Biz, sounds like you booked late but checked in early - boarding priority's first come, first served - no reflection of the price.
I guess the point here is that there is no duty of care, just an opportunity for an airline to show some good customer service and win a friend for life. A pity they missed it.
RW31, that wasn't what I was saying, as I think you well know
. My point was that LCC pax sometimes span a 'broader section of society', ahem.