Upgrade Ethics - Travelling Companion Stays

[muppet]

If you do end up in J on the way back obviously you would need to guest your colleague into the lounge as you have set a precedent but you could always duck off to buy a magazine at the last minute & say "I'll see you onboard".

Love the magazine selection idea. I think thats a good scheme.

 

[muppet]

muppet,

This question is one of etiquette rather than ethics. Fortunately, I am an expert on both.

The proper etiquette in this situation is to:

• upgrade oneself
• board early
• raise your glass to your boss as he/she does the walk of shame past you

Regards,
russ

Haha. Love it russ.
If only I weren't such a coward.
But, on principle, I agree. He uses his points for something....this is how I use mine.

 

[Princess Fiona]

You could always upgrade, check in alone, meet up in the Lounge and have the staff page Mr Muppet to the front desk, return looking shocked with a J boarding pass

 

[muppet]

It is rude, if you want to do this go on another flight than people you work with.

Thanks bam1748.
Understood. And I guess I knew, as others have said, that if I had to ask it is probably wrong.

But what i have got out of this discussion, is that I'm not bad. Other's agree with my desire.

I do feel guilty, but why should I? Do they feel guilty when they use their points to fly to paris and I'm working on spreadsheets? No.

I'm yet to decide. I'm thinking on the way back only as we'll be tired and probably not wanting to sit together anyway.

 

[muppet]

You could always upgrade, check in alone, meet up in the Lounge and have the staff page Mr Muppet to the front desk, return looking shocked with a J boarding pass

Hehe. Love it PrincessFiona.
Do they seriously page people cos they're to scared to fly J?

 

[Sprucegoose]

Interesting. Not an ethical dilemma. There is no relevant philosophy that will guide a decision or course of action.

Are you a close team?

If yes, no I wouldn't.

If not and your relationships are more disparate, why not.

I have seen a boss downgrade to be with an employee without similar entitlements. It's about team dynamics and the sort of respect you want/need and peer /superior review.

Those that say it doesnt matter haven't been around!

Your call.

 

[codash1099]

It's a long time since I've travelled with a boss. These days, the only flying I do on what might be called "business" is when I attend Council meetings for an organisation I do voluntary work for, and mostly fly alone.

However, on the few occasions when I'm flying with a fellow Council member, my basic bast*rdly nature rises to the fore and if I can get an upgrade, I do. However I do at least guest them into the SYD or MEL J lounge.

 

[UP4014]

Thanks bam1748.
Understood. And I guess I knew, as others have said, that if I had to ask it is probably wrong.

But what i have got out of this discussion, is that I'm not bad. Other's agree with my desire.

I do feel guilty, but why should I? Do they feel guilty when they use their points to fly to paris and I'm working on spreadsheets? No.

I'm yet to decide. I'm thinking on the way back only as we'll be tired and probably not wanting to sit together anyway.

If you have the points, shout him an upgrade! :mrgreen:

Just don't check in together which is a bit difficult if you are arriving at the airport together.

 

[PaulC83]

Ahhhh the "bonding". As long as you don't mean talking actual work!

We usually bond over red wine and roulette .... hence it's hard for me to suck up and pretend I'm good.

Let us know if your "bonding" at the roulette table at Lasseters, I so rarely get AFF visitors on my own turf

 

[Timba-Jet]

Ignoring cultural work dynamics considerations, if a person wants to self fund an upgrade why should any work colleague have any issues with it. I would just be open and upfront, nothing to hide.

As others have said if you your relationship with your manager is testy or he or she is not a reasonable type person, then only you can deduce how this would be perceived.

 

[cele]

As others have said, it really depends on your team dynamics. If you're all close, I'd just talk about it in passing, gauge their reaction and go from there. There's no hard or fast rule and it depends on how your colleagues may perceive the u/g, eg will they see taking J domestically as wasteful? Is there a risk they may think you're more interested in maximizing "perks" (used very loosely as points can originate from non-work related sources) than doing your job?

I grapple with this issue from time to time, but re: J->F upgrades for long haul flights. Where i've landed is I will do it if travelling solo but not when travelling with colleagues even if with our C level guys who are in F anyway. I fear i may bee seen to be flying out of my pay grade!

Here's another interesting data point. Once, one of my colleagues was u/g to F (not sure whether it was opup or points, i never asked) and unexpected checked in together w/ our boss who was in J. My colleague was quite embarrassed about it, so made a huge fuss at the counter to get my boss upgraded and it worked! Having said that, it was probably helpful that my boss is a CL....

 

[simongr]

It is rude, if you want to do this go on another flight than people you work with.

Seriously? Every person I have travelled with has not expressed a desire to be seated with each other - everyone chooses their seat either in advance or at check that is the best seat for them. If I am not sat next to someone then why should it matter whether I upgraded?

I agree booking yourself into a higher class of cabin could be rude - especially in a corporate environment. I would never book my team into whY and fly in J on paid business trips but I would have no qualms about using my points to upgrade or accepting a free upgrade.

Generally on these trips you have worked all day with people and spent most evenings with them. After two weeks of that it is enough. Also on a long flight you are going to be eating, sleeping and watching IFE (airline provided or not) - why on earth does ones seating position impact on a colleague?

 

[maureeng]

I upgraded my boss as well when I was in this situation only to find to my horror that the CFO was in Y on the same flight :-( oops

 

[Archphoto]

Seriously? Every person I have travelled with has not expressed a desire to be seated with each other - everyone chooses their seat either in advance or at check that is the best seat for them. If I am not sat next to someone then why should it matter whether I upgraded?

I agree booking yourself into a higher class of cabin could be rude - especially in a corporate environment. I would never book my team into whY and fly in J on paid business trips but I would have no qualms about using my points to upgrade or accepting a free upgrade.

Generally on these trips you have worked all day with people and spent most evenings with them. After two weeks of that it is enough. Also on a long flight you are going to be eating, sleeping and watching IFE (airline provided or not) - why on earth does ones seating position impact on a colleague?

Used to travel as a team of 3 almost 97% of the year - and yeah, you do need your own space after living & working together almost 24/7.

However, unlike you Simon, myself and 1 colleague were always in Y (not even Y+) whilst the 3rd was always J (and a couple of times upgraded to F).

Used to p*** us off no end. We used to work some bloody long hours (18+ hrs/day), but J flyer wasn't even prepared to quote us in Y+ to the clients. ( And no, we *never* had an op-up to Y+ on any flight during the 7 years of flying - couldn't even grab a points upgrade!)

I'd upgrade, after all if you're doing the hard yards, you should reap some rewards; domestic for me is a no, but international a definite yes. :mrgreen:

 

[Hvr]

On the rare occasions I travel with colleagues I am usually the lowest ranked employee and highest level FFer. I always guest into lounges and sit in the most forward seats.

If I was offered an upgrade I would accept it in a flash and bugger the others. I do essentially the same job for a lot less money than my superiors so I am more than happy to accept any little perks that may come my way.

 

[JohnK]

I have never travelled with my boss and I did travel with a colleague 3 times, many years ago and I was in economy and he was in business class with a few upgrades to first. He did guest me into the lounge each time though which was a good thing.

If I did travel with a boss or work colleague today I would not sacrifice my preferred seat to sit with them regardless of what bonding was going to happen. And that includes me upgrading or being op-uped.

As for general op-ups when travelling with someone, including spouses and girlfriends, I see it as good luck to the person who gets it. I would not want to discourage someone from getting an op-up and although I would be jealous I would be glad for them. I would hope they would think the same of me if I got an op-up.

I think I can handle spending a few hours apart while travelling. At present we are spending weeks and months apart and coping so any length of flight is going to be a breeze. The only time this would not be negotiable is if I am caring for someone on a flight, such as children or sick family, and need to be seated together....