Greg, if you're going to post anything critical of the DL FF program that sounds like a NW comparison you're going to get some level of emotional response - things have been rather touchy around here since the merger so I would advise being ready for a little ire.

Now back to the topic - if this sort of thing does become a standard practice I think it would be a bad thing. While I do agree with CarolDisney's anecdote about the existence of last minute F buyers they are perhaps slightly rarer than a convenient low award level redemption seat. In fact it may give you a bit of amusement to think about poor DL chasing these rare birds with the same zeal as those poor sops trying to get a free flight of thier chosing with their new Amex miles.

If, and this is a big if, DL really is making such a broad allowance it would be a mistake. They aren't going to sell them in large volumes. What it would do is create more of a mess at the gate as larger numbers of Medallions hound GAs - refusing to board until the last possible moment which will have corallary impacts of more fights and complaints about overhead bins, about people bringing stinky burgers into FC and so on and so forth. (Not to mention even more anger leaking here.) I'd really hope that DL knows better than to get all that going chasing minimal revenue. Now if they want to hold back 2-3 seats I wouldn't blame them or higher numbers on particular routes maybe but it certainly doens't make much sense as a general practice.

Again there is an 'if' here - one datapoint does not a trend make. It may be symptomatic of the particular routes you're on. I can tell you in my case as a Plat I have not missed a single upgrade and have only had one gate upgrade out of that list so far in 2010.

Lastly may whoever reads this please take these statements within the context of the published benefit. I do not and never have believed that any Medallion level is automatically entitled to an upgrade. Similarly if DMs fill them up - too bad so sad for this Plat or any other. However, if DL can't sell the seats they have made a promise that they will let the Medallion's at them and I do think they should do so in the most expedient and sensible manner possible.