Voluntary Downgrade Etiquette
So yesterday PIT-DEN I was in 11C (A319), boarding nearly complete, and 11DEF full. New pax walks up and asks if 11F pax is in the correct seat. 11F replies that he is traveling with wife (11E) and could new pax switch seats with him - to 2A. New pax looks ready to object until 11F says "it's in first class". New pax realizes his good fortune and turns around and sits in 2A. Door closes with me #1 on upgrade list. I was not overly concerned as I was in E+ with empty middle seat, had no desire to drink on am flight to visit customer, and had no desire for breakfast.
One could consider that he chose, as his "upgrade", seat 11F (guaranteed E+ window seat next to wife) instead of 2A. But, there were 2 empty E+ seat pairs (10BC and 20DE) showing, so they could have been assigned adjoining seats upon downgrade.
Should he have made the effort to voluntarily downgrade?