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Upgraded to cockpit. That's a new one.
What are the odds of being upgraded to cockpit, if a flight is overbooked? Not great, but I will keep hoping.I read with envy the NY Times column of Greg Cohen, a corporate frequent flier, who got "upgraded" from business class to the cockpit jumpseat on a flight from Stockholm to Prague with Czech Air because it was overbooked.
He doesn't mention when this occurred but something tells me it was a long, long time ago, before cockpits were supposed to be as secure as bank safe deposit rooms. It just couldn't happen nowadays, could it?
I fly Czech Air all the time and this never happens to me. I even fly business class with Czech Air because their frequent flier program, OK Plus, allows for easy upgrades. But cockpit? Nobody has ever asked me to sit next to the pilot. How cool would that be? I would gladly skip the warm nuts and sparkling wine of business class for the view out of a cockpit.
Filed under: Europe, Czech Republic, Airlines
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Nick Hawkins Jun 18th 2008 3:34PM
Me so jealous! I'd love to sit in the cockpit for a flight and just watch. I'm sure they'd get tired of me asking questions.
ps: how YOU doin', Iva?
Iva Skoch Jun 18th 2008 3:38PM
I'm doing fine, thanks Nick. Traveling so much I barely have time to blog. It's a strange paradox.
Hope all is well.
Brad Jun 21st 2008 8:22PM
Depends upon where in the World you fly to and how often you fly that Airline. Many years back I flew in the jump seat of a DC-8 from Alaska to Japan.
Another hint to upgrades and perks is to wear a polo shirt with the logo of the Airline you are flying. This has worked well for me.
noeleporta Jun 18th 2008 4:14PM
Does the pilot ask you if you like Gladiator movies? :-) I can't help but think of the movie Airplane.
Hope all is well.
Aimet Jun 18th 2008 4:54PM
I wonder, has anyone ever been downgraded to sit in the bathroom on an overbooked flight?
Justin Glow Jun 18th 2008 5:04PM
http://www.gadling.com/2008/05/13/man-sues-jetblue-for-making-him-sit-on-toilet-during-flight/
Aimet Jun 18th 2008 5:26PM
No way! I can't believe it. What next, strapped to the airplane wing?
Aimet Jun 18th 2008 5:18PM
No way, I can't believe it! What next, strapped to the airplane wing.
Emily Jun 19th 2008 8:51AM
Aimet:
Airline mistakenly carries passenger on outside of plane
http://www.gadling.com/2008/04/01/airline-mistakenly-carries-passenger-on-outside-of-plane/
Iva Skoch Jun 19th 2008 9:10AM
They've done it all! Aside from, maybe, downgrading to the luggage compartment?
Peter Hans Jun 21st 2008 8:15PM
I was on a flight out of Las Vegas and the pilot invited me into the cockpit and I flew as Co-Pilot and the flight engineer left the cockpit door open so my wife could see me and I her. Good thing I was carrying the camera as my wife reached for the barf bag and I snapped a memorable shot!
Pete
Bill Jun 21st 2008 8:21PM
Really, who gives a **** about it? Has been she is!
Brad Jun 21st 2008 8:22PM
Depends upon where in the World you fly to and how often you fly that Airline. Many years back I flew in the jump seat of a DC-8 from Alaska to Japan.
Another hint to upgrades and perks is to wear a polo shirt with the logo of the Airline you are flying. This has worked well for me.
Teresa Jun 21st 2008 8:28PM
My son got upgraded ( if you want to call it that!) at age 12 - to the cockpit - on a flight with me from Costa rica to Miami. He was THRILLED, as I sat in my seat holding hands with the lady he gave his seat to, praying because we were going thru "magenta" weather on the radar...he said when he got off that the capt. let him "fly the plane" - (SCARY!!) and that HE knew the weather was bad when the pilot said OK, now tighten your seat belt & hang on! Oy Vey...but at 12, my son had the experience of a lifetime!!
And...people PAY for this?
Ike Jun 21st 2008 8:38PM
Did the pilot ask if you liked gladiator movies?
Kim Jun 21st 2008 8:41PM
Happened to me!! It was a short flight from Cozumel to Cancun back in 1996, but it was truly amazing. The pilots spoke a little english, hablo espanol un poco, it was so much fun!! We were with another couple and had arrived at the Coz airport a little late, and we had a connecting flight in Cancun to Charlotte. We were told there wasn't room on the plane for 4 more, just 2, that one couple would have to wait an hour for the next flight. We told the other couple to go ahead and we'd hopefully meet them at the airport on time. We had just ordered a drink when an Air Rep comes over and says "We have enough room if one of you is willing to sit up front in the cockpit"--I almost got whiplash twisting around to say to my husband "Oh can I??? Do you mind??" He just laughed. When the stewardess was passing out beverages, she opened the door to the cockpit and handed me a Modelo, I turned around and raised my beer, everyone yelled "Salud!" It was awesome! What a view of the Caribbean, and the Yucatan! I've been taking pilot lessons for the last several years, can't wait to be in the cockpit all the time!
melvinClay Jun 21st 2008 8:49PM
Hay Folks,
This happen to me in Guatemala. On a flight going to the El Peten jungle in a 727 jet. Landed in Flores Guatemala . The airline was Quetal airlines. It was one of the great thrills in my life.... WoW I felt like I was 12 years old.
Melvin Clay
BRUCE Jun 21st 2008 8:53PM
THESE DAYS, IF THE CAPTIAN GETS CAUGHT, HE'S TERMINATED, AND THE FASA FINES THE CRAP OUT OF HIM.
I USE TO FLY MY WIFE IN THE COCKPIT, BUT THAT WAS DOWN TO AUSTRALIA FROM A 3RD WORLD COUNTRY. THEY COULD CARE LESS THERE.
I CAN'T TELL YOU THE OTHER PLACES I SNEAKED HER ON.... BUT IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER. I'M MOSTLY RETIRED NOW. DON'T WORK...BUT GET PAID HANDSOMELY.
Howard Sheinfeld Jun 21st 2008 8:57PM
I once rode as a passenger in the co-pilot's seat of a commercial aircraft. It was in 1983. The flight was a puddlejumper from Jefferson City to St. Louis, MO on the long-forgotten Trans MO Airline. On the outbound leg I had debarked from the 8-passenger plane and was shocked to see that the person who emerged from the co-pilot's door was a passenger who didn't know a word of English. For the return flight I decided that knowledge of the native language would be an advantage in case of emergency so I volunteered to take the front seat myself.
Julie Jun 21st 2008 9:03PM
Now the cockpit would be an upgrade, I don't care how much I have to pay to bring even one bag with me.
My dad was a pilot, Lancasters, in WWII. He walked into the Air Force office and said "if you teach me to fly I'll sign up right now". They said yes, he signed and then he had to go tell his mom and his fiance (my mom). He had a deferment so he didn't have to go, he wanted to go and he wanted to fly.
I've been in the cockpit of a plane that flew me from Detroit to New York, it belonged to a family friend, and it was (no word to fully explain). It's cool when you read these sort of things and it brings those memories back.