Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Perth, WA, Australia
Programs: QF Gold, VA Plat, IHG Plat Amb, LCAH Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 3,934
It is quite common for the first row in economy to be blocked, and it has nothing to do with OLCI. When I was flying between PER and CBR regularly, it happened pretty much every flight I was on.
The only explanation I have had is that it is for late booking CL passengers.