People have posted elswhere on this forum comments that since NWA announced a few months ago that platinums would have better award availability, they've actually noticed this to be real (e.g., run an award check for themselves, theymight find an award; run an award check for a non-platinum family memeber on-line, no award).

I *have* noticed better domestic on-line award availability though still pretty slim pickings for popular routes even months in advance. I have NOT noticed better international on-line award availability, everything still seems to be Rulebuster or mixed even many months out.
And I have NOT noticed better international upgrade-from-B-fare availability at all. I still have to do many calls back again and again to have agents keep searching only to me there is nothing available even with very flexible combinations of dates and departure and destination points I give them. I've had agents make real efforts, e.g., spend a lot of time, so I know they were trying.

I really wanted an upgradeable B for a trip in September to Europe, but despite 5-6 spaced out calls to the elite line have not found anything. Finally I found an award on CO for 100,000 miles in Business First, not my first choice, but I'll use that if I can't get an upgradeable. I don't have time to spend an hour every day calling. CO has more upgradeables available for its elites than for NW elites, and than NW has for its elites. And because upgradeables come out of a different bucket than awards, I can't convert my CO award into an upgradeable.

Has any platinum who previously tried getting upgradeable B fares to Europe using NW miles with guarantted advance upgrades noticed improvement with the new supposed special availability for platinums?