Wow, a dozen posts just while I was typing my first post! Let me expand a little. The PAX paid for/earned a BF seat therefore they can do what they want with it within company policy. Switching 3 or 4 times would be too much but one switch would be within policy.

So what if the spouse comes up and drinks? Even 10 drinks probably cost CO very little but the money made from a positive customer experience would pay them back in dividends. Sheesh. I could go on but I need to calm down.

Oh, and one more thing, visiting in BF/FC is generally frowned upon. If you'd like to visit, main cabin is more appropriate.

I always let my wife get the FC seat, whether it be an upgrade, only one award seat available etc.

I have always found that the 5-10 hours of misery in the back is much shorter than the alternative of not giving her the FC seat

Hmmm...where is that policy written (either pro or con)?

I remember reading it (as I'm a geek and I read all company info). I'll try and find it and pm you the reference.

To see if anyone else has done it and what the reaction is. Contrary to what I think is your belief, not everyone likes to start trouble and/or has an attitude.

What do they say? To be forewarned is to be forearmed?

Thank for for being the CO voice of reason . Deep down I knew there shouldn't/couldn't be a problem with it, but your fellow co-worker has decided it is.

If it is a specific policy, can you give me more info about it? With my luck, your coworker will be working my flight

Exactly...

-Vincent

Wow..read through all these posts. Quite the tempest in the teapot. Anyway my 2 cents.

Have done this numerous times with my wife ( mostly on NW but I think also on CO). My approach has always been full disclosure with the FA. I say my wife and I will be switching off at some point so each one of us can get a little rest while the other takes care of the kids. We know that only one of gets the meal ( if there is one).

I have never had a FA say we can't do this and they have always been appreciative of my upfront consideration and honesty. I don't think this in anyway degrades the integrity of the FC product in anyway shape or form.

The seat is mine by any way I acquired it and if we share in a way that does not disrupt other passengers then its really no one's business but ours.

I totally disagree.

If I am serving BF and walk through the cabin to suddenly find a new face, and know nothing about what is happening - I am probably more likely to be suspicious and a little peeved. If someone says to me, "After the service would it be ok if my wife and I swapped seats? I'd like to let her sleep well..." or whatever, then I know what is going on and I am more than likely going to be totally fine with it.

The best plan is to let the ISM know when he/she comes around and greets the passengers at the beginning of the flight - or let the FA know in the beginning if the ISM isn't able to get around to everyone. If you assure them that you will wait until after the first service is done and won't be switching back and forth all night, it should not be a problem with most FAs.

Personal experience on domestic first not international. We had no problems switch before the fligt takes off. After take off, we have been told by the FA not to switch.

What would be the point in switching only before the flight takes off?

This is one of the oddest threads that I have read on FT. After four pages, I'm still trying to figure out why switching seats mid-flight is a problem. The passengers have one seat in coach and one in front. After they switch, the passengers have one seat in coach and one in front. It all seems pretty straightforward to me. As for the argument about the "integrity of first class," it doesn't appear to me that the passengers took anything that didn't belong to them. Sorry, maybe I'm just dense, but I don't understand the reasoning behind any of this being a problem.

On the plus side, we've gone four pages without somebody using that great catch phrase, "It's for your security."

Mike

Ditto. Plus no threads yet saying, "Well sure XX carrier allows that but XX carrier is bankrupt and CO is not". Always lovely when ppl imply that the sole factor in a bankruptcy is an obscure difference in a FF policy.

There have been quite a few references of "copycat", "Monkey-see-monkey-do", "If they can, why can't I?", etc. etc.

Really now. If one person gets up and another one sits down, is that going to cause a rebellion in aircraft? I don't think so. It's no different than getting up to use the bathroom in terms of disruption.

Also, and I may be wrong, but I would wager the majority of travellers in BF are flying alone or with a business associate and not with family members. So there are probably only one or two people in BF on any given flight that would even consider switching with anyone in Y. I certainly wouldn't give up my BF seat to some schmoe that I work with (unless of course, his/her name was on my paycheck) .

If there actually is a flurry of seat-swapping, then the F/A only has to ask to kindly refrain from further moving about the cabin. It can be handled easily.

Musical chairs, no. A one-time switch, why not?

Thanks everyone. I'm also quite surprised at some of the opinions expressed. I really didn't think it was a big deal, and it seems that it is for only a few people here.

I appreciate the input from both sides ^^