First, I want to thank the FlyerTalk community for its generosity with advice and information. While my friends and family might think that I need professional help, I have gone from a life-long GM to 1K (1.25K, actually) in 2009. Too bad I started the year with SFO-CDG-TNR-CDG-SFO on Air France.

I resurrected this thread because of an experience on this weekend’s MR (SFO-ORD-ROC-IAD-SFO). I was able to upgrade all segments in advance (not counting the ROC-IAD on UX) except IAD-SFO on UA225. I was waitlisted. I got to the gate about an hour before boarding and was thrilled to see myself second out of 16 names on the list, with three seats open. A little before boarding, one seat disappeared without a change in the list. Maybe a last minute F booking. No problem, I thought.

When I approached the GA prior to boarding to get my boarding pass (as #2 of 2), I was told that no seats were available because #1 on the list had a traveling companion "on the same record," bumping me to #3 and E+. I protested lightly, not knowing the rules for certain and understanding that there’s no percentage in making a scene. However, I remained second on the displayed upgrade list.

A second gate agent appeared on the scene to board the flight and called the first and second names from the upgrade list. This resulted in an animated discussion between the two gate agents, but I got my boarding pass. After boarding (and sitting next to #1, who gave me the stink-eye), I quickly consulted FlyerTalk and found this thread.

I suppose my interest is mostly academic at this stage, but I wonder whether I was getting jacked around or whether I jumped the queue and should feel badly. According to what I’ve found here (and I’m new at this, so be patient), once the list goes to DM, every person relies on his/her own priority status, even if on the same reservation.

I'm more than a little annoyed that the GA was as wrong about the rules as he was cocksure about being right. It all worked out for me in the end. I wonder what I ought to do next time this happens, if ever, I wonder what UDU will do to this process.

Thanks.

Marc