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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Travelling with friends but only I got upgraded on the flight

150 replies

pennyguggenheim · 29/03/2019 12:12

I was travelling with four other friends. On checking in, I was offered a free flight upgrade. I asked whether my friends would too, but no just me as I have status with the airline. I accepted it, leaving my four friends in the back of the plane (12hr flight).

Was I unreasonable?

My one friend said it was bit selfish, but the others said balls to it, you got it for free, enjoy yourself.

OP posts:
pasturesgreen · 29/03/2019 12:52

I personally would have wanted my friend's company on a 12 hrs flight (very nervous flyer), but no, you didn't do anything wrong.

Aridane · 29/03/2019 12:52

I would have taken it and swap with them regularly so everybody can enjoy a bit of leg space at some point.

Nice thought but cabin crew won’t allow it

babysharkah · 29/03/2019 12:54

If I was travelling with one friend I (probably!) wouldn't have taken it but more than one absolutely bloody would. I'd siphon off some free drinks for them though!

XXcstatic · 29/03/2019 12:54

People that have a problem with things like this, in my experience, tend to be the first to say yes without hesitation or thought for others when the shoe is on the other foot

100% this.

Ellenborough · 29/03/2019 12:55

YWNBU.

It's not like you left one person on their own. And even then, it would be understandable if you had. It's just a plane journey - not the gates of heaven where you get admitted and your friend gets assigned to the fiery depths of hell but it almost is.

IvanaPee · 29/03/2019 12:57

Of course you should have taken it! Only someone bitter and jealous would begrudge you.

Steamedbadger · 29/03/2019 12:58

I would take it in a heartbeat, especially as your friends were together anyway

AfterSchoolWorry · 29/03/2019 13:00

I'd have taken it and been delighted to get 12 hours peace on my own!

Also if my traveling companion got upgraded, I'd be secretly delighted I'd be travelling alone!

SparklyLeprechaun · 29/03/2019 13:00

I can't see what good it would have done to your friends if you refused the upgrade. But I'm proper jealous, I never got upgraded on a flight.

cherrryontop · 29/03/2019 13:02

As it was a group of 5 I would have taken it without hesitation and been happy for anyone else given the same opportunity.

I wouldn't have taken it for just 2 of us travelling for obvious reasons but a bigger group why not?!

BillThePony · 29/03/2019 13:03

No this happened to me. I flew with 3 family members and they all got an upgrade to premium (I had booked separately).

I didn't get cross at all just thought "you lucky barstards"

Madcats · 29/03/2019 13:03

FWIW, if there is space on the plane DH and I always split up after take off if I've spotted a row of empty seats and it is a long flight. I am extremely grumpy when tired and crammed in.

I then keep my fingers crossed that DD choses to stay with him and I have a delightfully peaceful journey.

Get the first round of drinks in, OP, and ignore your jealous friend.

Hollowvictory · 29/03/2019 13:03

I'd have taken the upgrade deffo. Your 3 friends don't have a lesser experience because you get a better one

Still18atheart · 29/03/2019 13:05

Is this a reverse post?

MyKingdomForACaramel · 29/03/2019 13:05

YANBU - a long flight like that tends to be a very solitary thing - you all plug your headphones in, sleep etc - so I really don’t see a problem.

Still18atheart · 29/03/2019 13:05

And yes I would have taken the upgrade.

GreatDuckCookery · 29/03/2019 13:06

If the shoe was on the other foot I would have urged my friend to take it and if she didn’t want to I’d have said give it me then!

spanishwife · 29/03/2019 13:06

I wouldn’t have upgraded - half the fun of holidaying with friends is the “party plane / train” part where you hang out and drink together.

If you are partying on a 12 hour flight then you are BU. As I said before a little Ryanair jaunt to Spain is one thing, but it's not ok to be chatting all the way through a long haul.

Userplusnumbers · 29/03/2019 13:06

Oh you lucky thing! I've had gold with lufthansa for two years and the only time I ever got a free upgrade was on a 45 minute flight from Dusseldorf to Frankfurt - take it, enjoy it, its not like they'll bank it for another time if you don't use it, and it's not like you've done NY thing sneaky to get it!

AFPH123 · 29/03/2019 13:07

Personally I would have taken it but offered to let Friends have a few hours each in it to eat some proper rest.

PinkBuffalo · 29/03/2019 13:10

I would have been really pleased if a friend was upgraded and thought good for them!
BUT I have only ever flown by myself, so it doesn't bother me in the slightest being alone. I guess some PPs on here have only ever flown with someone, so might feel differently/anxious at not being with someone they know.
It's only a flight though, you would see each other at the other end!

soulrider · 29/03/2019 13:11

I'm presuming it was a random upgrade so use it or lose it rather than using frequent flyer points to upgrade?

Springwalk · 29/03/2019 13:12

You are lucky! Most people barely speak to anyone on a long haul flight, just tune out and watch film after film, so clearly you were missing nothing!!

No you were def NOT selfish!

Springwalk · 29/03/2019 13:14

You can't offer to swap with friends for a few hours APH the cabin crew would not allow it, you are not usually allowed to enter business or first class areas without a booked seat in that class.

nutellalove · 29/03/2019 13:15

This happened to me once. I was the friend in economy. Just told my friend to enjoy herself. Life's not fair to everyone people need to accept that fact!!