truc0011,

If you made the reservation for all three of you on the same record, then the chances of you or anyone else getting upgraded on the MSP->LAX is probably zero. One way to increase your chance of upgrade, if you want to be separated from the other two, is to ask NWA to separate your reservation from the others. That way, you can get yourself upgraded when other Golds get upgraded. Then you can take a chance at getting ONE person upgraded at the gate. That still leaves one in the back. Will that be acceptable?

HJ