I don't know if I could do this myself, but my parents did it to me when we were flying to Paris after my high school graduation. I was back in coach while they were up in business class. I couldn't complain, though. Not too many girls get to go to London & Paris for graduation!

Posted By Kathleen Burnett on February 3, 2008, 11:39 PM

I can understand the dilemma but thought Adam's and your actions were perfectly fine. Definitely at the end of the trip and for a short 4 hour flight, that alone time can mean a lot of calmness for the both of you. Since you insisted he take the upgrade, it was alright for him (unless you were testing him, hee hee). On the other hand, I have a friend who would have not allowed it and would still be complaining to this day if his parnter did that to him (he's a princess). So, to me, it's all about the particular moment and the relationship that you two have.

Posted By Jase on February 4, 2008, 10:28 AM

I would not take it if my traveling companion wouldn't be able to. However my husband has a co-worker who upgraded himself on our last trip and made his wife sit in coach! My husband asked me what I would have done if he did that and I told him "I honestly can't answer that because you would never do that to me". The co-workers reasoning as to why it was acceptable is that he used HIS miles to get her a ticket!

Posted By Marnie on February 7, 2008, 12:16 PM

Same thing happened to me and my partner from Paris on the way home to DC. He declined an upgrade and the woman at the gate looked at him as if he was crazy.

He knows I am uncomfortable with flying to begin with and 8 hours is a long time to be so close but not be able to communicate. (Air France does not allow customers to visit different classes of servic once in flight.)

They had radioed into the flight attendants to move the single rider out of our seats and move him into business class as we walked up.

Since it is rare for people to talk to each other when they "stacked" so closely together in coach, it is nice to have a friendly face to help pass the time away. We had a good trip home and it always make these types of situations better when you are with a loved one.

Posted By Joe on February 7, 2008, 12:40 PM

Always take the upgrade.

If it happened to me, I would have let my wife sit in business class!

Posted By Kevin on February 7, 2008, 12:56 PM

My partner and I had flown to Rio de Janerio from Los Angeles through Dallas. We used frequent flyer miles and our domestic flights were first class. Our return flight from Rio was cancelled so we had to fly out the next day. Because of the delay there was only one first class seat remaining on the DFW-LAX flight. Being in a 35 year relationship with my partner I chose to let him fly first class. I, of course, was seated in economy but the gate agent did put me in the exit row seats. This was a decision I made on my own and my partner did not know he was going to be first class, just figured he would be in economy with me. Sometimes it just pays to play it smart.

Posted By Jack Pray on February 7, 2008, 12:59 PM

It happened to me on a flight with my wife and daughter. I let them fly upfront and I sat in the back. The flight attendants were in such shock that A MAN would do that, they keep bringing drinks to me in coach. Plus, my wife and daughter felt very special, so it was well worth it.

Posted By Stuart Shlossman on February 7, 2008, 3:46 PM

about a year and a half into our marriage, i made the mistake of taking the upgrade while my wife sat in coach. she said, no big deal, but i was an idiot. give the upgrade to your spouse and pray you'll get upgraded, too.

Posted By paul lanyi on February 7, 2008, 3:58 PM

Oh for crying out loud. I wouldn't mind if my spouse took the upgrade. Like you said, we live together. A few hours isn't going to kill me. Besides we both like to sleep through the flight, so why not? I work in the airline industry and know that free upgrades don't come around too often, because first/business class is usually the first to sell out.

Posted By Gianna on February 7, 2008, 5:52 PM

Last time we were offered an upgrade, it was 3 seats offered, but we had 4 traveling (myself, my husband, and our two young daughters). My husband offered to sit in coach and gave the 3 of us the first class seats (he's a gentleman; he wouldn't have it any other way). I asked to send a beer back to him and the stewardess was happy to oblige.

Posted By Elisa on February 7, 2008, 7:09 PM

This happened to me once when I was flying with my wife and I let her sit in the first and I took the coach (since I was getting an upgrade quite often but she never had a chance to fly in the first class). She really appereciated this and was rewarded later...

Posted By s shah on February 7, 2008, 7:29 PM

I would take the upgrade but offer to switch seats with my companion during the flight...after the meal was served Ha Ha! I would probably shared the meal too.

Posted By Miki on February 8, 2008, 11:36 AM

Returning from Ireland, my 3 companions were offered upgrades while I was in the restroom. Even though there were 4 seats available, they were so excited they neglected to mention that they had a 4th person with them. Needless to say I was VERY unhappy in coach.

Posted By carol on February 10, 2008, 3:10 PM

My husband upgraded by my insistence. When it came time to eat he sent his meal to me. The flight attendants thought that this was so nice they replaced his meal. I was fine with, it was food that I was willing to eat!

Posted By Molly on February 15, 2008, 12:57 AM

Delta has a feature for its elite flyers which provides for companion upgrades if you buy a certain category ticket, which of course, is more expensive and you both must have it. So, I book my wife and I separately at the lowest fare. If I get the upgrade, I give it to her. I get to sleep uninterrupted, and she gets pampered. We are both happy.

Posted By David on February 21, 2008, 12:13 PM

Me again. Folks, it's not like they're being offered a lap dance or something out of the movie 'Indecent Proposal'. It's an UPGRADE. Why pass it up? There's lots more things we need to worry about our partners doing!

Posted By Gianna on February 21, 2008, 12:19 PM

the answer here is so obvious. yes, take the upgrade and take turns sitting in first class. each person gets 2 hours each of luxury sitting.

Posted By mb on February 21, 2008, 12:50 PM

When flying to Costa Rica to get married, I had enough frequent flyer miles for a first class ticket, but my husband did not. I booked him in coach and me in first class. :)

Luckily, there was an avaiable first class seat, and we paid the extra $150 for a first class seat on the day of the flight.

Posted By Meghan on February 21, 2008, 1:03 PM

The person who would be the most uncomfortable in coach should take the upgrade.

Posted By surfcrab on February 21, 2008, 1:08 PM

I had to fly to Copenhagen a couple of years ago, and the firm I represented send me on business class. My spouse wanted to go with me so I sprung for a coach seat, thinking I would let her fly up front and I would take her seat. Heck no, says the airline, NO CAN DO. I had neither the $$ or the miles to upgrade her at the time, but since we were going early she did not mind. I did not enjoy my flight; she however had a seatmate from Pakistan and they had a good time conversing. When asked where I was, and my wife told her, the lady says: "Oooh, you would make a very good Pakistani wife".

Posted By Saint on February 21, 2008, 1:14 PM

My husband, children, and I were traveling and he had gold status so was offered an upgrade every leg. He gave the upgrade to me and one of our children on the way to the trip. On the way home, he declined. Great guy!

Posted By Julie on February 21, 2008, 1:33 PM

I travel more than my partner and get upgraded a lot, so when we're traveling together, if I get upgraded and it's a relatively short flight (say, domestic), I give it to him. On international flights, I turn them down, which causes huge consternation at the gate. We don't want to sit apart on such a long trip, and that is more important than champagne and better food! One time, we were flying business class London-LAX. I was on a paid ticket, because I was flying for business. He was along for the ride and had a coach ticket that we used miles to upgrade to business class. Anyway, I was upgraded to 1st class, and turned it down. There was utter shock at the gate, and they ended up upgrading us BOTH - so he flew London to LA 1st class, having paid for coach! Sometimes nice guys DON'T finish last!

Posted By bobierto on February 21, 2008, 2:26 PM

My wife and I were both upgraded to first class on TWA years ago. The aircraft pulled away from the gate, then returned to the gate. A famous moviestar boarded and we had to give up one our seats. We asked if two seats were available in coach, and this was confirmed. I told the agent (in a voice that my new seat companion could hear), "I would prefer to sit with my wife in coach" I hope it made his day!

Posted By John on February 21, 2008, 2:34 PM

'Till death do you part..."
I would never let my wife by her own on a trip... why travel together if not sharing the whole experience?
She passed away a year ago, and this behaviour is a comforting remembrance.

Posted By alejandro canton on February 21, 2008, 2:52 PM

I traveled a lot in 2006-7. There were several flights where I saw business men offer their first class seats to service men in uniform. So if you don't want your upgrade maybe you should suggest this solution.

Posted By karen on February 21, 2008, 3:55 PM

I had achieved elite status with Continental. While changing to a new job, my first duty was to attend a show in Orlando. Our company regularly sent about a dozen people. When it was time to return home, I had been an employee for 4 days. At the gate, I was offered my usual upgrade to 1st Class. I asked the agent where my new boss ( Exec VP of something) was sitting. Also, where are the other half dozen people that I will be working with were seated. All in the first 5 rows of coach... I asked for a seat behind them and did not have to worry about appearances for the rest of my career.

Posted By Tom Rempel on February 21, 2008, 6:44 PM

I was automatically upgraded from a paid ticket when my husband was flying on my mileage with our lap child, so I went to first class with my breastfeeding infant to have more space, and keep fed and hydrated. Little Alexander delighted everyone around him and in between, we visited Daddy in coach. Everyone was happy during and after the flights!

Posted By Claudia on February 22, 2008, 2:13 AM

My husband is 5'11" with bad knees and I am 4'11" so I have less of an issue with less space in coach. I always let him take the upgrade even if I'm stuck in Coach. I'm an adult with lots of travel experience and can sit by myself for however long. We've even flown separate flights to get to the same destination. In the grand scheme of things...it's not a big deal. If you feel that badly about it, make him buy you a gift while on vacation!

Posted By S Hacker on February 22, 2008, 11:41 AM

I love my husband of 26 years a lot. He squirms when he flies, and he won't sleep on a plane. So if I had the chance to upgrade, I'd offer it to him first, then take it if he offered it to me. We actually travel better when we don't sit next to each other on the flight!

Posted By Nancy Rowe on February 22, 2008, 2:31 PM

Having been a travel agent for many many years, I once invited an old friend to go with me to Mexico, and of course, extended my hard earned discounted rate at the hotel w/her, just asked her to get her own airline ticket.....we met at the airport, and by the time I got there, she had already checked in and upgraded herself, so she went in first class, I flew in coach, a little miffed - but on the return, after a week of her acting completely like the ugly American at the hotel, I uas delighted that she upgraded, as I really didnt have anymore to say to her!!!
We havent travelled together since.

Posted By Meg Butler, CTC on February 24, 2008, 10:50 AM

When my brother and I took a trip to London several years ago we were given a hard time at the ticket counter because we didn't have the credit card that the tickets were charged on. It was very unpleasant. To make amends, we were called up to the checkin counter and were upgraded from regular coach to coach plus. We happily accepted the upgrade, but the only thing "plus" about it was more electronics, which we weren't interested in anyway. As a result of the additional electronics there was a big metal box under each seat that made it very hard to find a place for one's feet. Coming back in regular coach was much more comfortable without the metal box. We had more leg and feet room. We will never accept an upgrade to coach plus again.

Posted By Carole Dunn on October 30, 2011, 1:31 PM