I agree ExXB. A Stateside friend of mine used the direct service from DTW to LHR for many years. Always booked Y and got upgraded at check-in to C for 80% of the trips - both ways.
Last week a friend (regular traveller for an internationally known US based company) got jumped from Silver to Gold status, eventhough being a few points short of the target. They looked at the overall spend of the last couple of years and made the change without being asked. Not that BA would admit that so, as always, there are rules and rules ...
