Originally Posted by
AA53
Folks, being married to a FA I can tell you this does not happen often. GAs know that favors can cost them their job. Upgrades to non revs are part of a written record and have to be accounted for just as revenue upgrades do. Non Rev seats in premium cabins do happen if there is no one waiting or they can be put in F even if business is full and upgrades are waiting there from coach.. It is up to the discretion of the agent working the flight.
Does it sometimes happen off the record (manifest)? A couple of weeks ago I saw an elderly woman pulled from coach and seated in first by the Pilot. She was not on the manifest for First: FA greeted each of the rest of us by our names when taking our drink requests but had to ask her for her name. (I am not complaining. It wasn't a problem for me because I had my upgrade and there were empty seats in First. )
In OP's case, would it be possible for an unethical GA to say to friend, "ok, you board and sit in this seat in First, it's empty" without entering it into the system?