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With thousands of people stranded at Denver during December’s storms, with hundreds of canceled flights, and with people waitlisted to get on board the next available flight, some airlines were still willing to sell seats — in first class, at top dollar — to anyone willing to pony up. For those willing to buy a first-class ticket, you were guaranteed a spot, instead of sweating it out on the standby list.

The Wall Street Journal’s Scott McCartney reports (sub):

When a storm hits and the airline says there are no seats, that isn’t always true. It turns out some major airlines like UAL Corp.’s United will let stranded coach travelers continue to wait for a confirmed seat — even if there are flights with available seats in first class. Instead, the airlines try to sell those seats to customers willing to pay first-class fares. Carriers do finally release those seats close to departure time. They go first to elite frequent fliers and holders of full-fare coach tickets. Holders of discount tickets are last in line.

This is perfectly legal, of course. If the first class seats aren’t sold out, why shouldn’t the airline be allowed to sell the first-class seats until the very last minute? Why not let the invisible hand of self-interest determine who gets out of the airport first?

I’m torn. On the one hand, it just strikes me as tacky to let a few people buy their way out of Hades in a time when hundreds or thousands of people are trapped. So much for shared sacrifice. Maybe I’d feel differently if I were ever trapped in an airport for days on end, but it feels wrong.

On the other hand, it’s not just legal for airlines to sell these seats, but it recognizes the fact that airplanes are, in fact, a two-class society. So deal with it! Coach passengers bought little more than a seat on the plane, but first class passengers are buying a different product. So where’s the problem?

I’m torn. The one thing I unequivocally oppose is the sale of coach seats in situations like this.

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