phuketrichard wrote: ↑Mon Jan 31, 2022 8:48 pm

Footie fans.

Back in 84, 85 i was flying between HK and Seoul, Tokyo, Taiwan at least 2x/week
Once a month to either Bali or Bangkok. Than In 86,87 2x/month to Nepal
Always on thai airway's, i'd say 1/3rd of the time i was upgraded. Check in staff at HK knew where i was flying by how i was dressed before i even checked in
It was a pleasure.

Never asked for it and do understand its not just an empty seat that anyone can claim>

Anchor Moy wrote: ↑Mon Jan 31, 2022 9:06 pm

phuketrichard wrote: ↑Mon Jan 31, 2022 8:48 pm Back in 84, 85 i was flying between HK and Seoul, Tokyo, Taiwan at least 2x/week
Once a month to either Bali or Bangkok. Than In 86,87 2x/month to Nepal
Always on thai airway's, i'd say 1/3rd of the time i was upgraded. Check in staff at HK knew where i was flying by how i was dressed before i even checked in
It was a pleasure.

Never asked for it and do understand its not just an empty seat that anyone can claim>

Milk runs/gold runs - of course you were well dressed, that goes with the job. I never considered that as high status. White privilege at best. That's why they hired Europeans.

nerdlinger wrote: ↑Mon Jan 31, 2022 7:13 pm The only times I’ve been upgraded were when I’d spent the extra on refundable tickets when on business.

I have witnessed the policy taken to a slightly daft extreme on a regional Lufthansa* flight - it was one of those ones where you pay an extra €5 to pick your own otherwise identical seat in the front half of the cabin, and literally nobody’d taken them up on it - so we had rows 24-49 completely full and not a soul in 1-23. One fatso struggling in a middle seat moved himself to row 23 after takeoff so he wouldn’t be squashing his neighbours, and the staff made him go back.**
What was even stupider was they also still insisted on closing the mini-curtain above the headrest at row 23/24 so that the poor sods sat in 24 were just sat directly facing a totally unnecessary curtain 2 feet away from their face the whole flight.
It’s like they were going out of their way to make the flight as unnecessarily uncomfortable as possible for everyone as punishment for not paying the extra €5.

* may have been some other German airline, it was a while ago

** I’m aware takeoff weight distribution is a thing, but every other airline I’m aware of lets you move within your class after takeoff

jaynewcastle wrote: ↑Tue Feb 01, 2022 1:21 pm

nerdlinger wrote: ↑Mon Jan 31, 2022 7:13 pm The only times I’ve been upgraded were when I’d spent the extra on refundable tickets when on business.

I have witnessed the policy taken to a slightly daft extreme on a regional Lufthansa* flight - it was one of those ones where you pay an extra €5 to pick your own otherwise identical seat in the front half of the cabin, and literally nobody’d taken them up on it - so we had rows 24-49 completely full and not a soul in 1-23. One fatso struggling in a middle seat moved himself to row 23 after takeoff so he wouldn’t be squashing his neighbours, and the staff made him go back.**
What was even stupider was they also still insisted on closing the mini-curtain above the headrest at row 23/24 so that the poor sods sat in 24 were just sat directly facing a totally unnecessary curtain 2 feet away from their face the whole flight.
It’s like they were going out of their way to make the flight as unnecessarily uncomfortable as possible for everyone as punishment for not paying the extra €5.

* may have been some other German airline, it was a while ago

** I’m aware takeoff weight distribution is a thing, but every other airline I’m aware of lets you move within your class after takeoff

These people all got the seat they paid for, and if they weren't such cheapskates, & paid an extra minimal amount, they would have seats in the empty front part of the plane, rather than sitting squashed in the full rear section

I wonder how many of these cheapskates passengers decided paying an extra £5 on their next flight would be worth it ?