I am an Executive Platinum. Yesterday, while checking in a full fare ticket for Flight 1522 SJU-MIA, I asked for a sticker upgrade for myself and then for a work colleague. The work companion has no AA status and was flying on a reduced fare ticket. The gate agent put us both on the waiting list since she could not confirm the seats at that time. So far so good. What happened next surprised me.

At the gate, my companion was called up and given a Business Class seat. I was not. I inquired about this and was told that there was only one unclaimed seat in Business and that he (my colleague) was first on the list and this was the policy.

I was flabbergasted and in a very embarrassing position. I expected that the order would be first me, then the companion. This way, the only way I would have been able to be upgraded would have been to make a scene and demand that my work colleague surrender his seat. I was not willing to do that.

Now I'm out 2 upgrades for a casual work acquiantance's upgrade and I got jammed into the new LRTC AB300 coach (which is unspeakable by the way - they went out of their way to give even less room.)

Has anyone else had this happen to them?