I have been booked on NRT-IAH Nov 2 for over two months.

*Waitlisted at time of booking
*B-Bucket
*+30k Miles
*Plat Status

As most are aware, when the system works as advertised, one is supposed to get the upgrade at the time R-Bucket becomes available or is released into inventory.

This rarely occurs as CO states. This is not a unique, one off event nor is it an uncommon occurrence. Going further, CO has been made aware of this issue for at least 2.5 years...maybe longer as I have only read this forum for that period of time and have read the complaints and have, I believe, read where Scott acknowledges the issue.

Only because I read this forum was I able to defeat the shortcoming by watching inventory every couple of days.(as learned here on FT)

*Called elite desk...Got music for only 2 or so minutes before Agent picked up
*Informed agent of R inventory
*Informed agent of my waitlist status

Agent politely puts me on hold while telling me that correcting or fixing this issue has been out of their hands for 5yrs now (not what I recall in the past)and must escalate my call. I spend the next 30 minutes on hold listening to the great things happening on CO's widebody fleet with agent politely checking on me every 10 minutes or so saying she is having to listen to music too.

Agent finally comes back and informs me that I am all set and sorry for the wait. She secured a front BF cabin, middle row seat that wasn't available on the seat map....I thanked her in a upbeat and positive manner as she was as professional as any agent I have had dealings with.

Any person of any status could have secured this seat and I could have been riding in the back.

Or

It could be that there are PPLATS or higher ranking PLATS on the list that could or should have gotten this seat before me.

Or

It could be that in just a few more minutes, hours or days the system would have picked me up.

Or

The system as it stands rewards only those who watch R the most...Checking daily like a psychopath and logging fake iteneraries. Airline Darwanism at its very best.

Why is this still a chronic problem after all this time?....years?