Ever self-upgraded to E+?
#16
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,253
Guy left his car running when he ran into a store the other day. I saw it and drove it away. Nobody said anything. Guess it's OK.
Seriously, OP knows it's theft of services. He just got away with it. Maybe next time he'll get caught. Who knows.
Seriously, OP knows it's theft of services. He just got away with it. Maybe next time he'll get caught. Who knows.
#18




Join Date: Feb 2011
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 810
#19




Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: New York City Baby!
Programs: DL Silver
Posts: 86
Wow some of these responses are so odd. How is it stealing switching seats on an half empty flight? FA's are some of the most no nonsense people out there. If they had a problem with it, it would've been made known. I once got sat in Business class on a long haul because my legs were hurting me. Did I steal the seat? I mean I didn't pay for it.
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist




Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Bangkok or San Francisco
Programs: United 1k, Marriott Lifetime PE, Former DL Gold, Former SQ Solitaire, HH Gold
Posts: 11,889
Wow some of these responses are so odd. How is it stealing switching seats on an half empty flight? FA's are some of the most no nonsense people out there. If they had a problem with it, it would've been made known. I once got sat in Business class on a long haul because my legs were hurting me. Did I steal the seat? I mean I didn't pay for it.
#21




Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: New York City Baby!
Programs: DL Silver
Posts: 86
While I doubt the airline would pursue it that far, the OP could be criminally charged with Theft of Service. Your sentence above should be corrected to say "If they had a problem and noticed it, it would've been made known". Stealing and getting away with it is still stealing.
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist




Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SEA the REAL Washington; occasionally in the other Washington (DCA area)
Programs: AS MVPG 100K (Atmos Titanium) / 0.5MM; DL fallen PM (1.58MM = Complimentary Annual GM); AA Gold
Posts: 24,444
the never-ending debate between situational ethics and "choose your battles"
#23
FlyerTalk Evangelist




Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Bangkok or San Francisco
Programs: United 1k, Marriott Lifetime PE, Former DL Gold, Former SQ Solitaire, HH Gold
Posts: 11,889
I understand your point of view, I just don't agree with it. Calling it stealing implies that the airline had a direct loss because of it. The flight commenced they weren't going to make money on that seat. I guess this is one of these grey areas that people aren't going to see eye to eye on.
Analogy: Once a movie starts and the theater isn't selling anymore tickets, can I sneak in the back door? After all, they weren't going to make any money on me.
Consuming something you didn't pay for, knowing that there is a cost attached to it and that you are supposed to pay for it, is not "situational". It does fall under the "choose your battles", though.
#24




Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: New York City Baby!
Programs: DL Silver
Posts: 86
It's more than just a point of view. Had the airline caught him and decided to pursue it, he could have been charged with a crime. That's not a gray area.
Analogy: Once a movie starts and the theater isn't selling anymore tickets, can I sneak in the back door? After all, they weren't going to make any money on me.
Analogy: Once a movie starts and the theater isn't selling anymore tickets, can I sneak in the back door? After all, they weren't going to make any money on me.
#25




Join Date: Mar 2007
Programs: QFF Gold, Flying Blue, Enrich
Posts: 5,369
The grey area I was alluding to was the difference in opinion amongst the members here not the law. Your analogy doesn't really fit because you are saying you didn't buy a ticket and are sneaking in. A more proper analogy would be you bought movie tickets changed your mind and went into a different movie than the one you originally chose.
It's theft.
#26




Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: New York City Baby!
Programs: DL Silver
Posts: 86
Okay I concede, no changing opinions here. Lets all be cops and go after these thieves. They are ruining the economy.
#27




Join Date: Mar 2007
Programs: QFF Gold, Flying Blue, Enrich
Posts: 5,369
#28




Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: New York City Baby!
Programs: DL Silver
Posts: 86
#29




Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: LAX
Programs: Delta DM&1MM; HH Diamond; Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 872
Very simple. if I pay for the privilege of sitting in E+ (either by spending $$ directly, or by spending lots of $$ to get status and thus free E+), it's gonna annoy the hell out of me if someone comes up and just takes it without paying for it.
If you don't like the concept of E+ and E-: go fly southwest.
If you don't like the concept of E+ and E-: go fly southwest.
#30
FlyerTalk Evangelist




Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Bangkok or San Francisco
Programs: United 1k, Marriott Lifetime PE, Former DL Gold, Former SQ Solitaire, HH Gold
Posts: 11,889
At the beginning of every UA flight I've been on the past few years the FAs make an announcement that you cannot move into an E+ seat and that if you want to use an E+ seat please let the FA know and she will arrange payment.
It's theft. Pure and simple.


