New York Times
June 10, 2003
Elite Status: A Ticket to Fly Comfortably
By JOE SHARKEY

THIS is being written from a cushy first-class seat on a Continental flight somewhere over Kansas. I was able to fly comfortably and even use my laptop, only because I received an upgrade based on my frequent-flier elite status. Otherwise, I'd be squeezed into one of those miserable little coach seats, scribbling on a legal pad, unfairly and pointlessly despising the person in the row ahead for reclining his seat all the way back.

Incidentally, my advance-purchase coach fare was $448.50, round trip, for this flight to Phoenix and back. Yet I arrived at the airport on Sunday already assured by e-mail from Continental that I would be in first class.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/06/10/business/10ROAD.html

[This message has been edited by daniels (edited 06-10-2003).]