(1)How much business does Borden do with AA? If it's lots of $, they should be happy to keep the CEO "happy".
(2)About 6 years ago I was flying from LAS to JFK, a pax in FC wanted his girl friend, who was in Y, seated next to him and offered to
pay his seatmate to swap with GF, either $250 or $2500 (I forget which)--no swap occurred, but in this instance I can see AA being miffed: "they were not getting part of the action."