Originally Posted by San Gottardo

during the check-in window (30 hours before departure) I often see that the seat next to my window seat is "occupied", i.e. with an X rather than just greyed out. I then always wonder whether that means the seat is really occupied by a person (which would lead me to wanting to change to somewhere I don't have a neighbour)? Or is it just blocked off because me and/or the person in the aisle seat are status card holders (Gold and above I presume), in which case I'd happily keep that seat? If it is a blocked seat, why not just grey it out rather than show it as occupied, especially since other seats on the same plane are greyed out?