Originally Posted by
IAHtraveler
Flame me if you will, but this is another reason why I would prefer a system where the EUA wouldn't run until ~2-3 hours before the flight. This would allow FC the following day to remain open except for FC purchases in case weather or another issue causes a ton of people to be rolled over.
My other reason for believing in a system like this is because when I buy a last minute, full fare ticket, I'm often sitting in the back while lower elites on lower tickets are sitting in FC. OH, and it would allow Plats to get companion upgrades before silver/golds got an EUA.
You'd probably be surprised how many of those "upgrades" are elites on Y (and now B) fares, and you can quibble whether a Silver on a Y fare should be in F while a Plat on a last-minute H (or even Y) fare sits in back, but that's how the program works and CO isn't trying to hide anything or screw anyone. I also do see what looks like a lot of paid F on longer flights (e.g., transcons) these days.