But it’s not a free trip. Labor negotiated contracts which include pass-travel benefits for themselves and their eligible dependents/enrolled friends/buddy passriders, in exchange for a haircut taken on their monetary compensation. United is paying for these seats, thereby lowering monies spent on labor costs.

You are correct in saying that the negotiated benefits are clearly defined as a privilege, one that can be revoked by the company for an indeterminate or indefinite amount of time if it determines it’s policies and guidelines are broken. Asking a stranger to change seats, and them then obliging, only for said passenger complain about it later on an online forum because said passrider didn’t go to the bathroom like they said they would isn’t indicative of an action that warrants disciplinary action, nor should it be.