I've just gotten home from a Chicago to Baltimore flight on which I earned my one millionth AAdvantage mile -- but I'm writing this report because on this flight I received perhaps the most unusual operational upgrade I've ever heard about, much less experienced. You see, the plane was already in motion -- and I was urged to quickly move from my original coach seat to a first class seat even as the 737 moved down a taxiway at O'Hare.

The flight was AA#554 on Monday, March 18; scheduled to depart ORD at 8:37pm and arrive at BWI at 11:21pm. The load was about 60% in coach, while first class was nearly empty. Because it's a relatively short flight (and strong tailwinds tonight would make it even shorter) with only a beverage service in either class and I was reasonably sure the seat next to me would be empty I didn't even consider upgrading from my assigned aisle seat, 25C.

The plane departed gate H2 at ORD on time; but shortly after that, as the plane taxied, a flight attendant came forward to my seat from the stern of the aircraft, leaned over and asked, "sir, aren't you a Platinum AAdvantage member," then repeated the question to the woman on the other side of the aisle in 25D. When I confirmed to her that I was, as did the other passenger, the flight attendant told us that there was a slight weight and balance problem and she'd like the two of us to move up to first class.

Right now.

Come back for our bags during the flight.

We did as we were told, holding onto seat backs for stability while moving to the front of the plane even as the plane moved along the taxiway beneath us. I settled into seat 4E and the other upgraded passenger took the seat immediately behind me. About a minute after I'd fastened my seat belt, the 737 paused momentarily, then turned onto the active runway and took off.

Service was, as mentioned, beverages only, with a choice of small bags of snack mix or nuts to go with them. My gin and tonic was refilled once and I was offered more snack mix or nuts at that time. The flight was smooth, I went back for my bag about 20 minutes after takeoff, and, thanks to the tailwind mentioned earlier, the flight arrived at BWI's Gate C1 about fifteen minutes early.

As I was exiting the plane, I joked with the flight attendant standing at the door that this had been the most unusual operational upgrade I'd ever gotten, and his chuckled reply was that it was a good thing there were no FAA inspectors aboard -- although, since it had been done for safety reasons they were "immune", as he put it.

Frankly, I was a bit suprised that moving only two passengers (I weigh about 200lbs and I'd estimate the woman across the aisle at about 140-150lbs) from the rear to the front would be enough to bring a 737 into balance. A commuter plane like a Saab or an RJ, sure -- I've seen that before and I've been moved around on commuter flights for just that reason. But a 737 is an appreciably larger aircraft. Maybe someone with more of an aeronautical engineering background or time in the type could comment?

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I remember flying ORD-DFW on an AA S80 and a passenger from First Class was downgraded to coach, just before pushback, due to weight & balance.

The captain thanked the passenger over the PA and the F/As brought back a F breakfast for the passenger.