This has happened twice recently.

First time - first was booked full but a passenger didn't show. On other flights when this has happened they moved someone up, there were plenty on the upgrade list. Instead the flight attendant sat in 1A and made the announcements, etc from that seat. The normal front FA seat was operable so I was pretty surprised. I thought they sat in that seat facing the passengers to keep an eye on things during taxi, takeoff, and landing. There was at least one CK on this flight that was sitting in coach and didn't get to move.

Second time - this time it showed one seat as available in first but they didn't move anyone off the upgrade list before boarding like they usually would and then didn't make any adjustments before or after the boarding door closed. This was seat 2D.

Has anyone seen this before or have ideas of what might be going on?

In the first instance (a late no-show or misconnect) it's entirely up to the GA if they want to process a late upgrade or not. IME in most cases they will come onboard and get you and move you up (had it happen many times) but in other cases it could just be a lazy GA or a really late no-show such that they don't want to mess with it.

The second instance is not normal and whoever was #1 on the list should have been upgraded.

I've seen on short flights where GA will not process people from coach to First on a no show/misconnect or they will seat commuting crew into that seat. Pilots deadheading will get that seat before upgraders but not if they're commuting. FAs only if there's an open seat after all upgrades have been accommodated whether deadheading or commuting. GAs are presuming no one will complain about not getting upgraded on a sub 200 mile flight.

In no case should a working FA take a F seat unless the jump seat is inoperable. That happens from time to time.

Thanks all. I should add that in both instances the open seats were operable.

I have seen the pilot upgrade and understand that policy, in this case the seat was unoccupied. I have seen them come on and move someone up as well, that's what I expected to happen based on past experiences.

And yes for clarity it was the working Flight Attendant that was sat, buckled in for take off taxi and landing, in 1A. I heard the other flight attendant ask if the normal Flight Attendant seat was broken and he said no.

Seems pretty risky to do that, if it is against company policy which it sounds like it is. Even if the Gate Agent didn't want to bother with upgrading the someone, I'd assume the FA should be in the proper FA seat for safety. One disgruntled passenger and that gets reported.

Thanks for the insights. I couldnt figure it out but probably a GA just not doing it which they have discretion on from what I am reading.

Please send in the details to AA.

It's just lazy GAs. They're supposed to come onboard and move the next person on the list up, but sometimes they don't bother.

Happened to me BNA-ORD last year. Seat empty with 10+ people on the list.

happened to me several times out of smaller airports.. where we are 1 and 2 on the list.. GA says no its full..
but I show the app saying its not.. etc...
door close.. 2 empty seats in F... wrote to AA.. (standard canned reply)..
after the 3rd time it happened... I just stop writing.. wasnt worth my time