Potential of taking with one hand while giving with the other.
Increasing the range of Cat C is just another way for EK to increase revenue.
To use the term buddy pass is incorrect as pass implies free and they are not.
This could be a case of the company reducing the number of cat A and selling those cat A seats as Cat C's to friends, ergo increasing revenue.
The temptation with this system is that we could all be operating as discount ticket brokers and selling these tickets for a profit.
Varmint, I agree that allowing others to pay directly rather than having it go through our paycheck would be the way to go but I doubt the company will do that.
All of this appears to be taking with one hand while appearing to give with the other.