Originally Posted by
TWA Fan 1
Yes. but it often works the other way around, namely many flights are elite heavy, and it is the elite zone that fills up, leaving everything behind row 22 relatively emptier. In fact, some savvy CO elites will book the first few rows of the "kettle zone" in order to get a little more overhead bag space and even--if they are lucky--an empty seat next to them.
That is correct. I was on a recent elite heavey CO flight. I was in first class however my assistant was seated in an elite coach seat. The exit rows and the first few rows were completely full. The rest of the plane was empty.
The flight attendant announced everyone in coach would have to take seats behind the exit rows for weight balance requirements for take off. After take off everyone in coach was allowed to move to other seats.