We had DEN-FRA on Sunday; got to IADl in Den we were told that we were top of the list for upgrade to Business class and there were 3 seats available, but we couldn't have them until we got to IAD. Got to IAD, ran the concourse to next gate only to be told only 1 seat, two of us had to decide which would get it; we declined and took our econ plus seating. But, how could three seats disappear so fast? Easy: 1K steps in and takes two seats, leaving one.

I suspect that few below IK will ever get an upgrade on overseas flights again, no matter how far in advance you request them, even when we offer to pay miles AND money. I also suspect that prem and prem execs will thin out as people get fed up and migrate to other airlines where prems and execs are not treated like cattle. Not everybody can fly 100k miles per year, even the most loyal of us.