Originally Posted by
Ber2dca
It's a different scenario because 'op-ups' tend to be done to fill seats in one cabin to make room in another cabin. This wasn't an op-up, it was a 'courtesy' upgrade.
The decision to make this courtesy not also available to other interested CE pax seems to have had little basis on any real reasons, other than perhaps a psychological preference for the hen party over the OP. But that's something one should avoid in that role. They had the choice between creating a positive impression with additional people or creating some somewhat miffed customers. They chose the latter.
I have witnessed several times where people on their honeymoon got an upgrade into CW - there were other empty seats left that remained empty. The upgrade was only extended to the couple.
And as I said, I know plenty of people with contacts (not just the 'gold line' like the OP) who call in advance and get courtesy upgrades. Sometimes, they are already seated in WT+ and the CSM comes over and asks them whether they'd like to sit in CW, despite them not needing that extra seat in WT+.