I flew MSP/SEA yesterday morning with my teenage son. I was UG'd 3 days out to FC. I was a bit disappointed that I could not get my son UG'd with me using my Gold companion upgrade privs. There were, after all, about 12 open seats in FC at 12 hours out from departure. No biggie, however. I would rather have NW collect some additional $$$ at their check-in kiosks from PAX paying to UG day of travel and keep the airline financially stable.

However, I guess having said that, I was a bit miffed to observe two separate families in FC who took it upon themselves to invent new occupancy rules and have their youngsters up front with them for the entire flight, even though they did not have a seat allocated for them in FC. I think the next time I fly with my 15 year old son, I am going to waive him up front with me after the flight takes off (I guess he is a bit too big to sit in my lap for the take off) and allow him to either stand in the aisle by my seat or just sort of sit on my arm rest so I can enjoy his company as well as all of the amenities of FC. I may even try to palm him a few bags of Spinzels and Mixed Nuts, or maybe the meal of another FC PAX who has declined their meal -- what the heck? I might even be able to score him a Kiddie Cocktail from the FC drink cart.

Now -- All sarcasm put aside, I am not trying to be mean -- just make a point about fairness. Page 2 of this story from yesterday morning goes as follows: I voluntarily sought out the father of a 9 year old boy who had the window seat next to mine (the seat I hoped my son would have been UG'd into) so his father could sit next to him, and I took his father's window seat... all without being asked (I asked). I just thought that that was the right thing to do. The difference was that this boy had a legitimate seat assigned to him through the blessed, approved UG process. Nuff said?

-A