I fly fairly regularly between LGA and IAH, and previously was able to get upgrades automatically with Gold status and paying the standard full fare - about $1300 for B class. Now CO has downgraded the standard fare to M class, which means that you can no longer get upgrades when you book the ticket and don't get the mileage bonus that goes along with Gold status and a B class ticket. It is cheaper to buy a First Class ticket than a B class ticket, but I can't be reimbursed for First Class travel. With only Gold status, it is pretty much impossible to ever get an upgrade through the standard means. Now I understand that CO is just trying to maximize their profits, but what really annoys me is that people can book connecting flights from LGA that go through IAH on B class fares for $700-$800, and get upgrades ahead of me. I am paying more and have a higher status and flying on the same airplane but others get upgraded ahead of me.

Does anyone have any ideas of how to get around this? I'm thinking of booking connecting flights that go through IAH and just not showing up for the second leg, but I suspect that may cause problems. Has anyone else tried this?