Requesting upgrades
This might be the wrong forum (apologies if it is) given my question relates to requesting upgrades at check in.
How common is it among dignitaries to book economy, yet request and expect to be upgraded to business class at the gate?
I understand that taxpayers don't want to foot the bill for business class travel, but it seems unreasonable to me to expect to be upgraded when you didn't purchase that class fare.
Overhearing a conversation at my office regarding some upcoming airtravel that my (big) boss, and (not so) big boss will be doing this weekend. He's been instructed on check-in to request an upgrade for both of them, and if he has any issues to be firm about the fact that "in XXX city they always oblige, so what's the problem here".
Is this pretty standard in the industry? Why would the airlines accomodate this request, particularly when we're talking government officials who have the budgets to book business class, yet don't want the optics of doing so.