They were not traveling together and were not IROPS (I was IROPS) they were trying to standby on an earlier flight.

I was very nice to the GA when I first requested the seat and understood when she said they reserve the bulkhead for disabled passengers. It's when she gave the seats to standby passengers just 10 minutes later where I got ticked.

Yes it was only an hour flight, but I preferred that seat versus in the back.