FLT CREW IS CONCERNED ABOUT USING COURIER SEATS IN CARGO AREA FOR REVENUE PASSENGERS.

Narrative

THE AIRLINE STATION MGR PLACED PAX ON THE COURIER SEATS OF THE ACFT AGAINST COMPANY POLICY TO FACILITATE AN OVERBOOKED SITUATION. I WAS ONLY PARTIALLY AWARE OF THE SITUATION AND DID NOT GIVE A GREAT DEAL OF CONCERN DUE TO THE NECESSITY OF PREPARING FOR THE NEXT LEG OF THE TRIP. I DID NOT OBJECT BASED ON MY FEELING THAT IT WAS NOT INHERENTLY UNSAFE. (THE COURIER SEATS ARE IN THE AFT PORTION OF THE CARGO AREA OF THE CARGO CONVERTABLE ACFT WHEN THE FORWARD CABIN HAS 2 PALLET LOCATIONS AND THE AFT CABIN HAS LESS THAN 8 SEATS. THE COURIER SEATS ARE ISOLATED BY A BULKHEAD; BUT EQUIPPED WITH ALL NORMAL EMER EQUIP AND EVAC ROUTES ARE AVAILABLE. IT IS PERMISSIBLE FOR COMPANY EMPLOYEES TO OCCUPY THE SEATS IN ALL PHASES OF FLT.) I BELIEVED THAT ANY USE OF THE COURIER SEATS BY REVENUE PAX WAS A COMPANY POLICY THAT COULD BE WAIVED BY APPROPRIATE MGRS. AFTER THE INCIDENT I WAS SURPRISED TO LEARN THAT MY LICENSE COULD BE REVOKED BY THE ACTION AND THAT IT WAS AGAINST THE FAR'S. I AM NOT AWARE OF ANY SUCH REGULATION THAT IS PUBLISHED. THE COURIER SEATS ARE NOT WITHIN THE COCKPIT NOR IS ACCESS TO THE COCKPIT PERMITTED MORE EASILY FROM THEM. HOWEVER; I WILL MONITOR THE BOARDING OF REVENUE PAX MORE CAREFULLY IN THE FUTURE. I WILL RECOMMEND A MORE SUITABLE PUBLISHED POLICY ON THE SUBJECT.