[starlifter]

To speak to one element of your post: on Air Tran 717-200’s there are 12 business class seats. Since it is a two class cabin, it is perfectly reasonable for someone to call that area first class.

[AppyPappy]

I assume they are in the front. I doubt he could hear what was going on in the back with the engines running.

I’ve never thought of an undivided section as “First Class”. If it was divided, the partition should have been drawn, blocking his view of the back of the plane.