i'm a poor little silver racing to gold as i can feel the silver ground just crumbling under my feet. i buy my own tickets so i'm money-conscious, but if i can maximize a perk, like MQM's or upgrades, i'm good with that. it's a treat!

typically, i fly the transcon from PDX-JFK midweek and have been really lucky in getting an upgrade, however, this time the plane, 737, only has 7 of 16 seats left in first and most of the preferred seats in coach gone (i'm thinking this flight is elite heavy). chances of an upgrade look poor.

so i found a flight that goes PDX-LAX-CVG with the LAX-CVG leg departing 10:45am on a thursday on an A320. first class is wide open, 13 of 16 seats left with not many preferred seats taken in coach.

my question....is the LAX-CVG flight elite heavy mid-week mid-day? can a silver possibly get an upgrade?