UK based, I fly about 100 segments each year, and most are in business on European flights.

Unlike all of my colleagues, I have never ever been upgraded when I am flying economy.

An experienced check-in supervisor for AA in BHX confirmed my suspicions: people with special meals (like me) are never upgraded by airlines except as a last resort. Apparently, the airline would find it to complicated/embarrassing serving the ordered economy meal to a passenger seated in business.

I think it's about time we vegetarians demanded a statement from the major airlines that they won't discriminate against us in this way!