Originally Posted by
YorkshireTyke
This is totally evil, but happens all the time. I once arrived earlier than previously planned at an intermediate stop where a change of carrier was involved. I asked if there was a seat available on the earlier flight than the one I was booked on, and about to depart ? Yes, Oh ! good, I have my later flight boarding pass, no luggage, can I go now ? Yes, welcome, pay me $50. Why ? Administrative fee. What ? I agree that if I had contacted you before arrival you might have had some massive amount of admin. to complete, but here I am, there is the gate about to close, I have no luggage, you don't provide catering ( a local puddle-jumper ) and you say that there is a seat available that is "free" seating, no seat numbers have to be issued, I just walk on. No. OK, if I fill one of your empty seats now, you may be able to re-sell my previous one for the afternoon flight. No, only if you pay us $50. Get stuffed, and I sat in front of the desk for the rest of the time reading my book and occasionally laughing at them. But of course they didn't care.
In those circumstances, particularly with no seat assignments, I'd have been tempted just to go to the gate and board with the rest of the pax. If stopped or challenged, just feign innocence and you've lost nothing.
It's a bit more tricky if your boarding pass has a seat assignment and you end up sitting on someone's knee.
