rosesred, that is an SOP.
That’s what I figured, @BunsenBurner; I felt reassured that yet another potential risky transition was being accounted for. As an anxious person, my brain does a lot of “what if” thinking, and it’s good to know that someone else has already thought of all (or almost all) of those “what if” situations and made plans for them.
“I wonder how actively air marshals are being used these days. I don’t hear about them anymore.”
They don’t want you to know they are there!
But its so much fun trying to speculate just which passenger might be one. 
Makes me think of the airplane scene in Bridesmaids. 
I know I’ve met 2 marshals. One was a very fit man, across the aisle, holding a magazine upside down. He looked like one of the trainers at my gym. Another time I was in the first row of coach, and got to board early (back then, I flew to LA every few weeks, so got to know some of the FAs. Anyway, the man next to me was already seated, very chatty with the FAs. These men were very diligent, and made me thankful.
The upside-down magazine tell! You’d think they would have covered that one in Undercover Cop 101!
Haha! We had one like that. Big guy, didn’t sleep or read, wouldn’t switch seats with anyone, even to keep parents and kids together.
@busdriver11 both of your earlier posts were helpful, thank you. And I WILL take you up on that offer to fly together – sounds like a party! (Actually, I’d probably feel even better if you were in the cockpit.) Nowadays, the only place I fly is Seattle, so who knows, I might be going your way on of these times. 
busdiver11–
Just want you to know that I appreciate your posts and I read them over and over…
One of my favorite posts to follow!
You sound so sane… 
I agree with Oregon.
And the upside down magazine was something I spotted when I took my seat, but didn’t last.