I'm 1P having switched over from AA in October last year after 5 years as an EXP. 2/3rds of my flying is ORD-LGA, which seems to be a 1K and GS heavy route. As such I rarely score an upgrade if flying during heavy commuter times. Usually I'm around number 15 on the upgrade board on the ORD-LGA leg on Monday or Tuesday.

Last night, traffic and loads were light; probably many normal FF changed their schedules so they could be with their significant others rather than flying. Anyway, I stop in the RCC before my flight and ask (without much hope) if there was any chance of my upgrade clearing. The lady at the RCC tells me I'm number 2 on the list, behind a 1K and 1st has checked in full. I thank her and ask her if there is any chance for a birthday upgrade (yes, it really was my birthday and I thought no harm in asking). She just smiles and doesn't respond.

Anyway, I get to the gate about 5 minutes before boarding starts. On the board, I'm now number 1 and it says one seat is available in 1st. I like to do a visual scan of the gate lice waiting to board. I notice a women with a 1K boarding pass. Anyway, I'm handed my F boarding pass right as boarding starts. I board towards the end of the GS/1K/F boarding group. I see the women with the 1K boarding pass dutifully take her seat in E+. She was the only person in the GS/1K/F group to head to E+/E.

I suppose it is possible that she just doesn't like F and prefers to sit in E+. Or for whatever reason her UDU request wasn't in the computer. Still, I can discount the possibility that I got a "birthday upgrade".

What think?