Originally Posted by
squawk
However - unless I've missed it - one thing that isn't clear is why, whenever there is space in the next cabin up, they don't more pro-actively offer at-airport offers for approximately the same difference in price as it would cost to book the premium cabin in the first place.
I suspect they wouldn't get a huge number of takers at such a price, but even if just an occasional person did it (never underestimate impulse purchasing!), I assume it would provide BA with some additional profit? I assume the marginal cost of administration and the J class meal/amenities would be more than outweighed by the near-enough full price ticket…
AUPs do exactly that. They typically lead to prices that are above promotional discounted prices in the final cabin anyway. If you mean selling at higher/closer to 'full price' upgrade, then the answer is in the beginning of your second paragraph: it is not good commercial logic to spend energy and resources selling something that people do not wish to buy. No sale is cost free, it takes notional staff time, training, systems maintenance or upgrades, etc so if the product is not one that many people want, you are better off focusing on something else.