apaddyinuk thank you for clearing up most of my questions; makes it a bit easier to understand.
Only one questions remains unanswered.
Is there anything formalised in BA, in writing, about who gets the upgrades if and when a hotel offers them? Does it say anywhere that for example the chain of command, as valid on the aircraft, should be followed in these cases, or is it a matter for people themselves to sort out there and then at the hotel's front desk?
This last method being the one we use, and the upgrades generally go to the youngest FAs since both our Senior Pursers and Captains heartily agree that the junior FAs have the physically most demanding jobs and the lowest salaries, which makes it extra nice for them with a suite.
Another facet is that hotels sometimes, without charging the company extra and without telling us at the time of check-in, give Captain & (Senior) Purser a better room, which they then usually 'open up' for crew drinks at least one evening.
So how this work in other companies then?