ATL-RDU (FL 98) - Saturday, January 23 - successful - submitted request to gate agent 90 mins prior and was told to return at 40 mins. At 60 mins, I noticed a different GA at the counter who was helping other passengers. A badged employee (reservations) was in line ahead of me and was immediately given BC. Fortunately, I was also upgraded but it made me wonder what if upgrades had been denied as a result of the crew member being immediately booked in BC? - flight departed with one BC seat vacant.

RDU-ATL (FL 89) - Tuesday, January 36 - successful - submitted request to gate agent 60 mins prior and was told that I had already been upgraded (a pleasant surprise. why can't they all do it this way?) - flight departed with no vacant BC seats, two of which were occupied by uniformed crew (pilots). Again, I wonder if an elite member was not upgraded because non-revenue FL staff were assigned BC?