Originally Posted by
LaserSailor
On smaller equipment the forward cabin can be moved back for weight/balance so I would think being in your seat could be important.
I am fairly confident that a passenger moving a few rows forward in the 320/319/757/737s that UA uses on that route won't upset the balance, especially for landing. IME, even when pax are asked to rearrange themselves in the small RJs and props it's only for takeoff. I'd expect it's just an FA that left his/her common sense on the nigh stand at a layover hotel.
Originally Posted by
bcj1949
Never move up out of your seat without permission on a flight landing or taking off from or into DCA or Dulles. This is a security NO NO. Lucky the guy did not get even more push back. Just my two cents.
I don't think anyone really cares about this any more (I haven't heard the announcements in years nor noticed the seat belt sign coming on any earlier). IMHO if this was a real security issue there are a many more airports where the aircraft come a lot closer to dense populations (LGA, JFK, BOS, MSP, ORD, LAX, etc..) that I'd be concerned about over IAD.