Does FT count as the internet? I'm using the French interwebs so they may be different that that new-fangled American one, but it took not very long to find these tales. Of course, it's only a purser reporting first hand a police officer forcing the passengers to pay the upgrade fee on landing.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...ted-out-f.html
I was working as Purser several years ago on a 777 from Denver to IAD. About 2/3 of the way through, a FA from business came up and told me that two passengers sitting in business were not on the manifest. Apparently the psgrs were exceedingly nice, and the FA wanted to know their names to thank them.
They were premier-level psgrs booked in row 17 in economy. I confronted them and they admitted that they decided to upgrade themselves since business was only about half full. At this point we were about 30 min from landing. I told them they could stay were they were, but a CSR would meet them upon landing to deduct miles from their account for the upgrade.
They were escorted out to the podium, and a few minutes later the CSR came down to ask me what happened. Apparently they told the CSR that they "accidently sat down in the wrong seats".
Long story short they were each required to pay $630 and a police officer was there at the podium and would not let them leave until the credit cards were handed over! They did not look like happy campers when I walked by!
And another
As we had many hours until arrival, the Purser told the pilots, who had time to coordinate with IAD customer service, law enforcement, and the immigration folks (she seemed to be Italian). When we arrived at IAD, those people came on and surrounded her. She claimed not to have a credit card, but was given the choice of either arrest or not being admitted into the U.S., or coughing up a credit card. A credit card appeared. The look on her face was priceless.
(Seconds of using the googler found this, but of course it concerns furriners on a furrin carrier arrested in a furrin city...)
14 ARRESTED AFTER ECONOMY PASSENGERS STORM FIRST CLASS
By Pat Hurst, PA.
Angry economy passengers stormed first class on an international flight in a
mid-air upgrading mutiny, it was disclosed today.
The pilot of the packed Pakistan International Airlines jet radioed ahead, and
14 people were arrested on suspicion of endangering the aircraft after landing
at Manchester Airport.
Cabin crew lost control after the flight was delayed for four hours in searing
heat on the tarmac at Islamabad airport in Pakistan.
With economy packed, a number of passengers decided to upgrade themselves to the empty luxury section at the front of the Boeing 747.
It is believed the crew asked them to move but they refused, so police were
called in as the plane landed in the UK on Friday morning.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...ested-man.html
Page 2 of that thread has a criminal barrister (one of those legaltypes, for those who don't speak British) essentially agreeing with PTravel, oddly enough.