Originally Posted by fastair

UA has Had this program for ages. We travel at different priorities based on our willingness to pay an increased service charge. If we take the cheapest route, all employees, regardless of seniority who are willing to pay the higher service charge, as well as all offline airline employees, and companions trump you. I have never heard any airline employee complain about this system, where cash in ua's coffers gets a higher priority for getting on, getting a better seat, than less cash in ua's pocket.

Your example is good, and it exists in RL, where $ and low seniority trumps less $ and high seniority.