Originally Posted by
lcohen999
The old system had the same advantage.
People in YVR from continuing tickets on a single flight number are always left behind the 8 ball.
You are correct that YVR has always been last, but the field is much more level now (with the exception of the YYZ-YVR-SYD travelers).
In the old system, you could upgrade the entire itinerary when the window opened up for the first connection. LHR-YYZ-YVR-SYD could in theory snag the upgrade inventory on YVR-SYD prior to anyone in YYZ or YVR. Under the new system, each segment is treated as a single transaction. In practice many of these differences in the old system were evened out by allowing 12:01 a.m. upgrade at the 4 or 7 day window.
Under the new system, however, upgrade times are rigorously enforced. People flying from Vancouver are on an equal footing with everyone else EXCEPT for YYZ-SYD passengers travelling under a single flight number.
May not make any practical difference, but an interesting anomaly of the new system. Normally I would avoid the single flight number out of YYZ due to reduced status mileage, but e-upgrade potential is definitely a consideration.
SG