Originally Posted by
blahtom123
The comparison would be more like, a supermarket employee giving away a product which they were about to throw in the bin. Nothing wrong with that, surely?
In my last job if I wanted to take home empty cardboard boxes that A4 paper came in, otherwise directed for recycling, I had to get a form signed that gave me permission. Overkill? Possibly, but otherwise it was regarded as theft.
I agree that recipients of upgrades will view that Airline more favourably, particularly unexpected upgrades. I guess the risk is when friends travel expecting to be upgraded, then they aren't really being loyal, just trying to get out of the airline what they can.