I know when discrimination is ILLEGAL... but that doesn't make LEGAL discrimination moral. Not disclosing that different tickets come with different rights is fraud and is illegal. I agree with Plato that "OK" does not mean what I think it means... I always thought it meant "ok"... I've found out it doesn't mean "OK". What it means is, "we'll try to get you on, but if someone with more money wants your seat, you're out of luck... we guarantee nothing".
I get the feeling that you "frequent flyers", aren't used to one of your own, (that's me), who actually has some compassion for the people getting stepped on by you folks for all these years--those are the people who pay most of the bills and taxes. Yes, I'm too lazy to take the matter to court... and I doubt any politician would take up the cause of passenger rights, since the politicians, no doubt, want the perks and priority reserved for themselves and their rich campaign donor friends.
And Ken, if you really are a frequent flyer, which I highly doubt you are, you would know that First Class passengers on the same itinerary can pay ALL SORTS of different prices for identical routings and classes. Let's educate Ken: different corporations have different contract rates with airlines, passengers can use upgrades, some travel agencies sell at different prices printed on tickets, there are even consolidator first class tickets in some areas... So now Ken has learned something. Also, Ken, please don't attempt comedy... you're much better at making allegations about things you have no knowledge of.
Jim (going First Class to New York and India next week)