TravelLover conjectures correctly - spoiled by Worldperk's automatic upgrade system, I didn't deign to call CO for the upgrade. (There's a reason Sloth is considered a Deadly Sin: there is no worse purgatory than Coach in a flight longer than 500 miles )

Anyhow, it's clear than calling in for upgrades puts too much of strain on my delicate constitution. So I'm abandoning my plan to begin using CO in preference to NW - getting marginally competent front cabin service on NW is preferable to being consigned to the back on the CO bus. Besides, my Land's End jacket label says that it absolutely positively has to be hung on a hanger

Yours in class solidarity,
Pushpak