Self-Upgrade Yourself on PAL
This can happen.., you can do it! When flight crews are not that attentive to details, or (probably) when they could not care any less, coupled with your skin's pachedermal thickness.., YES, this can be done!
Look at this: the last two of three rows on Premium Economy of flight PR1852 from Cebu to Manila
I took this photo immediately after the aircraft doors closed because, I wanted to show it to "my dear assistant" that I, seated 23A, was 1 of just 3 passengers on premium economy (the other two seated at 21J and 21K); and that although just a little bit more spacious than regular economy seats, there is really no emergency exit, therefore I do not want to be in this class which I think is a waste of money.
That was what occupied my mind, because I always like the big space beside an emergency exit seat due to my "thank God for my long legged" sabi nga ni Melanie Marquez hehe; and that I am not really a fan of the premium economy food even if hot (heated), since it is just a short one-hour flight anyway.
BUT, eto na Mana Zola..!
Lo and behold.., while the safety demonstration was in progress, the scene became like this..,
Those two men were passengers from the regular economy section, just behind. Even before take off, they transferred to those vacant seats. Notice that arm and body of a woman at right edge of picture - she is the wife of that snoring old man in white shirt now happily and contentedly seated on 23H.
When it was time for the hot meals to be served, these two freeloaders got a killing! They were served the same food that we the three "real" premium economy class passengers received, and they readily accepted and devoured them with gusto hahaha! This man in white did not even share it with his wife!
Of course I got into thinking... two schools of thought in fact!
One: just like what those two men did, anyone can book flights on regular economy, choose seats just after premium economy section, then willfully upgrade themselves to premium economy by "jumping" to the vacant seats in front of them! Too easy, right? If it were me though, I think my conscience would hound me to no end hehe. I think it's 'kinda stealing or fraud?! But if you can stomach this "tactic", go!
Other airlines like the yellow and the red ones are sooo meticulous and strict about seats, right? They even have announcements and signages on those seats kesyo they are "for sale", remember?! Well, at PAL, either it's actually allowed by turning a blind eye, or crews could not care any less, or tanga hehe!
Maybe those meals on PAL always have extra, 'no? Eh ipinamimigay lang ng ganun eh! Right?!
Two (this seems a bit hard for me and probably most Filipinos to do): point out to the crew, that this and that passenger "jumped" into premium economy when they were actually only booked in regular economy seats. They did not pay the right fare, therefore should not be allowed to avail of the wider seats and better meals on premium economy. Seems ideal, but I think I can't do it. In fact, I did not!
What if I actually pointed it out to the crew and they replied with "hayaan nyo na sir, ganyan talaga ang ibang tao"! Oh eh, di napahiya na, pinangaralan pa ako! Di ba?! Hahaha all I could do is blog the story!
Let's discuss. I asked friends about this, just curious how Filipinos think about such situations.
1) A NGO staff, devout Catholic, active CFC officer said: "Hayaan mo, di ka naman nasaktan. You were not deprived of the services you were entitled to as the real premium economy passenger". I agree, but why did I feel (and still feel) hurt? Because I paid more than they did yet they got the same thing?!
2) A lawyer-friend says "it is not just your right but also your duty as a citizen of this country, to tell the airline (PAL) or the authorities when someone is about to, in the act of, or have performed an unlawful act". Jusko napaka-profound naman nyan. Unlawful act talaga? Ano yan bygamy or estafa? Hahaha!
3) Another friend (PAL employee na mataray), with raised eyebrows said "sino yan? I know it's PR1852 but tell me the date, nang maturuan ng leksyon ang cabin crew na yan"! Haha, I did not say the date as I know how this company as an employer works - "explain why" agad, and it is automatically counted as a negative record in the minds of their immediate or succeeding superiors, even if the employee is finally absolved! Kawawa naman si FA. Remember "ang tanga dapat turuan, 'wag parusahan", di ba?
4) Another PAL employee (my common friend with item 3 above) said: "Well, maybe it was just out of the crew's goodwill. Baka me sobra pang meals, because, remember this was already a return flight". [For those not in the know, inflight meals are loaded at MNL (their catering hub), based on estimated passenger loads for both going(to CEB) and coming back(to MNL) usually with konting sobra!].
But I am not happy with item 4. My point is: if you are giving extra to a certain passenger, make sure it is not under the eyes, ears and noses of other passengers who could get offended. In this case ako!
I saw that those two men just snuck into those premium economy seats (while you the crews weren't looking, and how could you?). SEATS pa lang, agrabyado na ako since I paid for mine, why would you allow those who did not pay dearly to sit in my class of service. Otherwise, you should have given me a corresponding refund, di ba? On top of that pinakain mo pa sila ng premium economy meals. Unfair!
5) My driver's point of view: "eh sir, since hindi nakita ng crew at nakita mo, dapat sinabihan mo yung dalawang mamang yun"! Ahm eh, I think that's easier said than done. Chances are mapapa-away lang ako with those two. What if they said "bakit si Lucio Tan ka ba" or "bakit stockholder ka ng PAL"? And I wouldn't have taken those sarcastic questions or comments sitting down! A bigger trouble if I did this.
Anyway, the story might look like I did item 1 above, but with much ire on those two passengers. Hindi bukas sa aking puso that I let them get away with it. I felt so dehado agrabyado. Ang pathetic ko ba?!
Kayo, what would you have done?
Look at this: the last two of three rows on Premium Economy of flight PR1852 from Cebu to Manila
That was what occupied my mind, because I always like the big space beside an emergency exit seat due to my "thank God for my long legged" sabi nga ni Melanie Marquez hehe; and that I am not really a fan of the premium economy food even if hot (heated), since it is just a short one-hour flight anyway.
BUT, eto na Mana Zola..!
Lo and behold.., while the safety demonstration was in progress, the scene became like this..,
When it was time for the hot meals to be served, these two freeloaders got a killing! They were served the same food that we the three "real" premium economy class passengers received, and they readily accepted and devoured them with gusto hahaha! This man in white did not even share it with his wife!
Of course I got into thinking... two schools of thought in fact!
One: just like what those two men did, anyone can book flights on regular economy, choose seats just after premium economy section, then willfully upgrade themselves to premium economy by "jumping" to the vacant seats in front of them! Too easy, right? If it were me though, I think my conscience would hound me to no end hehe. I think it's 'kinda stealing or fraud?! But if you can stomach this "tactic", go!
Other airlines like the yellow and the red ones are sooo meticulous and strict about seats, right? They even have announcements and signages on those seats kesyo they are "for sale", remember?! Well, at PAL, either it's actually allowed by turning a blind eye, or crews could not care any less, or tanga hehe!
Maybe those meals on PAL always have extra, 'no? Eh ipinamimigay lang ng ganun eh! Right?!
Two (this seems a bit hard for me and probably most Filipinos to do): point out to the crew, that this and that passenger "jumped" into premium economy when they were actually only booked in regular economy seats. They did not pay the right fare, therefore should not be allowed to avail of the wider seats and better meals on premium economy. Seems ideal, but I think I can't do it. In fact, I did not!
What if I actually pointed it out to the crew and they replied with "hayaan nyo na sir, ganyan talaga ang ibang tao"! Oh eh, di napahiya na, pinangaralan pa ako! Di ba?! Hahaha all I could do is blog the story!
Let's discuss. I asked friends about this, just curious how Filipinos think about such situations.
1) A NGO staff, devout Catholic, active CFC officer said: "Hayaan mo, di ka naman nasaktan. You were not deprived of the services you were entitled to as the real premium economy passenger". I agree, but why did I feel (and still feel) hurt? Because I paid more than they did yet they got the same thing?!
2) A lawyer-friend says "it is not just your right but also your duty as a citizen of this country, to tell the airline (PAL) or the authorities when someone is about to, in the act of, or have performed an unlawful act". Jusko napaka-profound naman nyan. Unlawful act talaga? Ano yan bygamy or estafa? Hahaha!
3) Another friend (PAL employee na mataray), with raised eyebrows said "sino yan? I know it's PR1852 but tell me the date, nang maturuan ng leksyon ang cabin crew na yan"! Haha, I did not say the date as I know how this company as an employer works - "explain why" agad, and it is automatically counted as a negative record in the minds of their immediate or succeeding superiors, even if the employee is finally absolved! Kawawa naman si FA. Remember "ang tanga dapat turuan, 'wag parusahan", di ba?
4) Another PAL employee (my common friend with item 3 above) said: "Well, maybe it was just out of the crew's goodwill. Baka me sobra pang meals, because, remember this was already a return flight". [For those not in the know, inflight meals are loaded at MNL (their catering hub), based on estimated passenger loads for both going(to CEB) and coming back(to MNL) usually with konting sobra!].
But I am not happy with item 4. My point is: if you are giving extra to a certain passenger, make sure it is not under the eyes, ears and noses of other passengers who could get offended. In this case ako!
I saw that those two men just snuck into those premium economy seats (while you the crews weren't looking, and how could you?). SEATS pa lang, agrabyado na ako since I paid for mine, why would you allow those who did not pay dearly to sit in my class of service. Otherwise, you should have given me a corresponding refund, di ba? On top of that pinakain mo pa sila ng premium economy meals. Unfair!
5) My driver's point of view: "eh sir, since hindi nakita ng crew at nakita mo, dapat sinabihan mo yung dalawang mamang yun"! Ahm eh, I think that's easier said than done. Chances are mapapa-away lang ako with those two. What if they said "bakit si Lucio Tan ka ba" or "bakit stockholder ka ng PAL"? And I wouldn't have taken those sarcastic questions or comments sitting down! A bigger trouble if I did this.
Anyway, the story might look like I did item 1 above, but with much ire on those two passengers. Hindi bukas sa aking puso that I let them get away with it. I felt so dehado agrabyado. Ang pathetic ko ba?!
Kayo, what would you have done?
this article was excerpted in full from my Air Travel stories
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