Not DTW-DEN, but I was #1 on the UG list for 0 seats after the upgrades cleared on a TPA-ATL segment last weekend. I decided to play the UG game and wait until everyone boarded to see what would happen.

As the last pax boarded, I walked up to the GA at the podium, told him I was #1 on the UG list and asked if F had boarded full. He didn't look up at me, but blurted out "we'll come get ya". I then asked him if that was a promise. He then took a look at his computer screen and said, "oops, the last F pax just boarded". I then boarded and, lo and behold, there were in fact 16 bodies in 16 F seats.

I wished that GAs could be honest with people who ask an honest question. The way this particular GA handled my inquiry left me with less than full confidence that I had been given a truthful answer.

I suspect that many GAs absolutely hate upgraders and look at us as freeloaders. However, as long as their company has an upgrade policy and flaunts it in order to attract repeat business, the GAs need to be straightforward and honest with those of us who do qualify for or are on the bubble for upgrades.