"Would you mind an upgrade?"

There is currently a story doing the rounds about the Downunder Prime Minister getting "free" upgrades to the best seats on aircraft. It is said he actually phoned a mate who just happened to be the CEO of the air line in question and asked for these.

If true then it is wrong. It would appear to be true as the Prime Minister is avoiding answering the question. It will be even worse if this in anyway influenced a refusal to another air line for more flights in and out of the country. 

Air fares here, particularly fares overseas, are expensive. They have always been expensive. We have long distances to travel.  Planes are expensive to buy and the cost of aviation fuel is too.  This is one reason why I have not been on a plane for thirty-five years. Still, I hope to go on one sometime in the not too distant future.

Will I get an upgrade? It is very unlikely, so unlikely that I am more likely to be hit by lightning or have someone buy me the winning lottery ticket.

But...I did have an upgrade once. I was checking in when the person behind the counter asked me to step aside.  I remember feeling rather anxious about this. I had a valid ticket and a valid passport and.... what was wrong?

A few minutes later I was quietly asked, "Would you mind an upgrade? Economy is overbooked but there is a seat in business. You can have that at no extra expense."

I took it of course. It was the sensible thing to do. I sat next to a very senior someone in the government of the day.  He asked, in a sort of polite but bored way, what I was doing there. It was the end of conversation until, some hours later, food appeared. He ate my bread roll...and asked more questions. He asked a lot of questions.  I did not agree with his politics but did not say anything. Our conversation was quite useful later.

I think I did earn that upgrade in the end but I still wonder what the bread rolls taste like.