I recently returned from Paris to Denver through Chicago. Due to delays in take off, I missed my connecting flight. I caught the next flight to Denver, but just by a couple of minutes.

I had used 160,000 FF miles for business class DEN/LHR and CDG/DEN. (myself and wife) I had first or business on all flight legs up to the return in Chicago.

But, as I boarded the ORD/DEN leg last minute, would United let me sit in the first class seat that I paid for with my FF miles? NO! Yet there were two open first class seats. I could see them. They were both aisle seats. There were FA's in the window seats.

So, two first class seats went open while my wife and I were separated and stuffed in middle seats. Yeah, they were Economy Plus middles, but a middle is still a middle.

When I landed, I complained, and United did credit back 10,000 miles to my account, the value of two first class upgrades. That was reasonably nice. But, wouldn't have been smarter if the gate agents or the working FA's would have looked at our documents and put us in the class that we paid for?

I think it sends a bad signal to the public when they see pilots and FA's, dressed in uniform, sitting in first class. When someone would have paid for first class, or the upgrade, it says that the pilots and the FA's comfort is more important to the airline than a customer who wants to PAY for it!

I appreciate that pilots and FA's fly alot and have to deadhead back now and then. But, maybe if they would look towards making coach more comfortable for everyone, the pilots and FA's wouldn't have to work so hard to get the first class seats.

Economy plus is an improvement, but its not about the leg room, its about SHOULDER room. It is not the length, its the width!