Originally Posted by bbc1969
The airlines would NOT stand for this. If a FAM is off duty and flies in first he or she has either used private FF points...or paid the upgrade fee, just like anyone else.
I think it's disingenuous to suggest that. You can rest assured that the airline will not bounce a FC passenger out of their seat for an off-duty FAM, however, the gate agent, FA, or PIC can offer an unsold FC seat to an off-duty FAM just as they can offer it to a non-rev airline employee, uniformed soldier, pregnany lady, girlfriend of the FO, etc, etc.. It does happen. The seats belong to the airlines and they can do with them as they please. If an off-duty FAM is offered an upgrade to FC, he is not unured with any real benefit or value. It's not illegal or unethical.