I think this is only fair. You pay more, you get more. Now, I have a question about connecting through a hub city and requesting an upgrade at the airport. If an EXP connects thru DFW from another city (eg. SFO-DFW-MIA) and paid a cheap fare, am I correct to think that this person has a higher priority on the DFW-MIA flight over any other EXP who originates at DFW and paid a Y/B fare because the connecting EXP is a THROUGH pax?
There are two different protocols, one before the flight goes to airport control, and one after. Before it goes to airport control, a through pax not in Y/B has priority over an originating pax with Y/B. While we think it is the same after, we don't know for sure. More details
here.