Originally Posted by Empress
For discussion: So assuming that they charge 30,000 to upgrade one way on an international flight, would you be upset if all the upgrade seats are gone by the time your upgrade window using CERT opens? On a flight like YVR-SYD where there are only 24J to begin with, there is not much U/G space for FFers to start with. If they charge people for upgrade, they can't possibly make it only available on day of departure. Chances are that it'll be unavailable and that will generate even more unnecessary goodwill on top of not being able to use them for award travels.
Yes, I think they need to make the space available to those SEs and Es using certs first, then make space available to people buying the U/G using points (this will likely have to be done at the gate), then op ups for SEs and Es.
This is likely a logistical nightmare, but the only fair way IMO.