Originally Posted by
ssullivan
If you can get the 777 on the route, it's not a hard upgrade, especially for Platinums. I have never missed the upgrade on the 777 on that route, regardless of my elite level. As a Platinum, it has consistently cleared at five days out every time I've flown the 777 on that route in the last five years.
I've missed upgrades on smaller equipment as a Platinum many times, including the 762 when traveling on a fairly high fare class.
The last two times I booked IAH-EWR-IAH for non-Saturday-stay travel (the exact dates were June 10-11 and Aug 11-13, the latter of which I just booked today) on the 772 both ways, the cheapest coach fare offered was in the M bucket (about $1,100 for the June trip, $1,398 for the August trip), which got me automatic upgrades as a Plat anyway. So lately it's been tough to put your theory to the test!