Newbies...

I'm 6'3", and take the upgrade whenever I can for anything over 2 hours. I have the reverse problem. On our commutes to China, the upgrades always cleared for myself, Mrs. Redbeard and little Miss Redbeard. At 11 years old, she has 4 RT transpacs all in biz. Spoiled girl... :p

Thanks, everyone, for putting my mind at ease - I have not committed a horrible business faux pas. Sounds like the consensus is that in a work situation, you take what's offered.

This has happened to me a few times, generally where a business colleague or customer buys their ticket first, but by the time I go for mine only Business Class is left. So it's not an upgrade, but I have actually paid for it.

However every time we have sat together, by me requesting a downgrade. I always start by phrasing it "can we sit together please" in case they can go upinstead, but it's never worked out.

It just seems to me bad etiquette. If you went out to a restaurant together and were told "well one of you can sit in the nicer restaurant for no extra charge", would you .... ?

it may be a UK/US cultural difference though

Whoops.

I should probably add that in the travel I've done for my current company (2-3 people travelling), none of us have ever actually been seated next to each other, so there's no expectation of either working together during the flight or of just being chummy.

Also, because I use a wheelchair, I usually pre-board (without co-workers, none of their business how I get on the plane) and deplane last.