THE CAPT HAD WRITTEN UP A PAX SEAT CUSHION FLOTATION DEVICE THAT WAS MISSING. THE SEAT WAS NEEDED SO GND CREW STUFFED SOME BLANKETS IN A SEAT COVER AND CALLED IT A CUSHION FLOTATION DEVICE IN ORDER TO BOARD THE PAX. THE PAX COMPLAINT ALERTED THE CREW TO THE PROB.

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EARLIER IN THE DAY; THE CAPT HAD WRITTEN UP A SEAT CUSHION THAT WAS MISSING AND IT WAS 'INOPED' AS PER THE MEL. WE WERE BOOKED FOR 32 PAX OUT OF BURLINGTON; BUT ENDED UP WITH 37 AND A JUMPSEATER. WE HAD TOLD THE CUSTOMER SVC AGENT THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO PULL 1 PAX OFF BECAUSE WE HAVE 1 LESS SEAT. HE ASKED THAT IF THE GND CREW COULD FIND ANOTHER CUSHION; COULD WE GO. THE CAPT AND I AGREED. AFTER A SLIGHT DELAY; THE FLT ATTENDANT NOTIFIED US THAT THEY HAD FOUND ANOTHER CUSHION; EVERYONE WAS SEATED AND WE WERE READY TO GO. WE TOOK OFF FROM BTV 15 MINS LATE AND LGA ON TIME AND WITHOUT INCIDENT. WHEN WE GOT TO LGA; THE PAX WHO SAT IN THE REPLACEMENT SEAT CUSHION COMPLAINED. WHAT THE GND CREW IN BTV DID WAS STUFF SOME BLANKETS INTO A SEAT COVER. NEEDLESS TO SAY; THIS IS NOT AN APPROVED FLOTATION DEVICE. WE HAD FLOWN OVER WATER (LONG ISLAND SOUND) WITHOUT FLOTATION EQUIP FOR EVERY PAX. THE PLT'S JOB DOES NOT STOP AT THE COCKPIT DOOR. WE HAVE TO GET MORE INVOLVED WITH WHAT HAPPENS IN THE CABIN ALSO. ALTHOUGH A SEAT CUSHION SOUNDS PRETTY INSIGNIFICANT; IT IS STILL A PIECE OF EMER EQUIP AND IT WAS WRONG FOR US TO PUT A PAX IN AN UNAPPROVED ONE; KNOWINGLY OR NOT. THERE WAS ALSO PRESSURE TO GET THE FLT OFF ON TIME AND WITHOUT 'BUMPING' ANYONE. THE PLT'S JOB HAS TO HAVE SAFETY COME FIRST. CUSTOMER SVC AND PAX COMFORT AND ON-TIME PERFORMANCE SHOULD NEVER INTERFERE WITH DECISIONS INVOLVING SAFETY.