The near mythical free upgrade...

Well I do actually, and am rather offended by your post ! . Mr DL was born and raised in "council owned housing" and knows the true meaning of "being poor" . His parents still live in "council owned housing" through choice (they love their bungalow and neighbours) despite our offers of buying them a property elsewhere.
They have no debt whatsoever and no credit cards (and have more money in the bank than Mr DL and I have) - it's a generational thing (and one I think admirable).

DL

I'm sure Dubaiification didn't set out to offend anyone.

I am assuming Mr DL's parents live in ex "council owned housing" as they now have the money as you say to have more choices in where they live, and chosen to live in the property.

I think Dubaiification was only pointing out that "council owned housing" is built and maintained for the less well off and are less likely to have a spare $1700, otherwise if we are still giving people cheep housing when they can afford to live elsewhere, we are unable to help the truly in need.

This is the problem with the Internet, posts can be read in so many different ways and its not always clear what the intention originally was.

[Neil]

Whilst this thread has taken an interesting route, can we try and keep it in some way linked to op-ups, however losely, please.

We certainly don't want any upset or offense caused and I am sure that hasn't been the intention of anyone (apart from Tink, subjecting us to THAT hoody again!)

[img]
I do t know how many people from council owned housing can afford $1700 jackets!

Well I do actually, and am rather offended by your post ! . Mr DL was born and raised in "council owned housing" and knows the true meaning of "being poor" . His parents still live in "council owned housing" through choice (they love their bungalow and neighbours) despite our offers of buying them a property elsewhere.
They have no debt whatsoever and no credit cards (and have more money in the bank than Mr DL and I have) - it's a generational thing (and one I think admirable).

DL

Of course I didn't mean to offend anyone. My understanding of social housing is from a textbook and a limited amount of time in the UK. The comment you keep on quoting was taken from the urban dictionary definition of "chav" and not my own.

Sorry if you were offended in any way, I was merely joining in with the jovial nature of the topic.

Oh no, you have to be careful what you ask for !

Here I am in the lounge in St Lucia (in my nice RL polo top, but jeans and trainers !). When I checked in , it was a nice surprise. 'Hello Mr S we have upgraded you today'. (I guess because it is a LHR 747 config 3 so much more U/C)

After I picked myself off the floor I realised that they had not upgraded Mrs S or Miss S !!!!!!!!

I asked to be put back down to P/E (I do beleive in the old adage that if you all can't do something then no-one does it. That is me and the way I was brought up, but I know others see it differently).

Unfortunately, there is no room in P/E so I cannot join them.

I am hoping that something crops up for them in the next hour or so otherwise it is going to be bread and dripping for me over the next few weeks even though it is not my fault.

Not sure I can complain about being upgraded !!!!

Ok, just got home and had a nap, gone through the post etc and now thoroughly depressed at being home.

Nothing did 'happen' for Mrs S or Miss S, but they were fine about it - actually had a better meal than I did.

I am probably the only person ever to be less than happy with a free upgrade. I guess there is no pleasing some people ii) - I just felt so guilty.

Thing I found quite strange was that there were loads of upgrades on this flight (due to it being a 747 config 3 ?) and many people were being upgraded who had zero status, whereas Mrs S is a de facto Ag from my Au and would not be far off Au anyway.

I did try to speak with the FSM as to the rationale, but she did not deign to talk to me - actually Mrs S noted it was quite a miserable crew. Her comment was it was like the crew used to be a few years ago - we have seen a much more professional approach in the last 3 or 4 years.

So maybe it is just put a name in a hat and draw it out - who knows.

I still have recurring nightmares of my very first upgrade - LHR to LAX - BA Club to First

My carry-on was way too heavy (heavier than I thought) so that when I tried to put it in the overhead locker it came back out and landed on me

I, in turn fell backwards and landed on the lap of a displeased exec who was sat adjacent to me

I spent the whole flight with my head buried in a book

If the incident was noted, I'm not holding my breath for a future upgrade