Passengers 'upgrading' themselves - what do you do?

[TightSlot]

Was this theft? No

Unfortunately, your own behavior gives the lie to the disingenuousness of the question.

In neither case mentioned did you speak up and volunteer the information that you were taking a seat that you were not entitled to: Rather, you kept quiet, in the hope that you would not be found out - hardly the action of one who has supreme confidence in the righteousness of their position.

The facts are these - you dishonestly appropriated something that you had not paid for. In an attempt to live with your own appalling behavior, you have come up with the ludicrous justification posted above. You have posted it in a public forum in the hope that others will support you, thereby shoring up your own attempts to absolve your behavior as being something of higher moral standing than it actually is - namely theft.

What is particularly galling is that you feel the need to brag about your sad little exploit on a bulletin board populated by those who in many cases do actually pay the premium for extensive mileage in Business/First and can argue a case for their being considered as 'professional' passengers - Never mind the airline employees who you so gleefully tricked.

The least offensive word I can come up with for your behavior and your posting about it is 'discourteous' - believe me, there are others.