I get an upgrade, my associate does not
Mar 4, 2000 | 4:29 pm
#1
Original Poster
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: source of weird and eccentric ideas
Posts: 40,051
I get an upgrade, my associate does not
Hi, here goes another journey recount, just the twists and turns, on yet another transcon trip (UA) IAD-SFO-SEA-IAD over a few days.
Going to SFO, my upgrade had cleared in advance and I traveled with an associate who I managed to upgrade. She is not even a premier yet. No problem there, a fine trip.
We ate at Scalas on Union Square the next day as our fourth meeting. A nice restaurant (try the fries -- err, the pommes frie) with a real buzz to it...
...and headed to SFO for a shuttle trip to SEA. Of course a cloud had appeared in the sky so SFO was on a one runway situation and they had canceled shuttles so ours left 1 hour late, and we ended up in Seattle Crowne Plaza at 2 in the morning with an early morning appointment.
Going back was a A320 and I got the upgrade and naturally my associate didn't. There are only 3 non-stops from SEA to IAD and it's a busy route with the waitlist a mile long. I felt guilty but I took the upgrade and she retired to the back.
What would you have done?
1. skipped the upgrade (I work really hard with very long hours, lots of intense pressure, long hours away from family, etc.)
2. given my associate the upgrade
3. ?
Just curious!
Going to SFO, my upgrade had cleared in advance and I traveled with an associate who I managed to upgrade. She is not even a premier yet. No problem there, a fine trip.
We ate at Scalas on Union Square the next day as our fourth meeting. A nice restaurant (try the fries -- err, the pommes frie) with a real buzz to it...
...and headed to SFO for a shuttle trip to SEA. Of course a cloud had appeared in the sky so SFO was on a one runway situation and they had canceled shuttles so ours left 1 hour late, and we ended up in Seattle Crowne Plaza at 2 in the morning with an early morning appointment.
Going back was a A320 and I got the upgrade and naturally my associate didn't. There are only 3 non-stops from SEA to IAD and it's a busy route with the waitlist a mile long. I felt guilty but I took the upgrade and she retired to the back.
What would you have done?
1. skipped the upgrade (I work really hard with very long hours, lots of intense pressure, long hours away from family, etc.)
2. given my associate the upgrade
3. ?
Just curious!
Mar 5, 2000 | 9:35 am
#3
Join Date: Jul 1999
Programs: AA 1MM/Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,293
Would anyone pay (personally) for an upgrade for your boss? I get unlimited free upgrades with TWA Elite 1, but my boss has no status. We will be traveling together frequently, and sometimes he can get upgrades from full-fare Y tickets, but from Q-class tickets. It would cost me $50-75 each way for an upgrade, and I don't think the company would pay for it.
Mar 5, 2000 | 2:44 pm
#4
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia
Posts: 3,373
I wouldn't upgrade my boss--I would fly in the back with her and give up my own upgrade.
In fact, I would probably do that if I was flying with anyone. Better to fly together in the back than be split by the curtain.
In fact, I would probably do that if I was flying with anyone. Better to fly together in the back than be split by the curtain.
Mar 6, 2000 | 7:21 am
#6
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Digital Nomad Wandering the Earth - Currently in VIENNA, AUSTRIA!
Posts: 61,931
I made the mistake of flying with a vendor (Beckles: Rat-Lady!!!!) in coach IAD-LHR a little over a year ago because she was a woman and it was her first trans-atlantic. She appreciated it very much 
but I regretted it very much 
Heck, where I work now, my boss flies HP, SW or AirTran and I insist on UA when we travel to the same destination...it's all in the job negotiation...
but I regretted it very much Heck, where I work now, my boss flies HP, SW or AirTran and I insist on UA when we travel to the same destination...it's all in the job negotiation...
Mar 6, 2000 | 1:21 pm
#7
Senior Moderator; Moderator, Flyertalk Cares
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: Fulltime travel/mostly Europe
Programs: UA 1.7 MM;; Accor & Marriott Pt; Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 17,927
My husband and I have discussed this from time to time and have very different perspectives ...
He says absolutely he'd take the upgrade and leave the other person in coach. I say I'd pass and stay in coach with whomever I'm traveling with.
When the two of us travel together, however, we don't mind splitting up. Recently I had the bulkhead aisle in coach, he the next seat up in business ... just close enough to be tempted to send some rubberbands his way ...
He says absolutely he'd take the upgrade and leave the other person in coach. I say I'd pass and stay in coach with whomever I'm traveling with.
When the two of us travel together, however, we don't mind splitting up. Recently I had the bulkhead aisle in coach, he the next seat up in business ... just close enough to be tempted to send some rubberbands his way ...
Mar 6, 2000 | 10:38 pm
#10
Join Date: Apr 1999
Posts: 3,709
I don't fly with anyone, so not an issue.
However when the time arrives that I do, I'd sit with my companion. It just wouldn't feel right otherwise.
Co-worker, family member or friend.
------------------
"I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered. My life is my own."
However when the time arrives that I do, I'd sit with my companion. It just wouldn't feel right otherwise.
Co-worker, family member or friend.
------------------
"I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered. My life is my own."
Mar 7, 2000 | 12:42 am
#11
In Memoriam
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Seattle
Programs: Ephesians 4:31-32
Posts: 10,690
When I am flying first with a companion, I almost always upgrade them as well, unless they have lots and lots of miles of their own. Then it's up to them to decide on their own how much they want the extra comfort.
If I am flying first with one of my kids or employees and there is no seat available for them in first, I give them money for drinks and a headset and explain how much they will need the comforts of first when they are old and have aching bones like me.
I rarely fly with clients, but if I see one go by to coach and first is open, I may or may not upgrade them on the spot, depending on how much fun they are and quickly they pay their bills.
For all the flying that my husband and I have done together over the past decades, we have never had an occasion where only one of us could get a seat in first. If first matters that much, I usually find a way to make it happen ahead of time, if not, well then we don't care together.
While it is rarely admitted on this board, it is, nonetheless, true that sitting in coach even in dreaded middle seats on a wide body plane on a long-haul flight, does not do permanent damage to one's mental, emotional or physical health.
If I am flying first with one of my kids or employees and there is no seat available for them in first, I give them money for drinks and a headset and explain how much they will need the comforts of first when they are old and have aching bones like me.
I rarely fly with clients, but if I see one go by to coach and first is open, I may or may not upgrade them on the spot, depending on how much fun they are and quickly they pay their bills.
For all the flying that my husband and I have done together over the past decades, we have never had an occasion where only one of us could get a seat in first. If first matters that much, I usually find a way to make it happen ahead of time, if not, well then we don't care together.
While it is rarely admitted on this board, it is, nonetheless, true that sitting in coach even in dreaded middle seats on a wide body plane on a long-haul flight, does not do permanent damage to one's mental, emotional or physical health.
Mar 7, 2000 | 6:55 am
#12
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Million Miler (mostly earned on CO)
Posts: 2,599
Interesting thread. I'm going to be facing a variation on this situation when I go to Austrilia next month with a couple of friends. We have one leg CHC-SYD (about a three hour flight) where I will be in first and they will be in coach.
I was thinking of having a lottery among the three of us for the first class seat.
They are very close friends.
I was thinking of having a lottery among the three of us for the first class seat.
They are very close friends.
Mar 7, 2000 | 11:04 am
#13
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: New York City, NY, USA
Programs: AA Platinum
Posts: 176
I mentioned this thread to an associate who basically believes we are all "nuts" to spend our time thinking about these types of issues. I however have thought about it and will add my two cents. On a recent LHR-JFK flight I was pleasantly surprised to find that I had been moved from J to F even though I had not requested the change. I was traveling with an associate from work who actually strode up to my seat while we were still at the gate and loudly complained that he should have also been upgraded or I should have had the common courtesy to stay with him in business class. This type of behavoir was similar to how he had been with our client during the last 48 hours. Needless to say, he is no longer engaged by our organization. This incident was still clearly in my mind when I recently returned from HNL-EWR via ORD on AA. Another business associate who is a fan of UA flew with me but did not get upgraded. I actually offered my upgrade to her with the full knowledge that she would decline. She should have called my bluff. I mean HNL-ORD (red-eye) on AA's coach class DC-10's :0
On a recent LHR-JFK flight I was pleasantly surprised to find that I had been moved from J to F even though I had not requested the change. I was traveling with an associate from work who actually strode up to my seat while we were still at the gate and loudly complained that he should have also been upgraded or I should have had the common courtesy to stay with him in business class. This type of behavoir was similar to how he had been with our client during the last 48 hours. Needless to say, he is no longer engaged by our organization. This incident was still clearly in my mind when I recently returned from HNL-EWR via ORD on AA. Another business associate who is a fan of UA flew with me but did not get upgraded. I actually offered my upgrade to her with the full knowledge that she would decline. She should have called my bluff. I mean HNL-ORD (red-eye) on AA's coach class DC-10's :0
Mar 7, 2000 | 11:45 pm
#15
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Miami Beach, FL
Programs: AA EXP 3MM, BA Gold
Posts: 878
Here's my philosophy:
With my significant other, we always fly together - both in F or both in C. I wouldn't dream of putting him in the back without me. With my friends, I'd have more fun with all of us in coach than me in first by myself...
With my boss, I can't imagine flying in the front with him in the back. A few weeks ago I'd been bumped from C to F on a transcon and discovered at the last minute that my company's CEO was in C. The gate agent thought I was crazy, but I quickly (and discretely) changed my seat back to C!
Same goes for a client, unless I really can't stand them!
With a co-worker, I always try for the companion upgrade, but if I can't get it I'll still take my upgrade. Elite status doesn't come easy and it's not my fault if they don't travel as much as I do. All jobs aren't created equal - we all get different pay and different perks, and one of my hard-earned perks is the upgrade when I can get it.
With my significant other, we always fly together - both in F or both in C. I wouldn't dream of putting him in the back without me. With my friends, I'd have more fun with all of us in coach than me in first by myself...
With my boss, I can't imagine flying in the front with him in the back. A few weeks ago I'd been bumped from C to F on a transcon and discovered at the last minute that my company's CEO was in C. The gate agent thought I was crazy, but I quickly (and discretely) changed my seat back to C!
Same goes for a client, unless I really can't stand them!
With a co-worker, I always try for the companion upgrade, but if I can't get it I'll still take my upgrade. Elite status doesn't come easy and it's not my fault if they don't travel as much as I do. All jobs aren't created equal - we all get different pay and different perks, and one of my hard-earned perks is the upgrade when I can get it.