Punki,
I've never had the guts to try this. My philosophy is (1)all or none & (2)If I'm not in first, nobody else is either. So, on domestic flights I just wait until the 2 day prior time to do my NWA upgrade & hope that the companion's "day of" will come thru; On long trips from midwest to Alaska, I upgrade both with miles in view of the small 1class cabin on the Alaska portion from Seattle to whereever; On a Europe trip I would buy a coach ticket & use miles to upgrade to Bus class, since there are no free upgrades on NWA to Europe. Same on an Asia trip (buy coach & use miles to upgrade to Bus class) although I'd rather pay "0" and just use megamiles for a 1class ticket & be happy!

Another factor on NWA is aircraft. If it's a DC10 I don't worry because it has a 34 passenger cabin & I always (never say always) get both myself & companion upgraded.

[This message has been edited by knowitall (edited 07-31-1999).]