E+ free for all
 

Waiting to board a flight now, which had both business and E+ pretty empty. Everyone with any kind of status got upgraded (all 3 silvers).

At the same time all regular economy seats are taken.

Just now agent came on PA and said that anyone who wants to sit in E+ free should approach the counter. A bit of a stampede ensued, and I expect E+ to be full shortly.

I understand why they might do this. That said, if I was one of the few people who paid for their E+ - I'd be pretty upset. Not only did they pay for what others get free, but now they are guaranteed a seat mate next to them, whereas E- might have a lot of empty seats.

Just thinking out loud.

Doesn't sound like it, but perhaps there was a Cg (weight/balance) issue with everyone in the back?
Now they'll fill E+ if there are no more E- seats so one could look at the fee as you being "guaranteed" a E+ seat in advance vs taking your chance at the gate.

This is horrible. The raucous laughter Of E+ Kettles is destroying the taste of PDB champagne.

How full is E-?

Exactly. UA should have made them all sit in the cargo hold.

The people who paid for their F seats must be pretty upset too with all those silvers being upgraded. Not only did they pay for what others get free, but now they are guaranteed a seat mate next to them.

E- was completely full, E+ may be 20% (and half of those moved to business ;) )

I don't pay for E+ so I don't have a personal stake in this. Perhaps no one else pays either?

Sit? Can't they be stacked like cordwood ?? After all, it's cargo....

Good point, and I think they might be. I am one of those cheeky upgraders, though, annoying them ;)

Still, upgrade based on some (perhaps arbitrary) criteria is still a reward for an action (like flying a lot or some such). Upgrading "just because", and doing this for anyone who asks feels different to me. Perhaps some were more entitled to E+ (passengers with kids etc), but in the melee at the gate did not get it?

Having tried E+, perhaps those travelers will be more likely to pay for it in the future? Consider it a free sample.

But as others have said, it's potentially due to weight and balance issue. For those that don't believe that balance can be an issue, have a read of this - http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-09-0...-plane/5717400

If E- was completely full, then there must have been many non-status passengers without a seat assignment. E+ seats would have gone out for free anyway

If that was the case they would have called the people without a seat assignment to the podium, not a general call for all and sundry as the OP described.

Why are passengers with kids more entitled to Y+? If you mean lap kids, I would argue that they're less entitled to Y+ because the kid is already trveling for free or 10% if it's an international flight. Also, kids generally aren't very tall so one could (but I won't) argue that they don't "need" the legroom.

I don't see why a gate agent would want to change everyone's seats prior to boarding. Perhaps OP misheard the agent and was really asking for anyone without a seat assignment to approach the counter for E+ seating.

I have a problem with people sneaking up on their own (and can understand why someone who paid would be upset), but if the airline decides to give something away for free, that's their business.

Businesses give away free things randomly to customers all the time. I don't get upset when a restaurant comps drinks for the table next to me but not mine. It mainly seems to be a concern for airline travelers.