Years ago, when I was still working for the U.S. government, we would buy a trans-atlantic ticket (for official travel) at the government rate, pay a very little extra out of our own pocket for an upgradeable fare and then use 20,000 miles to upgrade to round-trip business class (on Pan Am) or 40,000 for first class. Can government fares be upgraded now, or are they still close to upgradeable fares?