Originally Posted by
LHR/MEL/Europe FF
having been in tokyo for the earthquake, and now here reading the news of a potential radiation leak, (and this is NOT directed at the OP), the thought of someone using gold status to guarantee a seat, at the expense of an already booked passenger, would be unthinkable.
Priority for any available seats, or last minute no-shows, yes, but any passenger demanding they get a seat, at the expense of another in such an emergency would be cowardly.
Exactly.
But looking back at the whole thing now, I don't think situation was that catastrophical that people were really fighting for the seats - at least last weekend. We ended up flying people to Manila, Seoul, Beijing and Bangkok, so I think one those days, everyone got out (maybe for a high price), because my ANA flight even had empty seats.
Also, ung1 is probably right and they wouldn't have applied that privilege in that situation - as we have read that there are problems with that in general anyway.