I agree with the OP's actions. As a non-elite for the majority of my life, I always wondered what kept me from dashing infront of the blue curtain and shagging an empty seat. Now that I work hard to maintain my elite status, I take UG's very seriously and seeing some snot-nosed, full-of-entitlement kid grab a seat (empty or not) would have resulted in me doing the same thing.

Would you have done the same thing if it were an attractive young female? :p

I guess I am in the minority here, but I don't think I would have done anything.

The crime was pretty victimless (I guess the airline would have had to shell out an extra meal for the guy) except that I would have lost a bit of comfort - no big deal.

"seeing some snot-nosed, full-of-entitlement kid grab a seat (empty or not) would have resulted in me doing the same thing"


Yes, it's better to have some snot-nosed full-of-entitlement non-upgrade fee paying elite go on a power trip

But why is he more deserving of the seat than anyone else in Y? Just because he had the audacity to sit there?

I guess I would have said to him that because of open seat counts in each cabin, he should inform a FA of the change so that the manifest matches up correctly. Otherwise, you say, there might be a delay before pushing back to understand why the numbers don't match up.

I do that. I also signal at every lane change and at every turn. I also gun the throttle at the light when someone tries to turn left in front of me instead of yielding to oncoming traffic.

Why do you think you're too good to wait in line? The shoulder is for emergency use only, for breakdowns or emergency vehicles.

Why should I just take it when when someone else does something "wrong" or illegal?

The OP is absolutely correct to call out the self-upgrader, but I would probably have been more discreet so that the guy doesn't go crazy on me after the flight.

Then become a cop.

I must be flying the wrong routes.

it has nothing to do with him having a 'right' to sit there, its a matter of your actions. If you see someone speeding its not your job to try and pull them over and reprimand them.

So wait, were there no more elites left in Y? Did the flight take off with empty F seats?

Not only do I block the shoulder and also speed up to not let people pass me on the right, but if the seat immediately next to me is open on a flight in FC, I consider that my own personal bonus space not to be invaded by anyone not holding a ticket for it or without FA instruction.

i would probably have not said anything but instead made fun eye motions and pointed to the invader when the FA passed by.

Alternately something awesome could have been said like "I hope you don't mind, but I have a pretty bad gas problem" or, alternately "Oooh lucky me when I get drunk in FC I like to have a guy to accidentally touch!"

or "Why are you sitting on my invisible friend?" and then start shooing him away.

Of course, on NW as a plat, the seat next to me, if open at time of boarding, I make sure is given to some deserving looking female who was previously traveling by herself and looks old enough to drink.

in the spirit of elaine benes, i probably would have let the person stay....particularly if it was a flight in which cookies were served. i wouldn't want the passenger to get stuck with a kosher meal.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000506/

i guess how good looking they were (and if they smelled) would have also played into the equation.

There is a potential security issue in this situation. Let's see if anyone can spot it....

Before I got any status, I used to love being the last person to board, esp when the gate agent said ANY OPEN SEAT. It's nice to know the plane door closed right after I got in... but that was with US back in the early 90's. I was following instructions.

But never would have the audacity to move up front after everybody has settled into their seats. I would have more tactfully walked up to the galley and inform the crew instead of doing it in front of the self-upgrader.

Me likes this idea better than what the OP did, but whatever works really.