After watching the available seats (J#) and waiting at the desk and seeing who gets upgrades, I firmly believe there is something funny going on.

Each flight that I do not get an upgrade (as an SE), I see E's sometimes with their non-status companions being upgraded ahead of me at the gate.

Somehow I think it is completely based on fare class and not on status.

This leads me to believe that AC does not care about status and is rewarding higher fares only.

I can understand if it is a Y/B fare. But separating W from V? That is cheap.

More importantly, it should be plainly stated. This way when I am forced on a low fare by my company, I will choose more direct route on another carrier and spread my status around.

Obviously being SE for 6 years and being 25K away from MM means nothing to AC.

And if you ask, I am earning upgrade credits faster than using them. 1 for 7 on my TATL and 1 for 4 on TPAC.