many times of having to take away boarding passes from standbys, both rev and non when another agent has prematurely given out the passes. (due to weight restrictions, cancellations, etc., not because I&#39;m a mean person. http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...DIR#>/cool.gif ) Most of the rev passengers I&#39;ve had to take bps away from were never really informed they were on standby anyway, they thought they had been confirmed on the earlier flight, because they were offered an earlier flight and the standby process wasn&#39;t explained properly.

I actually had a supervisor hand out two bps to a couple of non revs almost an hour prior to departure. When I got to the gate to work the flight, they were numbers 14&15 and I would have had to deny boarding to an elite passenger who the same supervisor put on the list at the last minute, when he knew there were 13 seats open. Thankfully, the nonrevs were gracious, but I felt absolutely horrible.

Also, with positive space, it shouldn&#39;t matter what the reason for positive space, at that point, it is the passenger&#39;s option to volunteer, they should not be forced, or that&#39;s the way I understand it.

Long story short my wife & I and our oldest son who wasn&#39;t much more than a baby at the time was pulled of a non stop BGI-MIA flt on BW. BW allowed us to use the ticket to go BGI-JFK with a stop in ANU. From JFK we got ground to LGA and managed to take the Air Florida non-stop at 2130 to MIA. A real long day but we made it.

Back in my days at Southwest i was on a flight from SAN to DAL via ABQ. We get to ABQ and have a feeling we&#39;re gonna get pulled, but boarding commences and everything seems good. Suddenly an old lady is walking down the aisle trying to find a non existent seat! Needless to say, suddenly someone realizes we were meant to be pulled http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e..._DIR#>/sad.gif

Another time thought I got lucky. HOU-BWI flight was full and I was told I had no chance. Doors close, bridge away but I was still seated in the gate area. Suddenly the bridge goes back to the aircraft and a couple decide to get off! I run onto the plane, get an exit row seat, and have some guy a row up chastise me for being the last on the flight and getting the best seat... if only he knew.

Non revving on SWA was fun... these days the most fun it gets is being told you have a seat in HKG at STD-15mins, with the plane at the farthest away gate http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...>/rolleyes.gif

One time my wife and I entered the plane in Cleveland going to IAH and there was only one seat left, the flight attendant asked me if I could take the next flight. I whipped out my jump seat authorization and sat in the cockpit with the pilot. Hard to get knocked off when I have the ace in the hole. THAT IS, if no pilot or mechanic or FAA guy has taken up the seat first. That was the closest time for me to getting "Pulled out".

As a Delta Red (NW merger transition period) we were encouraged to non-rev on DL to familiarize ourselves with our new colleagues. We&#39;re listed behind DL proper but before everyone else. There were 4 seats left- 2 for me and another NW, and 2 for 2 other guys from another airline. When I approached my seat, they double booked my seat assignment. The other two OA employees took their seats and quickly settled in, of course, seeing our predicament. Rather than having the lower priority guys leave, they made me and the other NW pax leave. We went with the flow. Absolutely no reason to make a big fuss. We know how this works. I had to take NW via MSP to get to ATL, and subsequently missed the flight to SJU and had to spend the night in Atlanta. It&#39;s all cool, but I was surpised that that the FA didn&#39;t make any effort to remove the last 2. I got a meek apology but that was it.

Well, at least it worked out ok but that&#39;s a drag when it comes down to a close situation. I hadn&#39;t heard the "Delta Red" name--
kinda interesting. Welcome here and with DL (does that make me Blue?)