My first self upgrade was a DFW-STL flight when I was 17. This is back in 2003 when I had my first status (AA Gold earned on a challenge the year before). I was taking my first mileage run (LGA-DCA-DFW-STL-LGW-RDU-LGA for $394 a/i) and I had expected to drive my own car and park at LGA. When my Dad offered to drive me I invested the money I'd saved for parking on a sticker and purchased an upgrade. I remember the whole way to Dallas I kept staring my boarding pass with "First - 4F" on it.

When we were boarding my heart was beating so fast and I thought flying in the crappy old ex-TWA seats and getting a Sprite in a real glass with a pack of almonds was the end all be all. Sometimes I miss that kind of wide eyed naivety.