warning - Massive thread drift - warning
I thought the whole idea behind the "will you accept economy?" was to enable them to give you a business class boarding pass when business is marginal, but EY is wide open. This is efficient for them and efficient for you as they only deal with you once and you don't need to hang around the Staff Travel desk. Should Business fill up, you will be downgraded at the gate and they don't have to unload your bags and escort you back through security because you suddenly announce that you are not prepared to be downgraded. I thought it was a great idea.
However, the reality is that our friends in Staff Travel have ventured off on a power-trip and made the question a condition of travel and I have previously answered "Yes" only to see junior people in business and even empty seats in business (profit maximisation?).
I have raised the issue with "Bob-says-no" only to get a smile and told to effectively play the game. As for transparency in the system, Data Protection was quoted as the reason I could not see how the junior staff were in Business when I was down the back.
The whole system is now an unsavoury farce.
Perhaps some of the hard-@ssed commuters could give advice on how they deal with the "will you accept economy" question?
Back on thread;
Capt: "Happy with CFP?"
FO: "Is that a question or an order?"