What I really want to know is if a VIP upgrade expires say 2/28/05, does this mean that I can ticket for a flight in January '06 on 2/28/05 and use the VIPs? In other words do they take the VIP at the time of ticketing, or is it on day of departure?

If it is at the time of ticketing, the upgrade seats would have to be available because if they aren't and I have to be waitlisted, the VIP will expire before I clear the waitlist.

Is my thinking correct here?