Planes, shmlanes!
Whenever I attend the opera or live theatre, I always purchase the cheapest seat in the back row of the upper most balcony. Then, after curtain rise, I march directly to the front of the theater and demand the best open seat that was either unsold or purchased by a no-show.
If I anticipate a sold-out house I book two seats in the balcony and bring along a spoiled child who will cry and scream on demand. I bring the screaming brat to the front of the theater and demand that random patrons exchange two prime seats for ours so that the child can have a better view of the stage. Of course, I also need one of those seats for myself so that the child will have a familiar adult at their side.
The second approach above is not available to me for weekday matinees because the child is currently enrolled in our city’s finest influencer academy.
weight balance is total BS when it's convenient for airlines to upgrade passengers
Airlines have made an art form of charging different prices for seemingly identical seats. Other than obviously differences like exit seats or seats with clearly differentiated looks, economy seats are similar. Recently an airline asked for more money for me to preselect a seat on a short flight. I ignored their request and took the seat assigned at check in. The flight was empty. Thirty passengers in a plane with a capacity of 180, and yet the carrier still tried to fleece me. If there is a nicer open seat in the section of the plane that I was initially assigned or purchased available after the doors close then I will move to it.
I get it that it then defeats the purpose of basic economy offering. There might also be a weight and balance issue. I'm seeing more flights where it looks like coach is more like 70% full. (Although first continues to be completely full). Presumably at least for certain airlines between credit card income, upsells, ancillary fees and higher fares they can make a profit at somewhat lower load factors. That encourages passengers to want to move around.
She lost me at…‘This is the first time I’ve flown United in years”.