First Class stowaways..
 

So, I ratted out a whole family of First Class stowaways on a JFK-LAX flight this past weekend even though I didn't do it until we were three-quarters through the flight...has anyone ever done something similar?

I was near the back of the ex-Song 752 First Class cabin and the last row (row 7) was empty. This lady and her husband boarded the aircraft (unusually, we actually boarded through the forward door, so everyone had to go through the F cabin)...I didn't look back but I heard them move into row 7 as they were making their way to the Y cabin...Heard the following conversation:

Husband: "Are you sure this is ok?"
Wife: "Shhh...just shut up and sit down"
Husband: "Are you sure???"
Wife: "Just sit..."

About 10 minutes later, near the end of the boarding process, two teenage girls popped up from the Y cabin (the daughters of the above-mentioned couple) and were told in somewhat hushed tones by the mother to just quickly grab any open F seats near row 7 (Mom/Dad were now in 7A,B, while there was an NRSA in 7D). One daughter plopped herself down in 7C and the other took 6C. The one in 6C proceeded to put her feet up on the armrest of 5C while the one in 7C started talking loudly to her sister...it was a morning flight and everyone was rather quiet so we could all hear this ridiculous SoCal Valley Girl conversation between the two girls..

The FAs didn't notice anything and went about their usual duties. I didn't do anything at that point either because I thought that the FAs would eventually figure it out anyway and I promptly fell asleep for the first part of the flight, immediately after breakfast. However, this being a domestic flight, since there was no meal choice, the FAs didn't get the opportunity to come around and ask for meal choices (otherwise, they would have noticed with the pax. manifest). In addition, many pax. up front were dead asleep and skipped breakfast; otherwise, if all F pax. had had breakfast, the FA would certainly have discovered a shortage of trays by the time she got to row 7....

For the most part, the stowaways slept or watched TV and weren't too much trouble....When I awoke and saw that the crew still had not figured out the stowaways, I debated whether I should tell them, especially this late in the flight...finally decided that these people needed to be confronted for their actions (such 'theft' and 'cheating' in front of their kids no less)...The FA was more than peeved (she certainly felt very taken-advantaged of) but did confront them very calmly and diplomatically, essentially telling them that they were in fact 'stealing' and that she could tell the ground agents at LAX (when we arrive) to charge them the First Class fare difference....Eventually, she did let them go but not before coming around to 'reprimand' them one more time just before landing...

Moral of the story for Delta: Give us Domestic First Class Meal Choices!!:D and you will discover First Class stowaways before it's too late!

I can't believe they didn't notice. They should do a FC head count like they do on the RJ's. I think I would have said something sooner, but I've never noticed anything like this before. I'm used to full FC cabins ;)

I guess what I still find irritating is that the FA DIDN'T have the gate agent charge them. Essentially they still got away with it for a slap onthe wrist.

The way things are these days (yes, it was better in "The Good Old Days" of Pan Am :p ) the family probably laughed about the lecture all the way home. They learned that they can do it again, because they weren't sent on the walk of shame. :td:

I wished the Flight Attendant would have made a scene and attracted attention in an effort to embarrass them OR call ahead to LAX and request the police to escort them off the aircraft. I could see it now:

F/A: Ladies and gentlemen we please ask that you stay seated once we get to the gate, as we need to escort a family of four in seats 7A, 7B, 6C, and 5C who sneaked in to First Class, off the airplane. Thank you.

I'm sure the family would panick and/or sink down into their seats with cherry-red faces.

That's what I sure as hell would have done.

jeeze a family of 4 and the FA's didn't notice..... I would have made sure they knew and that they knew I was the one who ratted them out.

I'm just re-reading your post. Did she move them back into coach when you pointed it out? I couldn't tell from reading it.

So did the FA actually ask to see their boarding passes or did she just accuse them of taking the seats? I have to admit that it would have been great to see them all make their way (carry-ons, coats, bags, etc.) through the cabin back to their seats in coach (or pay for the difference in fares). I can imagine the faces of their neighbors in coach that had spread themselves out a wee bit since hey "there's no one next to me now." The complete embarrassment of the shuffle to the back would have been a great lesson. I would have bet the next time hubby said to the wife "Sshhh, just sit down", he would be wearing a handbag welt for a week.

Great post.

Did the FA's not pay any attention to the flight manifest. On know on AA as soon as the GA comes on to close the door she gives the head FA the exact final head count in both F and Y.

Minor note - it was the wife that said "Sshhh" in the OP...

Let's not just assume that it was the husband who instigated the "theft" - the OP's post clearly says it was the wife!

Isn't it always? :D

<ecaarch ducks for cover>

I am absolutely shocked!!

I have never heard or seen anything like it!!: 4 open seats in FC, how absolutely astounding and mind-blowing!! Wonder if it will ever happen to me in my remaining lifetime!!;)

I stand corrected and just assumed it was the husband. Now I really feel sorry for the guy.;)

However, it does pay to read things correctly. Thanks

Not reported
 

I am sure they were not reported because the flight attendants wanted to avoid the question why did you take so long to notice this. Any explanation of the incident would also embarass the flight crew.