I'm still extremely offended that the airlines set up frequentflyer systems, they promote them, people use them, but the airline personnel still view upgrades that come via that program as "freebies".

There is nothing free about spending thousands of miles on an upgrade just to get a seat fit for a human. There is nothing free about deserving an upgrade due to the large number of flown miles per the airlines own program.

If there are 2 seats in first and 10 passengers who want them, well that's the definition of "limited availability" that we're all prepared to buy into. If there are 2 seats in first and 2 passengers who want them, but they do not get them because they "arrived late" (waiting on a 1 hour security line because the airline refuses to open more screening points), or because someone gave them to an employee - that's not limited abailiility, that's just wrong.

Employees should be able to use open 1st class seats, but only after every eligible passenger has been accounted for - and the aircraft door is closed.

Perhaps, the employees who hate having to fly in coach might assist us passengers in getting the airlines to make the seats a more reasonable width and pitch.