Just back from a trip to IST.
Made the mistake of changing to the 12:55 AC 830 YVR-LHR instead of our usual evening departure on AC 896. Used an upgrade, and it was a totally wasted cert. The seats were not the full-power integrated footrest wide seats that we normally get in the later flight, and while there was more legroom, the distance to the footrest built into the back of the seat ahead was out of reach unless you were 7 feet tall. No personal video of course. The blocked off crew seat was one of the big wide comfy recliners, and had us all hoping that the pilot was really enjoying himself during his break.
I guess the first clue should have been the "orange juice or water" offered as we settled in. No "champagne" on this flight. No special meal either. No menu card. No "wake me for choice of breakfast" card. We got the same meal as the folks in the back of the plane. No warm buns-stale plastic-wrapped roll, plastic wrapped slab of cheddar, tiny milky way bar for "desert". No cheese and port, no desert cart, no cognac after "dinner". The "snack" on approach to LHR was even worse. The only consolation? While I wasted a UG cert., at least I didn't PAY for this excuse for J class.
As it turned out, our leaving early to get an earlier flight into IST was wasted as well. BA had "an incident" and we ended up standing around at the gate for 2 hours.

On the return trip, we had confirmed upgrades on the LHR-YVR flight 855, but our business schedule required us to return a day early on the same flight. Not only did we have to pay a premium to change our flight, we lost our upgrade. My colleague, who seems to have some pull with the Consierges at LHR, never saw a glipse of either of them, but as a SE was able to wangle a front seat anyway. I was left in the back, but at least was able to move up a few rows an get on an aisle.

Moral of the story? Well, if there is one, it would be "stick to what you have."

Commander Bob
Grade "B"