Originally Posted by Eric Stratton

No I "get it" just fine. It does make a difference when the airline doesn't require you to talk to the captain. You don't have to talk to him. Is it polite, sure, but not mandatory. The rules changed and the guys who get all bent out of shape about it are the ones that think they have a 5th stripe. I've ridden on this airline and I've been told numerous times (by the captains) that I don't have to stick my head in the door anymore if I have a seat assigned in the back. I only have to talk to them if I'm up front. I do love how you give a free pass to the smartass comment from the captain and tell us to deal with it. Oh well is right.

As for the guy who took the pass in the back, the polite thing to do is offer to pay for it if he got charged. If he hadn't taken the pass would he have been put up front? I know a few airlines that don't put up their own commuters in first but will put up other airlines.

So were you the captain or the middle seater?