Do not be difficult.
Do not embarrass anyone.
Accept the insult gracefully and then complain somewhere invisible.
He looked from Gary to Carol.
“Is Thomas Davies aware your staff are changing confirmed premium passenger entitlements without a documented operational reason?”
The CEO’s name produced an immediate reaction.
Carol blinked.
Gary’s smile disappeared.
“How do you know Mr. Davies?”
Alexander answered calmly.
“I asked whether he is aware.”
Gary crossed his arms.
“Sir, I don’t know who you think you are, but invoking the CEO’s name will not create an available seat.”
Alexander looked at him for a moment.
There were dozens of possible responses.
He chose none of them.
Instead, he nodded.
“Fine.”
Carol relaxed slightly.
“I’ll take 24B.”
“Thank you for cooperating.”
The sentence almost made him laugh.
Almost.
Alexander walked down the jet bridge.
At the aircraft door, passengers in first class turned left.
He turned right.
Past business class.
Past premium rows.
To 24B.
The middle seat.
A tourist occupied 24A.
A broad-shouldered man in 24C had already claimed both armrests.
Alexander put his carry-on overhead and sat.
For several seconds he did nothing.
Then he opened the Transatlantic application.
His reservation still displayed:
ORIGINAL PURCHASE: FIRST CLASS 2A.
CURRENT SEAT: 24B.
No documented aircraft substitution.
No passenger-requested change.
A manual service record had been entered at the gate.
Reason: operational seat conflict.
Alexander stared at the phrase.
Operational seat conflict.