Originally Posted by
LibFlyer
Sorry, I have to disagree. Plenty of people who want to be assured of a J seat would pay the full fare. They would not want to take the risk of sitting in the back.
Even if "plenty" or even "most" of those that fly in J would continue to pay full fare doesn't mean that giving away J wouldn't hurt revenue. Even if one person that would otherwise pay for it decides to gamble, then revenue is lost.
At the end of the day, if the upgrades come, then people will stop paying for J (look at the pretty much complete lack of domestic F demand). If the upgrades don't come, then it isn't really a benefit, is it? There is simply no way to use free upgrades to drive demand without reducing your demand for paid J.