yesterday on ATL-SFO (on an int 763) there was a PA announcement on the plane while still at the gate that there was an upgrade available for mr x and ms y, so they could please come to the front. slightly different than an FA/GA personally retrieving them from coach.

i find it specifically annoying to fly out of ATL's E concourse now because there is no GIDS. i'm spoiled by the ability to know exactly where i stand on the u/g list. the hang-back and see if 1st boards full approach has netted me a handful of upgrades even as an SM/GM in the last few years. that success is all thanks to FT.