Dear Alex,
On my next trip I have the status to fly first class with British Airways or Upper Class with Virgin Atlantic, but my junior colleague, who is accompanying me, will be returning in economy class. Would it be possible for him to visit me up front and join me on the “buddy” [ottoman] seat for a short discussion, perhaps before the other passengers fall asleep?
Kevin Rees, London
Alex replies:
I checked with both carriers and the consensus is that it is possible provided you observe some protocol. Inviting a guest up front has to be done in a way that doesn’t disturb other passengers or burden the crew. You have to be discreet because some passengers might object. They might argue that they have paid a lot of money for their tickets and are entitled to peace and quiet, so it’s best to have a quiet word with a leading member of the cabin crew before take-off.
Your guest would be allowed to stay for a drink or two but it wouldn’t be possible for them to remain during the meal service. Bear in mind that it might depend on whether the flight is daytime or overnight and how busy it is. In the case of a transatlantic service you would find that a Friday night flight out of New York JFK is likely to be packed, so staff would be running around with drinks and meals and some passengers would be going to sleep.
However, if you were on a midweek daytime flight then the premium cabin is likely to be fairly empty, so staff would have time to accommodate your needs. Also, inviting a guest is easier if the airline has a stand-up bar because they will blend in with the other passengers.
I should stress that the above advice applies to flights taken with British Airways or Virgin Atlantic and other carriers will have their own policies. Ultimately, any reputable airline will do its utmost to meet your request because you are its most valued customer in these difficult times.
