I was on a red eye from London to Dubai to India. One of those legs was nearly empty. I was told sit in whatever row I wanted. LOL. Only time I ever traveled First Class.
In 1992 I arranged a bethel bus trip for 40 people, I made sure I only booked 40 not the 44 capacity of the bus. Cost was based on 40. The other 4 were for me, my mom, 1/2 price for a sister who helped with some phone work. The 4th slot I left unfilled. For every 15 room nights I booked, I got 1 free at each hotel. The bus driver also got comped by the hotels.
4 to a room was $200 pp. $250 pp 2 to a room or $300 for a single in a room. 5 hotel nights, bus from St. Louis to NJ and NY. Then Walkill and Patterson (under construction), then Niagra Falls, and Canada Bethel, with DIY sightseeing available. Pretty reasonable. All other costs were on the traveler.
Part of the trip was in Canada. When the trip was over, I applied for, and received, a refund of $200-300 of overpayments in taxes. Do you think I tracked down 40 people and divided it 40 ways? NO. Part of my compensation for putting together a really affordable trip. I was dirt poor, but even if I wasn't, I made a lot of long distance calls arranging the trip. In an era when internet, if available at all, was 300 baud Compuserve. No Travelocity. I had to do it the hard way, phone calls, faxes, mail, checks.
My point is ...squirrel.... the GB travels so much I am sure it is still a Dub owned travel agency, so lots of comps and upgrades for all of the business WT does. Partly normal travel agency practice, partly sucking up to the GB ....
Whole lot of tempest in a teapot. Let's focus on the real issues...hiding pedophiles, stealing money indirectly, trapping people in a cult....just saying.
Snakes