I don't believe the idea that his aides did it to help themselves. All the tickets would be booked at once (presumably all in W). Getting an upgrade for Mr Johnson would not automatically get an upgrade for the rest of the entourage - they'd still be in W come what may. I'm sure they weren't too amused, but I don't think there was much they could have done about it.

I understand the point about being in hard times, but the point of J travel is that it is supposed to let you sleep on an overnight flight and work the next day. I'd not want high heidyins going in to bat for Britain with sleepy heads.