3 Pilots on 76W BOS-LHR & seat 1A blocked for crew rest? Augmented flights?
**I’m not a regular UA flyer so please excuse my ignorance**
Just flew BOS-LHR in Polaris and saw on EF seat 1A was blocked and inquired at check-in if I could switch. Agent said it could only be done at the gate. Politely asked Gate Agent if I could be reassigned 1A and she said that seat is reserved as a pilot crew rest seat. Shortly thereafter 3 Pilots boarded our flight.
Curious why UA uses 3 Pilots on a 76W for a 6-hour TATL *and* blocks a seat for them in J as a crew rest? So each pilot only has to fly 2-hours?
Do they do this so that set of Pilots can turn around and operate a return LHR-EWR/BOS/IAD so they don’t have to overnight them in London?
What am I missing?