I suppose he could have created his own boarding pass and the email.

No, he seems to have shown the boarding pass to at least the FA and possibly one GA too. However, although he stated that he received the email two days in advance, I suspect that he didn't show the email to the FA/GA, at least not in a way that they could verify it. It would also seem like a servious risk to try to fly with a self-altered boarding pass.

Is it possible that, before the OP arrived at the gate, Mr 2A behaved so badly to the GAs that they deliberately created duplicate seat assignments giving the OP 2A so that Mr 2A could be kicked back to coach as punishment/retaliation? [If so, they were nice not to give him the a midle seat in the last row of coach or a seat next to a lap brat or a COS.] I'm trying to figure out why the GAs were so adamant that the OP owned 2A if it had been assigned to the DYKWIA earlier.

Awkwardly Booted from 2A
 

I was the Mr. 2A a few years ago after being upgraded at the window and an equip swap occurred later, despite the same amount of seats my assignment was never confirmed after the swap.

Except I was booted to coach.

Agree. DCA-ATL, no big deal. ATL-NRT, huge deal.

Quite a flight of fancy.

And we're back to calling all children brats by default? I guess we need to find some insulting blanket term for all economists.

Not sure they would have closed the door ... especially if he had luggage checked in and stowed away under the plane ... that would have probably caused a further delay to find it and unload it ... so 2A ... probably knew that ...

I'm going to be another contrarian and say that you didn't do anyone any favors by ceding your seat to the usuper, because it will create that expectation in the future when it happens again:

- if he truly poached the seat, then he'll keep trying.
- if he truly was downgraded because of a swap, tough cookies, what is the new Mr./Mrs./Ms./Miss./M. supposed to do, cede as well?

Once he got up, you should've sat yourself down. I highly doubt the crew would delay the flight just because Mr. 2A throws a fit to get back int other seat... he'd either take 11C, or they would boot him off the flight.

Yes, you definitely took the high road, kudos to you. But was the result actually a good thing?

A version of this happened to me last month. Maybe something like this happened with Mr. 2A who didn't move...

I was booked ORF-ATL-XXX. ORF-ATL was delayed, so they rebooked me on a later flight, which meant a later connecting flight, too. My later ORF-ATL flight arrived in ATL with enough time for me to (barely) make the original ATL-XXX flight, even though I had been moved to a later connecting flight. My UG had cleared for the original connecting flight, but I lost it in the rebooking process and wound up as a SB passenger in the back.

Meantime, I still had the boarding passes on my phone for all the flights. I could have easily said my original F seat was mine and shown a boarding pass to back that up, despite the fact I had been reassigned to the back.

This was likely the situation. I've had the upgrade before and then there was a plane switch. Lost my upgrade as the list was refreshed to include a last minute flyer with better status.

There was a reason but I think the GA/FA were probably too dumbfounded by 2A's attitude to find he right answer.

Domestic flts they do not unload luggage. Once he hit the jetway and wanted a supervisor, that's it. Two agents checked and he was in the wrong seat. DL (or any airline) would not delay a flt for this. He would have seen the plane push back while waiting for a supervisor.

To the OP: I would not have budged and the agents had your back. 2 agents! You just wanted to get home, without delaying the flt. I understand, but this person was wrong. I doubt DL would delay this flt for this.

THE BAGS DO NOT NEED TO REMOVED - DOMESTIC. (Not to yell). :)

It was your seat, validated by two agents. More power to the OP, I guess. :)

And Mr. 2A will wind up in a middle seat in the last row of a 753 with a tight connection. :eek:

I commend the OP for their handling of the situation. ^

Very likely the case. I have been in this situation before with all original documentation. I am still trying to figure out where this exotic XXX destination is though :)

I commend the OP for taking the high road, but I am not dure I would have done the same, especially eith staff backing me up... There is definitely more to the story. ..

In this case the alternative seat is an aisle in EC on a short hop. What if it were a middle in E- on a transcon?

I would gladly take OP's 2A seat and give him 44B anytime on the mod 752 for the sake of not delaying the flight :D

Just kidding, big ^ to the OP!

Sadly, when I was typing the post I couldn't remember where I was headed. :o EIther I need to slow down the travel or age is catching up...

And, for the record, the OP is what my grandparents used to call a mensch.

The receipt that pops out has the pax name, seat assignment, city pairings, flight #/date, and is noted Operated By: DELTA AIR LINES INC with a barcode at the bottom. Very clear to whom it belongs.