There is another way to deal with this.

Before I semi-retired, when I used to do freelance consulting work with large financial institutions, shorthaul Y class was paid for directly (usually) by my clients. However, in general it was on a route-deal that had been hacked together with BA through the companies' travel agents that meant those who travelled longhaul achieved nearly automatic upgrades from J to F.

Those route deal shorthaul Y tickets tended to be quite expensive flexible tickets so the self-important could get their upgrades on the longhauls. So I used to self-upgrade my shorthaul Y's by paying the extra 30 quid or whatever it was from full fare Y to J. Called up BA and did it direct, occasionally I had to call up the TA, which was much harder as computer said no syndrome kicked in.

Similarly as time went on, I have never been comfortable in turning right on a plane the day I turned left, so I urge those who have the same affliction to stump up the money and upgrade themselves if it is important to them too. There is no shame in this, and you are not ripping off your employer/client.

Cheers, Howard