Seating federal air marshals in first class has become a cost no longer justified by airlines. The Air Transport Association and several airline CEOs have appealed to the Transportation Security Administration to rule the Federal Air Marshals Service to abandon its policy of seating undercover agents in first class.
This is a little known fact with many customers and the public appeal has not been greeted favourably by the Marshals service.
They contend it was "inappropriate" for the airlines to raise the issue publicly because it could expose the agency's tactics to terrorists.