Cheeky business class upgrade excuses revealed

Some of the most outrageous excuses given by executives seeking to get an upgrade to first and business class seats on flights have been revealed in a new survey.

Conducted by business travel technology provider GetThere, the poll discovered that some of the cheekiest reasons given to explain business travellers' bids to secure an upgrade included being unable to afford economy class drinks and having a doctor's note claiming the passenger had to travel first class.

Other passengers claimed to be allergic to the peanuts served in economy and wanted a first class seat so they could have almonds instead, while one traveller said he had sit in first class so he could keep a closer check on his dog, which was booked in the climate control hold.

"Employees still find creative and sometimes off-the-wall reasons to justify going outside the rules," commented Bev Heinritz, general manager of GetThere.

Britons made about 2.2 million business trips overseas during the first three months of 2007, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics.

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