Comments

1. I’m totally fine with this. This is a different product at a different price and American has a right to stop people from stealing this service without paying . . . which is starting to seem like an odd concept in the United States where stealing has been decriminalized in many places. The fact that the seat is empty is irrelevant.

2. I’m on airlines side. there are waaay too many people would follow suit if airlines didn’t stop them.

3. My type of FA wouldn’t care about seat cushions , and also wouldn’t care about the underwear rule . Rules can be ignored .

4. While I’ve never attempted to move to a seat outside the price of the seat that I have paid for, I cannot suppress a chuckle over an FA actually physically removing the seat covers. I have to wonder what would happen if he injured himself during the endeavor.
   Would the flight be delayed, or cancelled for being one crewmember short?
   Would an injury compensation claim ensue?
   Now, contrast this against the idea of helping the 80 year old woman stow her Carry-on in the overhead bin. We’ve already seen that movie. It’s a ~ you brought it, you lift it over your head ending. For fear of injury, not covered by Workers Comp.
   Hmmm… just doesn’t feel like defacing the interior of the airplane is a good use of one’s time.

5. So if I buy a ticket to a ball game in the cheap seats, and I see there are open seats right behind home plate, I can just go down and take those, right? Because it’s not like they can be sold once the game has started.

   If I buy nosebleed tickets to a Taylor Swift concert and I see with my binoculars that a couple of the front row seats are empty, I can just go down and take those right? Because it’s not like they can sell them once the concert has started.

6. @Bob Spoons +1

   The United States has become a nation of moochers who can rationalize anything with their malignant sense of entitlement that somehow absolves them of their need to buy or produce the things that they want.

7. This is the world we live in. If I can’t afford something I should be given it anyway. While it might seem on the surface allowing flight attendants to sell empty MCE seats seems like a good idea boarding is hectic and chaotic enough without people trying to buy a better seat and slowing down the process. Not to mention what happens when two or more passengers ask to buy up for the same seat. If getting extra leg room is that important a MCE seat can be purchased ahead of time.

8. What people don’t realize is that the people who buy the extra legroom seats are guaranteed their seats. Not so with the people who buy the cheaper seats. It costs the airline nothing to let people move to the extra room seats. It’s like a couple who choose a window seat and an aisle seat hoping that the middle seat will be empty. It’s a gamble. Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. Is the airline going to make more money with this policy? Answer: NO. And it makes for negative feelings among the customers.

9. The photos are showing exit row seats. These seats have specific rule requirements FAA Federal Aviation Regulations and Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations to sit there, which may include (per the airline a higher price for the additional
   Comfort) but the reality is if something happens you are committing to assist in an emergency.

10. @BobSpoons … If you pay for any ticket to Taylor Swift , you have paid too much . If you find yourself accidently at Taylor Swift , you ought to Run Away .

11. Fine with what the FA did. If you don’t enforce, then you disincentive people from paying for the better seats as they think they’ll can move seats every flight.
    It would be easier for the FA just to first warn and then log the offending passenger and have AA IT send an email with an invoice after the fact. Of course that requires a good IT setup.

12. In their passion for nickel and diming their clients, US airlines forget they have alternatives. We now take foreign airlines to fly abroad, or even boats, and thus deprive US airlines of thousands in revenues… and it feels good.

13. IMHO, @Arturo is not correct. As Gary correctly identified, pax are paying an additional $ 150 to sit in Economy Plus/Extra/Premium. It’s no different than pax paying even more for Business or First Class. It’s an entirely different class of seat, so no, someone in Economy can’t simply take it at no cost (which would constitute theft). As for the thought that “it makes for negative feelings among the customers”, this argument is backwards: For certain the pax who paid for higher classes are going to be pissed if others get them for free, and no pax booked in economy has a right to be pissed for not getting a higher class for free.

14. It is possible that economy fare passengers could have been left at the gate because that section was sold out. They declined to pay for the upgrade and the door was closed. Now an economy fare passenger on board wants to grab a freebie, not fair. Besides, you are now sitting next to me who paid extra for that same class service, free drinks, snacks and space. Bravo for American and the FA. If you want open seating call Southwest before they go multi class seating themselves.

15. @BobSpoons I like that you got me thinking on your comment, but it isn’t the same. Usually the usher does not know if those premium seats were bought and the patron can arrive anytime during the concert and the usher doesn’t want to deal with removing someone during the event. This cannot happen once the flight leaves the gate. (Also, FA knows whether the seats were sold)

16. What flights have empty seats on them? None of the flights I’ve been on in the last several years has had any empty seats, and even my Gold status has me at 16 or higher on the upgrade list. I don’t know why the FA’s bother on those extremely rare flights with empty seats.

17. @Gary any crew member that injured themselves doing this would have been unfit to fly in the first place. The seat cushions are held on by velcro, nothing else.

18. I’ve been in an extra legroom seat and was lucky no one booked the center seat next to me. Someone from a center seat in back wanted to poach it but the flight attendant prevented it. Thanks! It would have made my flight a bit worse.

19. I get not letting people take these seats for free. It devalues the product. But having these “classes within a class” seats contributes to a bigger problem.
    Years ago when online seat selection began, you could pay extra to choose specific seats. A nice perk. But today so many take advantage of it, that a small family of 3-4 is practically required to pay extra, in advance, just to sit together. That shouldn’t be a thing. And having these economy subdivision seats makes a smaller pool of regular seats, worsening the problem.

20. I really don’t get the bashing of the Airline and the FA in this instance. If I had paid for a nicer seat and people were coming up to take them, I would actually applaud the FA for doing all 3 things they did. Asking passengers to move back to their assigned seats, making an announcement, then taking off the cushions. The problem is with THE PASSENGERS who have no regard for the rules, what they are told, and try to do whatever they want. Society needs to go back to shaming people who behave badly.

21. Those who have paid for extra legroom or earned it through loyalty programs expect their purchase to hold value. Allowing others to grab those seats for free undermines that. Discounts or freebies mid-flight would create a double standard, leading paying customers to feel cheated. Airlines have every right to enforce these policies strictly—if passengers want extra space, they need to pay like everyone else. Empty seats don’t entitle anyone to a free upgrade, and bending the rules would only devalue the experience for those who followed them.

22. I usually don’t support AA FAs on anything but this time I think the FA did the right thing.

23. I’ve being traveling for business for over 20 years and American airline is the worst airline I’ve come across. They’re all about money,their customer service sucks,they’re always late. Their prices are always ridiculous. The best airline hands down is Southwest.

24. It is theft because if you move to A higher class you get other perks (free drinks and such)

25. Bravo to the FA.I’m tired of all the people who think they are entitled to do whatever they want and justify it any way they want to. This is an obnoxious society and the book “The Ugly American” was way ahead of its time.

26. I wouldn’t care about the seat, but one thing it’s really bother me is that the seat the airline assigned for the passengers. When I booked airfare for family, that means I wanted family members should sit close to each other for taking care of the family members (kids, aged parents ). But I had few times, the airline assigned the seats for my family members in different areas and I could take care of my kids, spouse, parents…. Do you think it is the right thing for them to do that or they just want to sale the seats to make more money?? Because if you want family members sit close to each other, you have to get in the website to buy the seats early or you may lose it.

27. All airlines need to find a way to not TORTURE passengers with ass-pinching, leg crushing seats. We are not 6th graders!! Find a way to give everyone a seat that reclines, and everyone would be happy with a box lunch and a couple of paid beverage services. Passengers get mad, deceitful and anxious to get something better because they are UNCOMFORTABLE. Airline seats in economy are CRUEL. They never used to be.

28. Local police could authorize American Airlines cabin crew to make upgrades once the plane door is shut.

29. I have since stopped flying American Airlines. Why would I want to fly with an airline that hates me as a passenger? Flight attendants that work for American are generally more rude. It’s like they hate passengers. And when passengers don’t feel loved, they go somewhere else.

30. If I chose to upgrade my seat for 75$ and after the door closes and someone move to a 75$ seat for free, do I get my 75$ back

31. Good for the FA in this story. I would be and am very bothered by people taking empty higher priced seats. If they were up for grabs, it should be announced and a lottery or something provided to everyone for an equal chance at them. But since that’s not the case, let’s not encourage the people who seem to think their self proclaimed wit and unabashed audacity is all it takes to get better seats, and think the other poor souls who were not quick thinkers are undeserving.

32. This is a lack of imagination on AAs part. If there was an extra legroom seat available and I was in coach, I would GLADLY pay the upcharge to move. First come, first serve. As for the IT complexity angle, they don’t need to make it a full ticket, they can put the seat charge on the same menu as the Meal/Drink charges. It would just be like a $150 alcoholic beverage or cola or bag of nuts.

33. Sad reality is that these corporations are making whimsical rules and folks dont have an alternate option! Corporations now own our and most govts ! The pendulum will slowly swing back as automatic flying machines are within 20 yrs horizon!

34. They are exit row seats – you can’t just randomly sit in them. You should know better.

35. If the Plane is in the air .. chances of adding a passenger is nil . So that seat will be empty for the duration of the flight. For the comfort of myself and the passenger siting next to me I would love to relocate to an unoccupied seat just for the shared benefits it offers. IT’S AN EMPTY SEAT! So now they are trying to charge you for a seat they did not sell. SMFH. This is not the FA fault. It’s a job. You gotta enforce their policies. But AA is becoming like Spirit now. What next the oxygen we breathe while in flight?!

36. 15 comments and no one has noticed the pic of “ripped-off” seat cushions shows the FA altered the configuration of an exit row.

    The FA committed a Federal Crime if this took place in US airspace.

37. On this one, I agree with the FA’s. If you didn’t pay for the seat before getting on the aircraft, you can’t sit there. Its that simple. I wouldn’t walk into a store and pay $10 for merchandise and walk out with $50 worth of stuff. In that past before extra legroom seats were for purchase or upgrade with miles, that might have been fine. But lots of things change.

    One thing though, FA’s should be able to take a credit card and charge for an open extra legroom seat once the door is closed.

38. I just flew from Detroit to Philly on AA. It was very nice. The flight attendant was great. I unfortunately didn’t get his name. Then on the flight from Philly to Quebec, those attendants were very nice. I am in agreement with the idea that people nowadays are in the mindset that they are entitled to everything.

39. Who would be liable for removing and denying aircraft survival equipment to American
    Airlines passengers when flight attendants remove the flotation seat cushions, which are the primary means for passenger flotation used in conjunction with a life vest, in the event of an emergency aircraft ditching into the water – the flight attendants, the airline, or both?

40. The stupid surrounding this issue and in the comments baffles me although I don’t know why in today’s ignorant Society. W h i n e, cry, cry, cry cry , people complaining over the stupidest things. If the seats cost more stop trying to steal them. Here is an idea. If you can’t handle yourself in public don’t go . Here’s another idea don’t fly if you can’t follow rules. This is what you all choose to Advocate over in today’s world? Pick a better issue. I certainly don’t want to be on a plane in a pressurized cabin with someone like you who seems to be under more pressure in life that they can’t handle. Exact same thing happened to me at work last week working the VIP section of a local concert people trying to sneak in to the tickets that cost thousands of dollars all night long and then getting mad at our security guard for telling them to go back to their own seats. I got news for you folks this is stealing and then you have the nerve to get mad at people who call you out for it. Not sure who raised you but y’all sound like you need mental health services. And do we really need to explain to you that people on the plane aren’t ticket agents and couldn’t sell you a ticket even if they wanted to? Read a book folks it might help with your thinking abilities. OK

41. Oh k e n you poor thing. You can’t be serious? I guess you miss the fact that nobody is sitting in that seat.

42. The seat cushions are velcroed on so it’s no big deal to just move the cushion so no one can sit there.

43. I can see restricting moves to another class of seat (economy to plus, or business) but not economy to economy. Airlines are now selling a product more packed and less comfortable than a city bus. I can’t blame people for wanting to move when they find their neighbor is taking too much space, a crying baby, or forgot to bathe.

    I miss the 80’s, when the planes flew half empty and you were served an actual meal in a comfortable seat, with happy flight attendants. We are all being boiled like frogs and fighting over which part of the pot we get to sit in.

44. What a bunch of crap! I’ve been in the travel industry for over 30 years and have seen it deteriorate more and more. The airlines can’t find enough ways to gouge the public, from bag fees, to food, to seating up-charges. Remember when they raised their fares, “due to rising fuel costs”? Well, fuel prices have come down dramatically. Are they lowering their fares accordingly? No! Their service has disintegrated. Their safety has, as well. Flying used to be enjoyable. Now it’s just an expensive cattlecall. They should all go bankrupt. I’d love to see it happen!

45. @Ken A if you looked in the photo you can clearly see in the row behind the red tab under the seat for the life vest. Seat bottom cushions are only used as flotation devices when life vests are not required by the FAA such as flights that operate within 50 miles of the US coastline.
    The seat cushions are actually velcroed on and are easily removed and replaced in case of damage or soiling.
    And yes this is absolutely the same as buying a less expensive concert, opera, sporting event or theater ticket then expecting to sit in a more expensive unoccupied seat. What makes one think they are so special that out of all the people on that plane THEY should get to sit in that seat for free?
    Entitlement is so unbecoming!

46. It’s because they’re in the same cabin … no curtains or signs to indicate it’s different. A hefty percentage of passengers don’t know they’re ‘special’, just like old times expect they can take any empty seat.

47. Great logic. So you know that empty room in your house? I’m coming to stay there coz it’s empty and you won’t be losing anything if I live there.

48. Totally support keeping the seat you bought. It is always maddening for people to help themselves to an upgraded seat while I forked over the required money. It’s not analagous to anything, just someone (bully) deciding /planning to take something he didn”t pay for and daring someone to stop him. It’s called stealing.

49. Almost no one pays the extra $75, $100, or $150 for the main cabin extra seats or exit rows. The majority of people who sit there are those with Elite status, that allows them to select those seats for free.

    So it’s more about preserving Elite status benefits. Not because of losing money or stealing, neither of which are really true.

    That said, I’m not opposed if someone wishes to move into an empty main cabin extra row. But if they decide to plop themselves down beside me, taking the empty middle seat, I wouldn’t be too happy with that. Not unless they are a slim, pretty young lady who wants to flirt me with! 😉

50. Nice astroturfing, American. A whole slew of fake accounts supporting this policy that any human knows is nonsense.

51. The flight attendants are CORRECT, if you didn’t pay to sit there then you shouldn’t! If I pay to sit in MCE why should another passenger get it for free? This practice is considered theft of service, of course the typical entitled American thinks it’s ok, well it’s not! I appreciate the flight attendants that enforce the rules!

52. I agree because if they allow people to just move up then what’s stopping them from moving up to business in first class if there’s an empty seat. What they should have done was offer those six seats to those with status in economy if they’re not going to sell them. They should know who has status and how many of these premium seats are available and at the gate start upgrading people to them

53. Nothing was “ripped” or “torn.” The seat cushions are removable. They were removed.

54. @Ken they didn’t remove the cushions from assigned, occupied seats. Nobody was denied air raft survival equipment.

55. I’ve watched this battle between flight attendant seat police and free upgraders on every airline. Budget Asian airlines and mainline U.S. airlines. Why are you singling out American, or do you just not know better?

56. BUT, doesn’t the airline assign economy plus type seats to basic economy passengers (who aren’t allowed to choose their seat in advance) if that’s what’s left when they check in? They certainly don’t strand them at check-in and fly with those seats empty.

57. The United States has become a nation of moochers who can rationalize anything with their malignant sense of entitlement that somehow absolves them of their need to buy or produce the things that they want.

58. Nothing was “ripped” or “torn.” The seat cushions are removable. They were removed.

59. “Of course passengers who buy Economy Plus get Economy Plus and are in no way harmed when other passengers get it free – via elite status, via luck of the draw or otherwise.”

    I strongly disagree. Having an empty seat next to you has great value. When you pay for the upgraded seat, you are increasing your chance that the seat next to you will be empty. That is a benefit that you paid for, and it is certainly part of my decision making when choosing my section.

60. I find myself in agreement with almost all of these responses. The airline has the right to charge extra for “extra” perks. However, it’s also true that airlines have incentivized passengers to try to move seats by refusing to recognize that there are limits to what the hunan body can endure. Seat pitch and even seat width have continued to shrink over the years and AA is one of the worst offenders, bringing much of this problem on itself.

    One solution (and I recognize that this won’t be popular with some of you) is regulation of seat size minima. That would level the playing field for all carriers. Even first class these days is way smaller than it used to be, particularly seat pitch. I don’t like to recline my seat in domestic first class because even there, it has become rude to do so. So, given the increasing prices of any kind of upgrade, I have to ask: who’s ripping off whom?

61. The main cabin extra seating includes drinks. Ie if someone is seated there even if rhey aren’t supposed to be the flight attendant in doing checks might ask them out of habit. This is exaftally like just taking a seat in first class because it is open

62. If they just made all the seats a reasonable size there wouldn’t be this petty problem. 6 inches of seat space should not be a financial burden. The economy seats should not be a physical hazard. This paying to be reasonably comfortable is just airlines being greedy. Maybe economy should come with a warning maybe hazardous to your health.

63. Everyone has always known that the emergency exit rows have more room. But I thought those seats had to have capable adults in them in case of an emergency they had special instructions of what to do and how to open the door. Why isn’t that a thing anymore?

64. What the article fails to mention is that FAs get negative performance points when they allow people to move to MCE. Yeah the people who pay for those seats COMPLAIN!

65. I may absolutely be wrong about this, but those cushions also serve as safety(flotation) devices. Given how strict the governing authorities are about aviation, wouldn’t “uninstalling” them put the airplane out of it’s normal airworthy configuration? This obviously wouldn’t really affect flight, but everything in it’s place and all that.

66. Highlights the increasingly antagonistic relationship airlines have been cultivating with passengers since covid, and is symptomatic of a broader trend wherein nearly all large corporations behave this way toward their customers.

67. That’s bc management has been writing us up for letting people move to those seats and the exit row when they didn’t pay for it. But I don’t agree with pulling the cushions off.

68. I’m with the airline I pay extra myself so howbus it fair to let others take them for free

    Biggest issue is hogs bringing big backpacks and duffel bags and being allowed to take bin space over other people’s seats

69. No.
    This is the same mentality of people too lazy to book two seats together and assume that someone will switch seats with them so they can sit together.

    I pay extra for an aisle seat and an exit row if I can get it when I book my flight.
    F* off with the seat switch. You booked a seat, sit there.

70. Allowing Y to self-upgrade to Y+ will:
    1) discourage those people from paying for an upgrade in the future,
    2) make the trip less comfortable for those paying Y+ (e.g., take away the middle seat),
    3) make Y+ people angered even if they are not directly inconvenienced, with 2) and 3) leading to some Y+ people to join the Y gamers.
    How ’bout this? You can upgrade on the plane for free AND use the lounge if it isn’t busy.

71. Another thing to consider is that if passengers are allowed to “take” empty seats, the next step will be passengers fighting over them and causing chaos on the plane. Unfortunately, the common traveler today cannot be relief upon to act maturely and with common sense.

72. On another note, how is it fair to a person who paid for one seat only to have a morbidly obese person plop down next to them pull back the arm rest so that their fat can spread over into two seats. We finally got the idea to charge for two seats. If a passenger needs a seat belt extension then they should pay for two seats.

73. While the debate over whether someone should be able to “self-upgrade” will continue ad nauseam; the fact remains that those who purchased the same seats before the flight, lose nothing if an unoccupied seat is taken.

74. Gary, your logic is your opinion. But the fact remains that it is AA policy that it is prohibited. This is not a reality show where the players get to vote the house rules. It is a private company. They can set the rules and enforce them and they do. End of story. How many times are you going to hash up this issue? You’re beating a dead horse.

75. 1. Federal law requires ALL PASSENGERS to comply with ALL crewmember instructions, and that includes, in the announcement given on the plane, to take your ASSIGNED seat.

    2. Flight attendants are not empowered by the airline to upgrade your seat. Only the gate agent can, and for a fee if available.

    3. When you opt to sit in the exit row, you have to acknowledge, and be acknowledged, that you are able bodied and capable to operate the exit door. And you are acknowledging that to all stakeholders for that flight: the crew, your fellow passengers, the airline, and the FAA.

    4. Anytime you take something without permission that you didn’t pay for is STEALING. It is theft of service. A 10-year-old knows it’s wrong to steal, so what’s wrong with you that you need to perform moral gymnastics to justify your entitlement to what doesn’t belong to you? Grow up.

76. Why can’t flight atten. sell the seats in the air, these planes have wifi, a credit card would work ive seen them use cards for snacks and drinks you want to move then pay

77. I thought those “extra leg room” seats, were actually Safety requirements by the FAA.
    Someone capable of removing the door must be there, In case of an accident.
    Not an upsell for the airlines.
    Always makes me nervous, when there people in those seats that clearly can not move the door, or no one is in those seats.
    Money over Life????

78. My biggest complaint is I like sitting in the first 10 – 12 rows. Not for leg room but because I can get air sick. So when people sitting in the back put their carryons in the first overhead spaces. Why is this allowed? Didn’t I pay for the space overhead?

79. “Comparing changing to an open seat nobody else is using can’t be stealing, because the airline hasn’t given up anything, and claiming it harms other passengers isn’t right either because other passengers still got exactly what they paid for.”

    But someone is getting something extra that they DIDN’T pay for and that is the DEFINITION of stealing. Saying no one gets hurt is doesn’t mean it should be allowed. It is still taking something (in this case something less tangible like extra legroom) without paying for it. It is the airline’s decision that they want those empty instead of giving them away and that is their right as it is their product.

80. I always comply with the requests of flight attendants. In a recent Delta overseas flight my daughter and I were told by a flight attendant that we were welcome to stretch out in the empty center seats. We were so grateful! I will always fly Delta whenever possible.

81. Seat cushions are held only with Velcro, and are removable for when a pax vomits, pees, or poo’s on them. As for flotation devices, obviously one of the poster here doesn’t pay attention. There’s a life jacket under the seat that requires a “jerk” to inflate, but don’t do it inside a sinking airplane. Or you will be found in the wreckage floating up against the ceiling… dead by drowning. (Proven fact in ditchings)

82. At 6’4″, I understand it completely. The airlines created this monster itself. Their menu pricing of pay for this and pay for that is how they make money. I’m waiting for the restrooms and oxygen masks to become coin operated.

83. Most of those comments are bs. I understand the rules however some flight attendants don’t make a fuss but the entitled ones who act as if it is their personal property always cause chaos. Everyone is different and it can be difficult to deal with some people. Personally if I was a flight attendant I would not allow passengers to disrespect me over empty seats that are AA property. Not get paid enough to be treated like shit.

84. Why are individuals in a plane insisting in demanding privileges when we are all stuck together up in the air with hope that we get to our destination sound and safe?
    Are this people in need of attention? Was this the first time this individual flew? I wouldn’t dare ask for a better seat than mine unless it costs the same price I paid for mine. Period!

85. The arrogance of these comments amazes me. There was a time when all coach seats cost the same price. Corporate greed led to charging extra for “better” seats. People who have an issue with this are not entitled, they are simply tired of getting it up the a** from greedy airlines.

86. Why don’t airlines place a divider between Economy and Economy plus? Like they have between first and economy. That way people can see they’ve moved themselves to a different class.

87. Maybe had they asked nicely first and brought some chocolate or donuts for the flight attendants they could have been upgraded. Also weight distribution is a factor and also if there was an emergency they need peoples names to match their assigned seats. The main issue is that there just isn’t enough open seats for everyone so no-one should get to upgrade for free unless its before boarding so passengers who asked to upgrade but were denied don’t get upset and cause more drama.

88. I hope they go bankrupt, the airlines are a scam business.

    This is why I fly as little as possible, just completely ridiculous flight attendants and rules.

89. As I look at the Pic that’s the exit row by federal law you must be in that seat prior take off and agree to the terms by the airlines before takeoff. Once the plane is in the air seats must remain empty due to a passenger who move to the seat didn’t agree to the term so yes go back to your paid seat.

90. Who gives a shit anyway where you sit your ass?! SIt down and shut up and pray for a safe flight!

91. Why isn’t the airline stating the real reason for not allowing passengers to move to another seat after leaving the gate? The law for transportation prevents this from happening so in case of a crash they can accurately identify passengers.

92. @Donald – they do allow moving withing regular economy just not regular economy to extra legroom

93. I am glad.that the flight attendants speak up. I wish more of them.did. My husband and I have made the decision to fly first class because flying has become.such a hassle. It frustrates me.when people that dont.pay the extra fare think it’s OK to use the overhead bins in first class and sneak on early.

94. Ou dear. Must I share my high class cabin air with these cheapskates, moochers, and other entitled cattle class mouth breathers?

    Gotta check into La Compagnie. BeOnd, bureven then, there’s window aisle exit bulkhead toilet-proximity front back and other seat differentiation. And I never get to sit next to the supermodel celebrity, usually the opposite.

95. What I don’t understand what happened to no means no! Entitlement has really gotten out of hand these days. Lack of discipline from parents has caused all this and more I think?

96. The AA bashing gets old. I flew Friday. The SFO lounge was pleasant, as always. Boarding was quick for a completely full flight.

    The F flight attendant was courteous and served 20 people in a timely manner. My reserved meal was exactly as described on the menu.

    The plane arrived one minute after the posted time. My bag was delivered 18 minutes after the arrival time. My app bag status changed to unloaded from plane before I made it to the bag claim area.

    The Wi-Fi was the worst part as despite being on a 321neo, it was slow and dropped a few times. I gave up on working.

    Oh, and I got asked to switch. The horrors. The person in D asked if he could take C because his wife was in A. Aisle for aisle in same row is an easy switch.

97. I do agree with enforcing the seating categories. I think it is comparable to a concert or sports event. If I’m in a good seat and have an open seat near me that is taken without permission, it does slightly worsen my trip. An open seat is like gold in the Y cabin.

    Exit rows are even more of a concern because you have to affirm that you can assist in an emergency. I’ve seen people get moved who could not understand the question.

    I have been upgraded in the air once. My upgrade cleared (unbeknownst to me) but they couldn’t risk delay moving me before departure. The flight came, told me what happened, and moved me after 10,000 feet. It was a 321T to JFK, so a high quality upgrade.

98. As time goes buy the rules of civility in society wain, but be that as it may flying in a commercial aircraft the rules are the rules and by god even the cavemen among us have to abide by the rules regardless of how “street” they think they are, especially on a commercial aircraft wherein rules and regulations are etched in stone at the federal level.

99. Sit in the seat and The class and placing that you paid for. Period. If you see an empty seat in a better class , or location airline should charge you to upgrade. You can use a credit card and pay right there on The plane before being allowed to take the new seat.

100. The story includes an AA FA removing the cushions – from the non-reclining exit row seats. While I agree with the premise the FA is trying to protect, one must ask… moving the cushions from the “exit” row could impede the deplaning in an emergency. Heck, you can plug into the outlet in the exit rows on taxi/takeoff/landings!

101. Stealing has become an American past time. Stealing from U@ postal boxes, mailboxes, grocery store,drug stores, department stores, home furnishing stores.
     Moving to a seat which costs more than your seat is just another form of stealing. If it doesn’t belong to you, and you take it, that’s stealing. I live in Portugal now, not CA anymore. None of the stealing antics that happen in the US happen here Im happy to say.

102. Back when airlines cared about passengers’ enjoyment of flying. National Airlines used to hold a raffle for unused first class amenities. I won a nice bottle of champagne back in those days.
     What if open premium seats were raffle. Anyone who wants a better seat, chips in say $5 or $10. Not only would it bring a bit of extra revenue, but the interest in the raffle might bring a few smiles among the people which is in short supply these days among the flying public

103. This is a problem of the industry’s own making. Creating a sub-category of economy with minimally better legroom and then charging an outrageous amount to upgrade to those seats if you don’t have status, has created all manner of ill-will and frequent misunderstandings by infrequent flyers. I have no sympathy for either those who think they’re entitled to upgrade themselves for free, nor any sympathy for the airlines who created this situation in the first place.

     Just buy your ticket. Sit where you booked, and STFU. It’s a seat you’re renting for a few hours. You’re not taking it home with you.

104. Those are emergency exit rows. You must be briefed and have to qualify to sit in those seats before takeoff. FAA regulations. End of story.

105. Silly argument! Just do the right thing! The Flight attendants are the law in the air! Respect them and behave yourself

106. If a passenger asks me if they can move into an empty exit row seat, I usually allow them. It doesn’t hurt me at all. Nothing wrong with making someone’s day.

     The overwhelming majority of “premium” seats on our flights are sold so this isn’t something that routinely happens. Besides… According to AA, a window or aisle seat is also a “premium” seat that they also sell for more.

     If you paid for an exit row seat… Your seat there is confirmed whereas when I upgrade someone… It’s obviously not guaranteed if it’s sold.

     That’s the way I see this issue and I will continue to allow people to sit there if they’re lucky enough to ask me.

     I typically disagree with most of the commentary on this blog which is why I try to avoid it. It seems to be popular with Karens who complain that nobody’s service standards can ever possibly meet their needs [fcuk off], but the author makes an excellent point with the line “But according to this logic United shouldn’t be able to sell cheap fares or offer MileagePlus awards because it is unfair to people that pay full fare?”

     It is not that serious. Once the door closes, I am in control and I will continue to allow people to sit there… particularly if they’re polite.

107. Coming soon to an airline near you, pay-per-use for the aircraft restrooms called
     Pay-Lav.
     There’s ongoing debate over the payment method to gain access to the lav. Coin operated slots similar to old school parking meters is at the top of the list, followed by credit card readers, and even development of an app.

108. Compassion and kindness I think of the past on most airlines! If someone has a handicapped, a bad knee or a hip replacement where stretching leg out could be most advantageous and that seat is not taken I just can’t comprehend why a flight attendant report sometimes have to sleep in cars because they’re not paid enough but not anyone from doing it! The airlines fault at fault they are now and they agreed business and are not an appreciative of people spending money and flying on their airlines! ! The airlines fault at fault they are now and they agreed business and are not a appreciative of people spending money and flying on their airlines! I have to say, though I’ve never had any problem with American Airlines, most flight attendants are very polite and appreciative of people, especially frequent flyers choosing their airlines over others

109. Yes .. I used to be a flight attendant. We are harmed by the devaluing our product . How can the airline offer raises and health care without making money ? If I walk out into a department store and take a sweater that no one is wearing ? Just because no one is wearing it ?The airline sells space and service. If you are sitting in front do you not get more space and more options on food? If I am sitting next to you why do you get to sit next to me and take up the middle seat that was empty ? I paid more for the privilege of possibly having an open middle seat . You are only thinking of yourself. You are a their . This is a capitalist society.. If you were paying more would you expect a better experience? Wake up . I now can afford to pay for a more expensive experience. I earned it . I did it I earned it everyone else can too. don’t want anyone to be discriminated against however I want what I paid for .. and I expect the airline to in force their policy..I do not want to sit next to someone that is stealing! Yes they are stealing. It is not a harmless offense. It is theft :..theft of service. The employer has to pay the employees. Where do they get the money ? By selling the travel experience. If you think this is harmless I suggest you go to your employer and ask that he / she gives your livelihood away to someone that that wants an interest free loan or a free hotel or free anything. If you are in finance then give me your guidance for free because what’s the harm? Doctor please give me free advice because why not ? You have the knowledge. Just give it to me .. this is not how it is .. you get what you pay for .. nicer cars.. nicer clothes.. better advice .. better travel experience.. ugh!

110. Wow the person who made that post at United should probably have a knife rammed through their heart. What a total “FU customer” comment that is

111. Working in the travel industry, and the question I get asked most is, Do you give an airline employee discount? Flight attendants always want a discount, but airline passengers do not get to fly the friendly skies.

112. Once the doors are closed, it’s obvious that unsold seats will NOT be filled.
     So what’s the problem with people moving? The airline has all the money they can suck out of each passenger on that flight.
     I can understand the concern of balancing the plane if it’s not full.

     IF a move physically intrudes on another passenger, of course that is totally unacceptable.

113. I agree. Just because seat is not occupied it should not be a free for all nor “ given “ away. The integrity of the product sold must be protected. Those that paid for that upgraded product should be respected and not have what they paid for then given away to someone else who didn’t pay .
     You sit in the cabin and type of seat you pay for, period.
     Flight attendant , 43 years of service,

114. @James N “While the debate over whether someone should be able to ‘self-upgrade’ will continue ad nauseam; the fact remains that those who purchased the same seats before the flight, lose nothing if an unoccupied seat is taken.” I never get this argument. If I’m in 8C and “Ted” self-upgrades to 8B (or “Ted” and “Pat” take 8A&B), I have lost something. How can you argue otherwise as I lose the extra armrest and have to let them out to use the lav?

115. Your self righteous comments are idealized pap. There is no money lost, no lost benefit to you, no “cheating,” no “theft of service,” as you put it, if a passenger is allowed to sit in a seat that is unsold and therefore unoccupied. The loss is to the airline because THEY could not or did not sell a ticket to fill the seat.

116. I respectfully disagree with the concept of complimentary self-upgrades on flights. It seems inequitable that some passengers may receive a significant enhancement without any additional cost, while others must pay a premium for the same privilege. This practice could be perceived as unfair and may undermine the sense of equality among passengers. While I understand the allure of potential upgrades, I believe it is essential to maintain a consistent and transparent pricing structure to ensure fairness and customer satisfaction.

117. If the airlines pushed passengers forward like Delta does, there.wouldnt be any empty good seats and they’d be creating goodwill when people got decent upgrades.

     Alternatively, add it to the fine print. “On flights, with open seats, if you move to an upgraded seat, you agree to pay the difference. Where possible, this will happen automatically to the same credit card the original ticket was purchased with.”

118. Recently flew another International carrier. Paid for an exit row and had seat next to me open. Was a bit relieved as it was an allnighter and wanted to sleep and have that extra space. After departure a man who was 6’4 asked to sit there and was actually charged by the FA for the onboard upgrade. He was happy to stretch his legs out into the vast open area. I however was not thrilled to have a huge body next to me. However he DID pay for the upgrade. It would have been really annoying if he just moved there for free bc passengers do pay more for that added space. FAs should charge for seat changes after departure. It’s not lost revenue if someone still wants the seat in the air.

119. If the FAs on my flight told me that 5hey had removed seat cushions, I would tell them we either need to enter the “missing” seat cushion in the MX Log or return them to the seats. If a cushion is “missing, it needs to be either “fixed” by maintenance or MELed, placarded inop and taken out of service. I know that sounds a little anal, but I’m pretty sure that is the way the FAA would see it.
     AA can sell snacks and meals onboard with a CC or debit card. They need to give the FAs a way to sell upgraded seats too.

     Retired AA Captain

120. If we upgrade it’s considered stealing. I will NOT risk my job over it. Stay in the seat you paid for.

121. There is a TikTok where a Delta-loyal poster flies AA (domestic) first, and shows how lame and dirty it is— while the popular “oof, the ghetto” audio plays.

     I told my friend who was about to fly that the first time. She sent a picture, agreeing.

122. Bullsh*t like this is yet another reason not to fly, whenever possible.

123. Exit row seats are an interesting case. To make sure that there is always someone willing and capable of opening the exits, each row on each side of the airplane should have at least one willing and capable person sitting there. If the airline can get someone to pay extra for the seat, fine, but if not, the flight attendants should recruit someone. Some exit row seats do not recline so that may make recruitment harder on longer flights. Being seated in the exit row usually means specific instructions by a flight attendant as well as confirming the willingness to open the exit if needed. If no one is seated in the exit row, there is no one to give special instructions to and no one to get a confirmation from. I have paid a bit extra for over wing exit row seats on AirAsia. The extra charge was reasonable and the benefit was that I got three seats for myself because others were not willing to pay a bit extra. Definitely my gain.

124. Put sharp spikes in the seat that will end the behavior 😉

125. Back in the day, we would be allowed to change our seats so long as it wasn’t a premium seat.
     This sounds so typical of AA, that’s why I avoid that airline at all costs.
     Heck on Quontas we were once able to sit in business class from LA to Australia, but we also got to visit the captain and copilot. Times have certainly changed.

126. By the same token if I pay extra for Delta Comfort and the person in front of me reclines their seat aren’t they impinging on the extra space I paid for?

127. This is so incredibly Petty. I’m so tired of American capitalism.

128. That is perfectly fair last time I flew a guy came from nowhere and got a seat next to me for free when I paid for mine $ 175 , thanks American !!

129. All airlines should print rules when it comes to empty premium seats or even business and first class. FA should be able to charge passengers if they wish to move to upgrade to prime seating. Otherwise, passengers will not be allowed to move to prime seating without asking FA. There are some FA make their own judgement allowing family to be moved to empty seats so they can be all together. It was Air France from Dulles DC to Paris. Family of 5 seating in the back (coach). Yes, that was very kind of the FA to moved them from coach to premium sectio which we paid $3,500 per person. Well, is that fair?

130. Greed6 airlines next will be paid toilets.

131. “[C]hanging to an open seat nobody else is using can’t be stealing, because the airline hasn’t given up anything.” This is a misguided view of stealing. To steal is to take or appropriate without right/permission and with intent to keep. It doesn’t matter whether the airline is “giving up anything.” If a passenger pays for an economy seat without extra legroom, then that passenger steals upon taking another seat without permission. Simply put, they can’t just take whatever seat they want because no one’s sitting there. Besides, why should any passenger be allowed to benefit beyond what they paid for without the airline’s consent? A passenger who purchases seat 11C gets the benefit of their bargain when they occupy seat 11C. To take an “extra legroom” seat without the airline’s permission (whether by paying for the seat or receiving a flight attendant’s permission) is stealing and wrongfully benefitting from their own selfishness.

132. People, you paid for your seat with extra leg room or a prettier windows view of the engines. Great.
     What you didn’t pay for is who sits next to you and how much they paid for it. Enjoy your experience and stop being so mean spirited. They also didn’t pay but ended up being next to you. Surely that is their penance for taking that seat.
     Don’t be fooled that the money pays for better flight attendants, it goes to shareholders.

133. By their logic the airlines stole from the taxpayers when they lobbied the government to bail them out after COVID

134. I flew LAX to Narita in Tokyo. It was AA or UA, can’t remember. I had the window and a Naval office was in the aisle seat. After take off, he moved back to an empty row with now problem. We both had plenty of room for the 13 hour flight. Coming back, I paid for an emergency row window seat. There had been an earthquake the day before so all the passengers were moved to the next day. That was such an uncomfortable flight. A very large, but super nice man sat in the middle seat. I couldn’t even use the armrest. Luckily, it was easy to get up to stretch…don’t want DVT.

     Honestly, best flight in 55 years of flight was JFK to Rome on Alitalia. Coach was better than any US 1st class I’ve ever flown. Fulling reclining seats with legs rests, slippers, pillows, sleep masks, free wine, great food. Try the foreign carriers for international. They give better service.

135. I wonder where the removed iseat cushions were kept. If left out in the open, they could be harmful missiles in turbulence or a crash. I also wonder how happy maintenance was to have to reinstall the seat cushions, which would probably have delayed the plane’s next departure.

136. I have flown alot over my life I had my seats up graded free of charge to first class cause my luggage was lost for three days and the in those cases the airline should up grade you . But it seems with each generation entitlement gets worse and worse my generation is you sit where you are supposed to sit unless they upgraded you regardless of empty seats but that’s just me ,but there’s on sure fired way of stopping the airlines that is stop flying them ,I know business people have to fly but cut it back when you get in to the airlines profit margin then the will wake up and take note but the American people are the stupidest people on the planet we bitch but don’t want to do anything so until you decide to fix the problem you are the problem just as much as the airline .

137. In the 90’s, I gave the ticket agents a box of chocolates after they checked me in. They were happy, I left and went to my gate.
     A few minutes later, one of the agents came to the gate, asked for my ticket, and went to the desk. She came back, handed me the ticket, and told me they put me in first class. Those are the days I miss. When kindness was a thing, when customer service existed.
     As a side note, does anyone remember People’s Express airlines?

138. And when people lose their seat or get kicked off because the airline overbook?

     How about when the airline claims a delay is for a reason they aren’t required to compensate paying passengers?

139. …and yet another reason why, even as an aviation enthusiast, former private pilot, former USAFR member, do I loathe flying commercial air.

140. The airlines need to make all the seats equal for all passengers. I’m not impressed by the fact that someone pays more money to accommodate extra service and amenities for First, second and third class citizens. Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk, or whoever can sit in the same seat as everyone else. These businesses cram people in uncomfortable seats in order to maximize income based upon status. I’d rather not waste my money and fly anywhere anymore. I’m tired of the huge corporations discriminating customers with unnecessary perks. It’s a glorified bus. I have gotten to the point where I don’t buy anything that’s not absolutely necessary anymore. Our capitalist society has managed to run up thirty-five trillion dollars in debt. These large corporations built on greed aren’t going to have any customers eventually.

141. I understand the points some of you are making, but basic leg room has shrunk since the 90s. I had to book an emergency flight and there were only two seats left. I had no options. I found one other airline that would get me there on time, but there were three seats available, with less leg room than the first airline. I’m very tall. I went back to the first air line and bout a ticket. When I boarded the plane and took off, I noticed one of those premium seats stayed empty. Even after explaining the situation, I wasn’t allowed to move seats. It sucked for me and the poor lady sitting beside me because I had to turn partially sideways in one direction or the other.

142. Maybe the airlines should be asking the question why these seats don’t sell in the first place. Maybe they should ask if they would make more money if they were just regular seats. If they want those seats to be special, spend the money to actually make a 3rd cabin area akin to first class rather than stuffing people into the same area with the cheap seat “peasants.” Perhaps they’ve forgotten that happy customers are returning customers. God forbid that someone on a budget would dare to move forward. “To the back of the plane with you Rosa Parks “

143. What about the stealing the airline is doing my marketing a fare that only applies to a few seats while they charge more for the rest of the seats in the main cabin? Good ol bait and switch. You want me to act as a first responder and give aid to people getting off the plane (I have no issue with this aspect of it) and at the same time pay MORE to perform this service? I consider the trade of my time , effort and potential risk of my own safety and more than fair compensation for 6 inches more legroom. And they wonder why people want to fly southwest wherever possible!

144. Your logic is crapola!
     I have flown over 41/2 million miles. It is stealing from airlines to take a higher class seat. That seat has extra value and airline should be paid for that value. Scum bags who steal that value should be corrected or punished. The value is owned by the airline to do with what they wish. They can give away as bonus or as loyalty reward or any other rational because it is their value. That value should not be stolen from them. I EARNED any upgrades that I receive, I did the time and gave the loyalty.
     Rigid enforcement is only way for airlines to be compensate for the added value and make persons who earned or paid for the added value to feel treated fairly.

145. Airlines are so greedy that they won’t let you sit in a seat that has no chance to be sold. Would rather have the seat empty than have a customer get a few extra inches of space without charging them 100+ dollars. Nauseating

146. Hey AA. Don’t cut off your nose to spite your face. If the plane is already mid air, and those seats are not sold, why does it matter? If it’s an issue, have your attendants offer these empty seats at a discounted price to your in flight customers. Dumb issue. Dumb rule. Unless it’s a weight or balance issue it shouldn’t matter once the cabin doors are closed.

147. I try to follow the intent of the rules and I don’t feel entitled to take it upon myself to move to a better seat unless it’s offered to me. In general, I ask myself,”If everyone else did what I feel like doing, would that make the world a little better or worse?”.

148. Exit rows and Premium Economy/Comfort Plus are different cabins on most airlines. Premium Economy comes with upgraded food/snacks, free drinks, right behind first class for easy deplaning, etc. If there was simply just one (1) passenger who was booked in premium economy, I’m not going to disrespect him and allow randos to sit there when he spent extra $$$ on his ticket. I’m sure you’ll be upset if someone from premium economy tries to snag an empty first class seat.

149. Yet, when the airline companies in financial trouble, which always happens during recessions, taxpayers bail them out. During good times, they become king. Shame of them!
     They price discriminate, make customers feel bad, treat customers badly, yet we have no choice due to their oligopoly power. Next time our government should not bail them out.

150. Let’s say that you signed a lease for an apt. After moving in, you realize that the next apt is unoccupied. Would you go in and occupy it claiming that the mgmt company isn’t losing money cuz it was not rented out to begin with?

     How about you see an HOV lane where there aren’t too many cars using it. Would you start using that lane cuz no one is using it?

     Using something to which a value has been attached by the owner of that resource, without paying for it, IS stealing.

     How is this a loss?
     Loss of reputation – the airline will be viewed as taking money from some but giving it for free to others
     Loss of revenue – people who pay for it will be encouraged by this “occupy if unused” behavior, to not purchase the premium seats which results in a Loss of revenue.

151. Good for them….the entitlement of these passengers are unreal.

152. If I’m at the back in my cheap seat, can I move myself to an empty first class seat? Just asking…

153. Airlines are stealing from us.
     They offer 17 to 18 inch seats with very little leg room. They pack us in like cattle and charge outrageous fees. No food and charging for drinks and water. If you want to sit in a semi comfortable seat you have to pay thousands. They don’t care if an overweight individual or a very tall individual take up what little space you have. If you recline your seat into my space you will hear about it.
     I am sick of looking at greasy hair and not being able to use my tray table which I paid for. I have had my knees banged by the seat in front of me that was reclining. Not one person moved their seat up. They said they paid to be able to recline. No, you did not pay for my space so move your seat. I fly 0nly when necessary. It is not a pleasant experience. When airlines start treating us with comfortable seats and a few amenities then alot more people will fly again.

154. If I paid the premium for the upgraded seat and others are able to get one for free, I would find it very unfair.
     If all empty seats were up for grabs when the door closes then I could make a decision to take my chances of getting a better seat for free or pay for it to ensure that I get one.

155. I’d just remove my seat and attach it to the missing. Airline seating has shrunk astronomically. Passengers are SOL if they have to get into the brace position.

156. If you did not pay for extra leg room you don’t deserve extra leg room. Pay the upgrade in flight if the option to do so is availabe or pay at booking, otherwise sit in the seat you paid for. I’m so sick of the sense of entitlement people today have. YOU ARE NOT ENTITLED TO WHAT YOUR WHINEY A$$ DID NOT PAY FOR!!! So what if the seat with leg room sits empty? You did not pay for it, so it isn’t yours. Stop being an entitled twit.

157. Pretty laughable, the idea of an airline asserting a “moral” argument.

158. The Customers on today flights ,they do not respect nothing on any airline,Please bring 1 personal bag, they bring three,they have a pet in cabin ,now goes free due to emotional pet and a size as a horse.
     Now today I fly to Italy and for free I received an empty seat in Business,next time ,I fly to Paris I want a free seat in first class, monkey do monkey does but with no respect and seat for free with no Bra or shirt.No more respect in this world for anybody. The airlines are losing money, for fees,hotels,taxis, finds of Faa, sues by sick passengers that was plan to hurt the airline.

159. @David W…”How can you argue otherwise as I lose the extra armrest and have to let them out to use the lav?”

     Sorry, Dave, but you’re wrong. You didn’t “pay” for an extra armrest or additional funds to avoid having to move if someone had to take a piss. You bought your seat and you still have your seat. Those seats could have been sold before the flight and your inconvenience would have been present. You paid for a seat, which you got, regardless of what happens after the doors close.

160. If I want to fly with additional legroom, I pay for it. Recently my husband and I have chosen to fly first class. Yes it is more expensive but we budget for the additional cost. Why should someone take a seat because it is empty and feel entitled? I’m sorry but the idea of entitlement has gone too far. If you are not willing to pay the additional price initially then don’t complain that you can not take a better seat if you didn’t pay for it.

161. One guy told me he checks for open seats in the apt and sits in them. I said I paid for my seat he then sat a few rows up

162. This is why I will never fly on American Airlines. They just simply treat their customers like s*** and dollar signs. Total greed and no compassion.

163. Perhaps if the airlines allowed a reasonable amount of legroom in Economy class, this issue of changing seats wouldn’t be of such importance. I always try to fly Economy Plus now. When I look at the regular Economy section, I am appalled at the lack of space.

164. If you didn’t pay for it, then don’t try to steal it. Patty S. – don’t fly if you think you’re being cheated. The bus is an option or maybe the train. You can always drive unless you’re going to an overseas destination. Then you can take a boat. In any case, airlines are in business to make money. Don’t whine about it.

165. Guess what? American Airlines can keep their crappy empty seats and their snotty arrogant cabin crew. I won’t be flying with them again.

166. One of the perks that comes with an extra legroom seat, is better odds of an empty seat next to me So if I pay for a premium economy seat, I don’t want someone to sit next to me unless they paid the premium.

167. The comments on this article range from sensible to absolutely unhinged corporate bootlickers. Some of the entitled boomers in here are really showing their privilege. American made nearly a billion in profit in 2023 after paying over 60 million in executive compensation including 31 million to just the CEO. They are charging more and providing less than ever and people on here are arguing that you shouldn’t get to use an empty seat because you didn’t pay for the extra 3 inches. Give me a break…

168. this is another example of passenger rudeness. they are seeted At the back OF the plane but they place their handluggage ipon boarding in the upper compartment were i am seated in my extra legroom seat , which i paid for and proceed to the back of the plane and the flight . so no space for my handluggage and the flight attendant says its allowed. NO WAY. THE NEXT TIME I WIIL ATTEND THIS ISSUE WITH A LAWYER

169. It seems to me this is a simple fix. Once the flight is in the air, and there are available seats, offer à discounted upgrade. If there are more takes for the upgrade than seats, draw the taker’s assigned seat # from a pool. The winner(s) receive the upgrade seat and any other perks included with that seat. The discounted upgrade should reflect they did not have the comfort and convenience of the upgrade the entire duration of the flight.

170. The real solution here is for airlines to curb their greed and stop installing their rows 6″ from each other!! And to stop assuming that every human being weighs 120lbs, and fits in a 13″ wide seat! Never mind those people that are over 5 ft 10 in tall, and certainly forget about me at 6’2.

     THAT is immoral. And unfair for my legs and the person in front of me that can’t use the reclined feature on their chair because my knees can’t move.

     Perspective people! come on!

171. All this is on the airlines. They want to make as much money as possible by making you as uncomfortable as possible so that you will spend to upgrade. I laugh at the comments that proclaim “you get what you pay for”. Yes, within the system they designed to put you in. Air travel is an economic necessity. Government controls are required to maintain stability.

172. Are these flight attendants paid so handsomely that they feel the need to go above and beyond and police empty seats?

     And why do other customers care if who moves where?

     Get a damned life and mind your business. If someone moves into and empty seat no one is harmed.

173. Is this just a problem with American?? I’ve never had an issue with this on any other airline. In June, my mom, little brother & sister, and I all went on an overseas flight to Germany to visit family. We each had a seat in a center row for 4 passengers. There was an empty 4 passenger aisle behind us, no one was taking it.
     So, once the flight had taken off and seat belt signs were turned off, I just went to go sit in the empty aisle behind my family. Nobody cared. Not the staff, other passengers, no one. I got free leg room and a chance to lie down and nap. Better yet, my family in front of me didn’t have to worry about leaning their seat back too far since I didn’t care.

174. Back in the day this was allowed when we flew Delta from the US to Europe. It was great!!

175. That’s just plain life. You get what you pay for, and don’t get what you pay for. If the premium seat is empty, it stays empty. Period.

176. I was mixed on this but having paid for upgrade extra leg room for over 5 years and a few first class upgrades when available You should not be able to move to a higher class than what you paid for..I never did that.. If I saw a better seat, aisle or window or empty row (not hppening these days, lol) I would move to that seat but not in an upgraded area..I paid for coach and stayed in coach. The nerve of people..smh..

177. Lay is what a chicken does to get an egg.
     Lie down in a row of empty seats on a plane is what a human might do.

     Grammar 101

178. It’s corporate greed, next they’ll be selling air( that is if they could). Why not make all seats comfortable and charge for location on the plane instead or charging for basic comfort. We have to stop these companies from getting rich by breaking everything down to basic components and charging for each piece instead of the whole. Greed is a disease in America.

179. It’s an upgrade seat. You don’t pay, you don’t sit. It diminishes the value. (Not
     That it’s worth the $150 bit that is the cost so you do t get it for free)

     I flew premium economy to Rome and there were 4 seats open in first class- that doesn’t mean I get to sit there. Selfish entitled America- the new norm. Gross

180. Decades ago I was on a business trip to Seoul, Korea. Flight booked by my company was round trip economy. I’m a tall woman with a pin in my right ankle that causes swelling and arthritis in all of my joints. I was very early to the departure gate, and was the only waiting passenger for hours. The check-in clerk approached me and offered me an upgrade to first class for $200 cash. I thanked him profusely, but unfortunately I didn’t have quite enough cash on me. Another hour passed, and the clerk approached me again, and offered to upgrade me to Business Class for $100. I grinned and said “Sold! Thank you!”. He took my ticket & boarding pass, went to the gate desk, worked his magic and we made the exchange. Believe me, that was the best $100 I spent on airline tickets! The flight from Seoul to San Francisco was heavenly.

     Another flight, about 51 years ago, I was traveling economy with my infant son from San Antonio to Chicago. At the gate desk, the gentleman asked for my seat preference. I said, “Anyplace that’s convenient with. Baby.”. He smiled and said, “Ma’am, there’s NO PLACE convenient with a baby, but I’ll see what I can do. I’ll come get you at boarding.”. When the plane started boarding, I looked up and was watching the last passenger walk through the tunnel. The gate agent came over smiling and said “Ma’am, your seat’s ready.”. I shouldered my cumbersome diaper bag, the rigid car seat with my son in it, and trudged along behind him. Just inside the plane door, he turned to the stewardess and said “Here you go.”. They put us in an empty First Class Row! I even had a champagne cocktail once they offered drinks! I was so amazingly grateful for their kindness.

181. I don’t fly. I don’t plan to ever fly again. I have no desire to get on a plane with a bunch of AHs with an attitude problem. If I want a better seat I’ll pay for it. But I won’t pay for any seat on any airline that milks its customers for cash and offers nothing but disrespect. Packing people into less and less space is disrespectful. Keeping passengers on the tarmac for hours in record heat (or cold) is disrespectful. Making passengers be treated badly by unruly entitled brat adults is disrespectful. More people should be removed from flights when their behavior warrants it and removal should be immediate and irrevocable. I’ll drive in my private car or take a train where I can retreat to my cabin when I’m tired. But fly? I swore “never again” after an airline overbooked. They desperately tried to get passengers to give up their seats for free tickets. Guess what? NO bites. I quit flying after that. Never ever again.

182. I totally agree with Matthew!!

183. I can’t believe there are people in here defending airlines. You stupid bootlickers are so obsessed with gatekeeping other passengers instead of directing your energy at the greedy airlines. This is why they can get away with treating consumers like they do.

184. I think companies have bevime to comfortable telling us what we can do I will just make delta refund full every time they inconvenience and payout full every time along with a full refund for anything that goes somewhat wrong .. quik fix for shite airlines who think they can talk to consumer’s that way come from ching Chong land try that on American soil

185. If u want the extra pay the extra. It’s a business not a non-profit. He needs to stop stretching the truth. It is a rare thing for people in coach to pay full fare. I should say the same for 1st as they sale discounted 1st class seats also.

186. What a dramatic headline! Click bait.

     Taking a seat that you did not pay for is called “Theft of service”. It’s not fair to the other passengers who paid for the extra room. Period.

     Also, letting a passenger or passengers take these seats would lead to arguing and an altercation between people on who “deserves” it the most. Who would be the referee for that?

     Kudos to the quick thinking flight attendant who pulled the seat cushions to stop the nonsense.

     If a person wants the extra room they need to pay for it.

     Gary, stop making the flight attendant out to be the bad guy when they are following American’s policies.

187. This is why a private pilots license comes in handy…with a small, light aircraft of course. No TSA. No flight attendants. Pick your own seat. Running late…not a problem.

188. The correct comparison is with what happens on an Amtrak train. If a roomette or one bedroom cabin is empty they will sell it to you for the same price as those who paid for the upgrade when they booked their trip. You don’t get to move into the upgraded space because it is unoccupied.

189. Un-American Airlines. Any excuse for the hired hands to be nasty to the flying customers and for the Ebenezer Scrooge airline executives will do, won’t it? What happened to politeness, consideration and helpfulness on our domestic airlines? Greed and lack of concern for others have taken their place. I’m USAF Retired.

190. This is a ridiculous topic. What have we become as a society when it is ok to take something that they haven’t paid for.
     Arguing that it doesn’t hurt anyone makes no sense. It is wrong.
     Does this mean we can do whatever we want as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone? Is it ok to make a U-turn in the middle of the road or run a red light because no one is near by so no one got hurt.
     There is no accountability anymore.
     Just do the right thing.

191. How else is AA going to afford to pay their pilots their half a million $$ salaries?

192. No need to “tear off” anything. All seat cushions are removable. Yes, they are, seat cushions are used as flotation devices for water landings.
     So… flight attendants know which seats have not been booked, so they should simply remove the seat cushions off seats that are empty and require a higher fare.

193. They should put some time into it and figure it out. At least use it For compensations.

194. My fiance is 6’7″ so he has to pay extra. He won’t fit in economy. First I was thinking maybe people should be able to move but then I thought about Scott. He always pays more because airlines don’t make seats for people that are tall like him. I agree you should sit where you paid for because it’s not fair to the passenger that paid extra.

195. What flight attendants don’t realize is I pay a yearly fee for AAvantage card with Barclay’s and since covid every business is price gauging and it’s ridiculous and so is the point or rewards you’re earning, used to be better, we were allowed free 1 bag to check-in, first to board they took all of that away. I had one flight attende get extremely rude with me, I have to use a wheelchair due to disability the nice kid rolled me right to the door, she attendant looked at me like hmmm bcuz I don’t look sick. My legs were completely numb from nerve disease, swollen feet so it took me a few tries to get up and stand with my cain, this women bcuz I said can you hold my carry on so I can get up or just put it on the floor she flew off put above my seat, comes back and says really loud WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO CARRY YOU TOO, I was in no mood even the people behind me went wow coz I apologized, the people were so nice and even the kid wheeling me said something, it got heated so the captain came out said what’s going on by then I was in tears, angry embarrassed, captain said you said that to her she goes I was kidding he goes to someone in a wheelchair he helped me back to my seat, such a gentleman. And the passengers were super nice, generally people, I find are kind and supportive especially when just ONE person set’s the let’s be nice vibe, for that reason I try to always be respectful and helpful, always but I’m not fond of being disrespected at all. I did write her up but I sat quietly in my seat the entire flight. Sometimes you can fly the friendly sky’s it’s easier when people are nice because seriously who is in love with flying to begin with and add a disability to it, not fun. Just like the person who’s 6’2 or more it’s uncomfortable, I’m 5’9 so we’ll aware of the knee issue .

196. Stop trying to take everything you can get from the airlines without paying for it. That’s why airfares stay up, you pay for what you wish to have on your trip. Paying for one thing and then moving to another seat is wrong! The free drinks in the exit seats:No-one evens says thank you when we give a free drinks, it just expected. Don’t be a pig and have 4 drinks, you’re still responsible for opening those seats in an emergency. Your not even suppose to have any wired from the seat in front one you to your seat, but most crews over look it. How would the FAA entertain the idea of having people drinking in the exit row, that’s like saying it’s ok for the crew and pilots can drink inflight also! If you want it, just pay for it!

197. The amount of whining entitled babies in the comments is hilarious! Travel on these airlines is a paid for privilege, not a right. These airlines are not nonprofit organizations, they are for profit businesses who happen to be regulated by the government to ensure our safety and fair treatment. Clearly the government doesn’t care about your lil tantrums bc you can’t sit in the seats that you clearly can’t afford. Get over yourselves!!! Just bc no one is physically hurt by you getting your way doesn’t mean these airlines or their employees have to give in to you. Their Lexus analogy wasn’t great but the point is still the same you get what you paid for and that is it, they don’t owe you any more. No one myself included wants to pay extra money to get extra space or amenities just to get on the plane and see that any entitled **** gets exactly the same space & amenities and only paid a bare fare. It’s not fair, and it devalues the upgraded seats.

198. Airlines are paying for positive comments in this comment section. Immoral behavior.

     I loved during covid when the skies were clean from their mess. Everyone else liked it too.

     Disgusting behavior from these airlines. They should not be supported with public money.

199. As a retired flight attendant Actually you are not supposed to move after the flight has leveled off due to weight and balances I’ve actually been moved on flights before take off due to that if a lot of people move before take off the flight could be in jeopardy

200. You see it in plenty of videos gone viral. Air rage. By mandating a strict policy, fairness is ensured. At the end of the day, you pay for what you get. I understand there are inconveniences. The easiest way to avoid the inconveniences is to pay a little extra. The strict policy sucks and absolutely no customer enjoys the strict policy, but civility must be enforced. A truly sad fact of society. If you hate the policy so much to the point that you believe you’re entitled, fly a different airline. Speaking with your wallet, I think it’s the most civil way to avoid air rage.

201. Better equivalent moral analogy – your neighbor has swimming pool (with more legroom). They depart for two-week trip leaving their backyard unused. Should you be allowed to self-upgrade from your yard and go for a swim? Should whether or not the neighbor is rich corporate executive matter?

202. Same argument can be applied to software piracy: “Comparing changing to an open seat nobody else is using can’t be stealing, because the airline hasn’t given up anything, and claiming it harms other passengers isn’t right either because other passengers still got exactly what they paid for.”

203. If they aren’t selling these seats, then maybe it’s because they are overcharging for them? That sounds like a pricing/management issue.

204. As a couple that has to always buy the exit row seats because the hubby is 6’8″..I was not pleased on a Frontier flight when someone (who did ask first) was allowed to sit next to us without paying the $75ea we paid. Now that annoyed the heck out of us.
     Ion the flipside..if that’s the airlines policy and you dont like it… fly someone else. Why do the rules always have to be changed to accommodate entitled people.

205. It’s the same way I feel about my neighbor’s house and car and lawn mower. They’re not using it so why shouldn’t I be using it.

206. They are a private company. If they want to charge more for more legroom, so be it. How entitled must someone be to think they can just take something they didn’t pay for? You want some extra leg room? Pay for it!

207. yes this is so STUPID and laughable $$$$$$$ makes the world go round when this STUPID AIRLINE equates $$$$ with MORALITY, i want to VOMIT, everyone has a price ($) on their head, everyone is a (commodity)
     STUPID AIRINE
     STUPID FLIGHT ATTENDANT

     i flew ONCE in my LIFE (2015)
     NEVER AGAIN

     is AIRLINE travel REALLY STILL that ESSENTIAL???
     with our (smartphones)(internet)
     just like that STUPID (hollywoodland)(strike) last year

208. I would just ask a flight attendant if it would be ok to switch seats with an empty one.

209. And this is WAY, our family took the GREY HOUND BUS home from Calif.to Boloxi, Ms. OK it took forever But people were e
     Really friendly,
     Youngmen coming home after the War.
     They just wanted to talk to an American.
     You could rent a small pillow at each stop (turning in the one before).
     Sometimes they smelled of cigarettes smoke, and something else???
     You got to See alot on those trips….Age 80, enjoying hearing planes flying over way up, and saying that’s but No thanks.
     Aunt Nita
     ComfortBliss
     Deco.com.check out my Store

210. Use the airline that suits your needs. If you NEED extra legroom, pay for it. If there is an empty seat after the plane leave, first come first served.

211. I pay extra for myself and usually my now 12yo son to sit in the upgraded seats with more leg room and the ability to be off the plane quicker. I always hope and hope and hope that nobody buys the third seat! For us it’s so my son can come and go as many times as he needs for the restroom without disturbing a third passenger. He also requires the window seat so that motion sickness doesn’t come on. I would definitely be ticked off if someone who had chose to not upgrade their seat when they were buying their ticket suddenly came and sat down after take off! That’s just rude and inconsiderate!

212. I think some are missing the point here: it’s of course perfectly reasonable for an airline to charge whatever they want, including requiring an upgrade charge for a “premium” seat. The question becomes, how reasonable is it to force empty seats to remain empty because the airline doesn’t have a mechanism to charge for them? It’s one thing to say, “sure you may move to that seat for a small fee”, vs: “we couldn’t sell those at the premium price, so no one gets them now”. At the least, because the airline can’t process the upgrade, they are not taking a loss if people who payed a standard fare are allowed to move . As far as the comparison of using someone else’s private property without their consent while they are away, this makes no sense as an analogy at all.

213. Ironically that flight attendant gets to fly for free as often as they want as part of their job perks, and they often move themselves to premium class seats. For free

214. To sustain our humanity -blood and fresh form, no one should be annoyed when another person gets some short time comfort especially in an airplane. It will land and everyone dispatch to continue in their joys or misery. When upgraded, refusing the good nibbling in business class is what the airline can gain on. Futures generations need to find good readings/writings and not fiction recorded as it’s the reality– Lord no illwill to fellow strangers.

215. Why don’t the airlines charge a reduced rate to anyone wishing to upgrade to those seats after boarding is complete? Even a small price gives the airline a chance to earn some money for the empty seat rather than no money. Plus if another person was able to get that seat cheaper it would be the same as someone making a store purchase after the store put the item on sale. That’s just the luck of the draw and a win all the way around.

216. If you pay for a hamburger, you get a hamburger. Don’t expect to get a cheese burger just because nobody else ordered it!

217. What about Sr. citizen with disabilities who can afford the luxuries of upgrading certain seats should be held for their convenience. It doesn’t have to be first class, but it should be to accommodate where they don’t have to have the last seats in the plane.

218. Simple solution: give the passengers the option to pat to upgrade. And give the airlines the ability to charge them if they want to upgrade.
     I t can be a simple program where the passenger swipes his card thru a program designed specifically for upgrading. The new system would pay for itself in only a few swipes 9f customers cards who are wishing to upgrade and willing to pay for it. And would also create a profit for the airline. Seems like a win win situation and an opportunity for the airlines to make addition sales for any flt that wasn’t fully sold out.

     Now, making a comparison of using someone else’s items while they are away carries no weight. I mean, did you pay for using a hammer while they are gone. And then help yourself to the lawnmower? No, and no same person would. So what could possibly think that using someone’s property without prior consent is an option. This is no comparison.

219. Solution: Make all the seats comfortable.

     How? Require all politicians to fly economy, cattle class on public airlines. Once they’re not on the taxpayer funded private jet, first/business/ upgraded class, things will magically improve overnight.

220. How great would Star Trek materializing at desired destinations be for us all… Just think it and get there instantly? Would fuel, pollution, seating discomforts, costs, timing, fighting, disrespect, and etc, be eliminated ?

221. tracy lewis – It is NOT theft of service!

     First of all… Our “premium” seats sell quicker than those that are not, so this situation is pretty rare.

     Most people who want the seats will still pay for them. It doesn’t make sense that people who want them will “roll the dice” and hope that a seat will be open and that I will allow them to move into it.

     Again… If the flight has a lot of seats open, I will continue to allow people to sit there as long as they ask me and I have not yet done the safety briefing.

     It’s unfortunate that we disagree, but we do. All good! I’ve had time to think about this issue, and this is my decision on it. It’s not up for debate as far as I’m concerned. My mind is made up.

     Ask me… I will tell you “yes” as long as the seat is vacant and boarding is complete.

222. Gary, you are a theif taking advantage of wage employees too exasperated to prevent you. As bad as the monsters that go to sporting events or concerts trying to sneak past the ushers to tbe good seats.

223. …not to mention… The “service” would be something I am providing and I have already said “yes”.

     Now… If there’s an annoying “Susan” in the crew [the flight attendant equivalent of a “Karen”]… All good. I’ll give them free drinks or something else from First Class or whatever because my coworker is a jerk.

     FAs comp drinks and snacks all the time. Including to crew which is OFFICIALLY not policy. We are officially not even supposed to give crew members full bottles of water, but we routinely do.

224. if you scroll down, you’ll see Mike’s comments and I agree 100% with that it would change overnight!

225. Oh enough. People! Stop trying to weasel your way into something you hadn’t already paid for. You want it, pay for it. Like everybody else.

226. Tell me you’re a socialist without telling me you’re a socialist lololol the airline does lose out by just “giving” the upgrade. The point of those upgrades is for comfort, that’s what the incentive is. Imagine you pay first class for the space and the quiet then some lady with her noisy kids comes and ruins that for you just because the seats around you weren’t being used. Are you, an extra paying customer, going to be incentivized to pay for that same amenity? Of course not. At that point no one would pay for any of the incentives and just focus on getting seated as close to the front as possible so once the doors close you’re ahead of the chaos game of first come first serve. Imagine if theme parks employed that same logic with express lines and regular lines. The point of incentives is for those who are willing to do what’s needed to acquire them. Once you start giving those same incentives to those who do nothing for them then you lose those that are willing to pay the price. You silly author, you.

227. Tammy in an above comment said, “If you pay for a hamburger, you get a hamburger. Don’t expect to get a cheese burger just because nobody else ordered it!” That makes zero sense. Once the cheese is consumed it’s gone forever and cannot ever be sold or combined by another in the future. Not a good comparison in any way whatsoever.

228. Wow that was wrong on so many levels. A flight attendant with no compassion for travelers. I would have sat & called it a day. I have swelling of the legs when I sit too long. But I am not rich. But may have had too buy the cheaper tickets & suffer a little discomfort. But 7 empty seats, 35,000 feet on the air. My question is. Were the people that could have bought those seats or needed to be on that plane going to join us at 30,000 feet? Was it really all that. Then again leaving the decision to the flight attendant was Americans way of being cowards. You make the rules. Now employees think they need to dismantle or destroy airline property to get the message across to a few people that may not be Americans (Wink). So the whole story’s not being told here. So did they tell her they would deduct the cost from her pay check? They do have cameras all over the plane.*She may not be stupid or dumb. Just trying to keep her job with company cowards.

229. Maybe people should stop flying american airlines and united, see these greedy bastards curl under the pressure of low customers and fold to come up to the same standards as other airlines instead of blaming customers

230. Moral imperative? An airline? That 2 universes that never intersect.

231. AA has an automatic upgrade system. Everyone with an AAdvantage number automatically goes on the upgrade list. Why didn’t the gate agent reseat the folks on the top of the upgrade list? Why didn’t the author mention this in the “story?” Maybe there was another reason those seats weren’t used. Maybe they weren’t safe to sit in and the crew had to keep the passengers safe. Maybe the author could have done a better job getting all the facts or mentioning these things.

232. The fact that anyone has to pay for legroom at all is ludacris. I remember when leg room was leg room. You either paid for first class or coach seating…. that’s it. Now you have to get out a tape measure and choose between 4 or 5 different class levels of comfort.

233. Why do people always expect something for free. You are receiving the seat you paid for. I work for an airline and I still purchase a ticket and pay for the extra leg room. No reason to be upset unless you did pay for the upgrade and didn’t receive it. And FAs can see who paid. It is indicated on your reservation.

     If you buy an inside stateroom on a cruise, do you expect a balcony suite because it’s empty? You buy a regular seat on a train, do you expect a coach room because it’s empty?

234. Well, when you take what was a decent cabin, turn it into a sardine can, and then start charging a premium for what you used to get for the same money, you can’t blame people for moving if the seats are empty. Guess what guys, the same way they took the cushions off of those legroom seats, a person could pull the question off of the non-legroom seat to move up with it….

235. I remember when you could just move up to first class if there were seats there.

236. AA doesn’t fly from Honolulu to Sydney.. not our route. Never saw that on AA. No room for extra seat cushions on aircraft. AA is not small and idiotic. Our flight attendants are too busy with pax

237. @B Cameron – American Airlines flew HNL-SYD in the early 90s