I have to give a big thumbs up to the guy with the 1B seat assignment last night who gave it up and traded places with the senior disabled Vietnam vet who was assigned to 10B. It was a very selfless act of kindness, and quite a few people seated in FC took note and made it a point to tell the FAs.
The older gentleman boarded early at the "extra time" call, and I guess he just got distracted and took the first seat available. Or so he would have you believe.....
When the rightful owner of 1B boarded, it was like "The Bookstore" episode of Seinfeld where Uncle Leo is shoplifting. ( I'm an old man. I'm confused! I thought I paid for it. What's my name? Will you take me home?) Between gathering all his stuff, getting his cane and trying to remove his carryon from the overhead, I think the rightful owner just gave up and said "just stay here, I'll take your seat in 10B". Nevertheless, a nice gesture.
Unfortunately, I happened to be chatting with older veteran prior to boarding. He's as lucid and aware as anyone half his age. He had a paid coach seat and after 2 attempts (with separate agents) he was not at all happy that they would not move him to an EC row with more legroom ("no respect for veterans, they want $39, they should treat military with more courtesy, etc"). I didn't have the heart to say "you want EC, you pay for EC". Looks like he ended up getting it after all.
So in that context, watching his Uncle Leo act took on an added level of amusement for me. To his credit he pulled it off. The guy who got downgraded back to 10B got some extra karma chips (and about 3-4 free drinks). Our disable Vet got to ride in first class on a coach ticket. And everyone else in FC got a feel-good moment.
Looking forward to my AARP card a little more now....
The older gentleman boarded early at the "extra time" call, and I guess he just got distracted and took the first seat available. Or so he would have you believe.....
When the rightful owner of 1B boarded, it was like "The Bookstore" episode of Seinfeld where Uncle Leo is shoplifting. ( I'm an old man. I'm confused! I thought I paid for it. What's my name? Will you take me home?) Between gathering all his stuff, getting his cane and trying to remove his carryon from the overhead, I think the rightful owner just gave up and said "just stay here, I'll take your seat in 10B". Nevertheless, a nice gesture.
Unfortunately, I happened to be chatting with older veteran prior to boarding. He's as lucid and aware as anyone half his age. He had a paid coach seat and after 2 attempts (with separate agents) he was not at all happy that they would not move him to an EC row with more legroom ("no respect for veterans, they want $39, they should treat military with more courtesy, etc"). I didn't have the heart to say "you want EC, you pay for EC". Looks like he ended up getting it after all.
So in that context, watching his Uncle Leo act took on an added level of amusement for me. To his credit he pulled it off. The guy who got downgraded back to 10B got some extra karma chips (and about 3-4 free drinks). Our disable Vet got to ride in first class on a coach ticket. And everyone else in FC got a feel-good moment.
Looking forward to my AARP card a little more now....