If I travel or go to gig and bring a friend I never abandon my friend. I don't know how many times I have been invited to after concert dinners in fancy restaurants with bands and management and each time I tell them I don't abandon my friend, not even leave them in the bar at the restaurant.
For some reason I have gotten a lot of respect from the person who invited me and the end result is that my friend is invited as well.
I would not take the UG if my partner couldn't. As my "on again off again" distant BF does not travel loads and is quite a lot taller than myself I would rather give up the seat to him (he's also claustrophobic) if we'd ever travel together. Not that it will happen this century.
/E