Would You Leave Your Partner in Economy for a Free Upgrade?

Travel Debates is a series in which our editors weigh in on the most contentious issues that arise in-transit, like whether you should ever switch seats on a plane or if you should check your work email while on vacation.

The prospect of receiving an upgrade on an airline—even one that only takes you as far, for example, as economy to economy plus—is so appealing that it’s hard to imagine a reason one might decline. An upgrade is a gift from the fates, bestowed upon those loyal to the airline or karmically sound. Weary travelers can take refuge in the fantasy, even if physically, they may be bound for a narrow seat without legroom at the back.

But what if you receive the upgrade, but your traveling companion does not? Worse still—they get upgraded without you. For this week’s debate, we mine the caveats of such a scenario. Who would you leave in coach versus stay with? Is there a soul—your mother, your grandmother, your lover—upon whom you would bestow your upgrade? Below, editors Megan Spurrell and Betsy Blumenthal, senior visuals editor Pallavi Kumar, global director of audience development Lara Kramer, and editorial assistant Charlie Hobbs discuss.

Charlie Hobbs: Today, we are talking about what happens when you get an upgrade and your travel companion does not. Do you take it? Do you leave it? Does it depend on who the partner is? Do you give it to them?

Lara Kramer: It definitely depends on the travel buddy. For me, if it was my husband, I would not take the upgrade. One, I would expect the same in return. I’m really into fairness, so you better not go and leave me. But two, I would honestly have more fun with him in economy than alone in first class. However, that is not my opinion for other travel companions. I think for work trips and even friends, I would probably bounce to first class. Certainly if there was a group traveling together and they had other company. 

Pallavi Kumar: I wouldn’t take it—I would give it to my sister who I’m often traveling with or I would stay with her. I have a friend whose dad used to take the upgrade and leave the wife and kids in the economy.

Megan Spurrell: Why are they still married?

PK: He would always get upgraded because of traveling for work, and he would get it and sometimes maybe his wife, and then the kids would travel unsupervised. At like ten years old, they’d watch their parents trot up and get that better experience. 

Betsy Blumenthal: Honestly, nine times out of ten, I would give the upgrade to my traveling companion—if I was with someone who truly didn’t give a shit, I would take it, of course, but otherwise with this job I get to enjoy so many perks of traveling and this is something that means a lot to people. If I’m traveling with my sister, for example, she’s far more bougie than I am. My partner, Mike, is enormous—he’s 6’5” without shoes on, and when he sits in economy his knees are in his face. Of course I would give it to him. He’s really uncomfortable! But unless someone really didn’t care, I would give it to them. Of course, I’d also be more shameless with the people I know well.