Originally Posted by
superangrypenguin
Why would you give a taste of an upgrade to a low profit bearing passenger such as a student where even if they are loyal to AC later...would get like one on 10 upgrades if they were super elite.
To sample the product, perhaps? Eventually most students grow up, and they become AC's biggest customer base.
And its not like the student otherwise would buy the J-fare. So AC isn't depriving themselves of a revenue opportunity if they have available seats and would otherwise fly them empty or op-up someone. Unlike the case where, with the big spending customer, they might be able to get that customer to buy a J fare of some sort, whether as an upgrade from a higher-fare class ticket, a LMU, etc.