I had a strange day. I'm flying on UA metal in the exit row, around me are two UA crews flying into work. The FA says "oh, you can't have extenders in the exit row." The crews around with her disagree, saying that policy had changed. She checks with the captain, captain says its okay, away we go.

Next we switch over to UA Express, operated by Republic, same scenario. I explain what the other captain said to me, and the FA says "well we don't train it this way on this airline." I had dealt with this FA before, and had noticed previously he had always taken one of his non-rev buddies and plopped him in my chair when he'd tried this before. This time I was prepared and told my air force buddy to come up from coach and plop in my seat and I would take his seat in coach.

I know southwest has a policy like this as well, but I can fit in a southwest seat belt without an extender, but not on these tiny commuter planes.

So I guess here's what I'm wondering, how does this policy make any sense. I mean:

1) A belt with an extender is supposedly a trip and fall hazard, but a belt on Southwest flight that's just as long as a belt with an extender on a smaller regional jet is not?

2) I used to be a ramp guy and was trained on the equipment I was flying, I know how to open all the doors to all the compartments on this equipment, as did my air force buddy. Everything says to me we were just as qualified as his non-rev buddy to be in that exit row.

3) If UA express is UA in name only, why would they choose to have a more restrictive policy knowing its going to cause confusion with customers?

Any ideas how to best address this? I'm tired of having one FA quote rule and regulation to plop his non-rev friends in my paid for seat. My research says its not an FAA issue as some have told me.