ZFT and ranmar,
Thank you for your comments and unlike many they are both informative and interesting.
I have a question though, of ranmar,
In future, will you buy a Preium EY ticket at the outset or will you buy an EY ticket and upgrade it via auction closer to departure time?
That is the issue
As I said, they have gained a premium economy passenger--I will book premium in future. It only actually saved me, in that instance, perhaps $200 on the fare. I assume everyone on that flight had the chance to upgrade, yet I would venture that very few indeed availed themselves of the offer--or bid very low. Quite possible, PER-AKL is full of Kiwis returning home, and they are a notoriously tight bunch ( (runs for cover as he speaks
)
Actually, I just recalled something from a long time ago. We were leaving HK on a flight to Bangkok, and had offered an upgrade at check-in to Marco Polo class. Didn't ask, it was just offered. We were asked to wait aside for a while, boarding passes finally issued, then the old Kai Tak immigration gate got us. Two large chinese family groups in front of us with documents not properly prepared, huge ledgers were dragged out, consulted, it took so long the flight closed before we got to the gate. Flight missed. Economy on the next flight. Connecting flight to be made,time would be tight, and CX ground staff at both ends excelled themselves. Arranged for us to disembark first, and whisked us through the diplomatic customs and immigration gates, to ensure we made our connections.