Recently I checked in with my partner at MNL airport for the flight to AMS.
The first thing the lady at the counter asked 'Are you interested in flying Economy Comfort'. That was even before she asked for our passports. We said yes, because we looked forward to the extra legroom on the 14h flight.
We got nice seats (10A and B on a 777 - there is no C), but before we took off the purser announced that there were more than 100 empty seats, and that people were free to move to a comfier seat after take off. Unsurprisingly, many people moved to the Economy Comfort zone, that was emptier than Economy.

This feels like a rip off! I paid quite a lot of money (as FB Silver I only got 25% discount) for an upgrade that many people arranged themselves. I also find it suspicious that they are so eager at check in to sell these EC seats, even before you get the chance to hand in your passport.

I wrote to KLM that I expect that with some status (maybe not the highest, but I've been Platinum and Gold a few years), we would get the extra perk for free at check in, or at least that they would mention that the plane would be quite empty and that we could move to an EC seat after take off.

No answer yet...

What do you think? Is this normal practice?