Those of you who think charging every person the $300 per seat, and nickle and diming the passenger doesnt have clue about "Business 101". Businesses grow by word of mouth, after great experiences, personal interactions, and convienence. It is the good and pleasant experiences that lead people to tell and encourage their friends to experience a certain business/product. As someone who has flown US almost 90% of the time for the past 30 yrs, and someone who was Gold for 2+yrs, and then Silver for another 3+ until the job changed, and someone who personally paid thousands of dollars for these business seats already, asking for and receiving a free upgrade to row 1 IS the way to run a business. The experience of the complimentary upgrade made me feel GOOD as a customer, and appreciated for my business. THAT is how business works. You angry people need to realize that YOU are the ones who drive away the customers with your defeatest attitudes, and self pitty actions and responses. Management is management, but it is the front line employees who create the experience for the customer. Sure, I do feel sorry for you that your careers did not turn out the way you wanted, but like everyone, you have choices in life. Dont like it, leave.
On the way home, I know that not one row 1 seat was paid for, because I checked in early, and looked at the screen. Row's 2-5 were full, and we were the first to be assigned row #1. Yet, when the plane was boarded, and 100% full, the other 4 row 1 seats were full, and so were my original seats in business. So yes, that meant 6 other normal paying passengers were given complimentary upgrades, which IS the reward/benefit of or being a FF. However, if I had been denied my complimentary request for an upgrade, and then noticed that passengers who paid thousands less for their ticket than me were given "better" seats, I would have been an upset customer. That is how business works, you reward and keep happy your best and highest grossing patrons.
I have been so turned off by the surly attitude of many US employees (maybe/probably you at some point), the crappy interior of the planes, the removal of movies, and other "fees" that I was prepared to have this be my last US flight. (My father in law drives an extra hour to EWR just to fly CO, and avoid US because of his past experiences, and always encourages me to join him. He is a 1st class full fare paying passenger, with 4-6 European trips per year. I mentioned our experience to him and he was interested in perhaps trying US again, ie. word of mouth benefit for business) I was prepared to inconvienence myself with extra time in changing planes (SW) and higher fares (AA) due to the pleasant experience I always have encountered when flying them in the past. However, due to the great personal experience i recently had, I have decided to stick with US again, and just booked 2 seperate 2 ticket transcon trips for later this year. That John John/AstroLounge is how this company will continue to make money. Squeezing good customers for an extra $300 is how you will ultimately loose all of your high paying customers. Sure, there are always disgruntled employees like the one you referenced in the post about giving away everything, and of course yourselves, but dont even begin to chastize other frontline employees who try to keep customers happy, and do the right thing. I am not saying EVERYONE should be upgraded for free, but if row 1 seats are open, and a liesure traveler who paid with his own money, not a corporate type, asks for an upgrade, the right thing to do, again, if it is available, is to give it to them. You only provide a great experience and nice incentive for that passenage to pay full fare again.
Lastly, what if I had paid the $300 each way for those seats. As I mentioned, my seats both ways did not function properly, specially on #271. Would I have gotten my money back, or would it have been business 101 to keep the money and say sorry. Hummm
