Just got the current(7/99) Consumer Reports Travel Letter in which they desribe the proceedure for DL to drioop the entire family to coach from First because (as we know) they were using discounted fares and there was a cahnge to a smaller 767-200 from the 767-300!DL said that if they were Elite it would have helped to prevent it; Also they said that if they'd been in coach they would likely have been bumped off the plane.

Where would they be if they were on reward travel cert's? In deep trouble I imagine!

I, for one, always check in early when in coach/discounted fares (of course trying too increase upgrade chances) as well as when on award travel. I was downgraded by CO from First to coach and I did not like it at all- a kind of reverse perk. Just a part of traveling today!