But, then again Xenia, why shouldn't someone who paid xxx amount of $$$ get an upgrade (if Y is full) rather than a free loading employee?
It's called a "perk of the job." The airline industry is different from any other. If you work in Telecoms you get cheap calls. If you work in retail you get discount. If you work in an airline you get an upgrade if it is going. What is wrong with that?