I was on a return flight from EWR-SEA on Tuesday this past week and it was, well, a bit of an odd mess: Apparent inconsistency in the handling of First Class upgrades, and a flight that was on -- then cancelled -- then on again but delayed. So excuse the long post below, but it seems the best way to tell this story.

I had checked in (three hours early, due to a meeting ending early) and asked to be put on the First Class standby list. I'm Gold, and was told by the counter agent I was at the top of the list. However, when I followed up an hour before departure, I found I had dropped to second on the list.

Why is that?, I asked the gate agent. She didn't know; she said I and the other First standby list passenger were in the same fare class, I'd checked in before him, and she'd checked us both in. Since I was curious and had time to kill, I called the MVP Gold desk to ask about the usual procedures and was told while there was no rule for someone to move to the top of the list ahead of me, it was totally up to the agent checking people in. No problem, I figured, and said so to the gate agent. At least I had my exit-row aisle seat.

Before the scheduled 6:05pm departure, we were told there was a mechanical problem and a "small part" needed to be replaced. It was only "five minutes to install." Problem was, there was no such part at EWR. Alaska would have to borrow one from another airline, if it was available.

Shortly thereafter, the flight to SEA was cancelled. The part was nowhere to be had. One of the gate personnel said that they'd located the part at American Airlines, but claimed they refused to let Alaska have it. Alaska had to fly the part in on a plane that wouldn't arrive until midnight. We would all be rebooked on a new flight -- called flight 7307 -- that would leave the next morning at 7:30am.

While we were standing in line for hotel vouchers, I called the MVP Gold desk again and asked if they could make sure I had an exit-row aisle seat on the new flight 7307 (did I mention I'm 6'4" and I like my knees?). It was booked.

A few minutes later, the very helpful station head (Maria) said they'd instead decided to take in the inbound 9pm arrival from SEA and simply immediately turn it around back to SEA, replacing our flight. Smart move. (The midnight part arrival would make sure the regular AM flight got out, since we were now to be traveling to SEA on the AM flight's plane.) Our flight was un-cancelled. Only those who were going to miss connections were encouraged to get a hotel voucher to spend the night.

I mentioned to Maria that I'd already booked a seat for myself on the 7:30am replacement flight, and Maria told me there was no problem -- she put me back on that evening's flight 7. And, she kindly upgraded me to First. I asked if she was sure someone who had been in First wouldn't change their mind about their travel plans and want the seat, and was told there would be no problem. I was quite thankful.

A few hours later, back at the gate. I ask how things are going. I'm told we're still set to return that night, but they've been looking for me (I'd been in the President's Club and then had dinner) -- they have to downgrade me back to coach. Someone with a full-fare First ticket did change their mind. Not only that, but they'd given my exit row aisle seat (the one with the empty middle seat next to it) to someone else. Good news: They put me in the only other exit-row aisle on the plane, even though it was a full row and no other rows were completely full. Still, more leg room with a middle passenger is better than less leg room (that 6'4" matter again).

Finally, the inbound 9pm flight arrives, and we leave four hours late. The flight is 2/3 full, at most. I'm slightly cramped sideways, but get home six hours later.

I'm not certain why I'm relating this, other than it was one of the messiest flying experiences I've had on AS in some time, and I fly every week. First, AS apparently has no spare parts or even quick access to them at EWR. Second, the Continental agents handling the AS flight still don't seem to completely understand the AS upgrade standby and priority procedures and my upgrade -- when I unexpectedly did get one and then lost it -- wasn't handled all that well.

If anyone can cast any additional light on the part-availability issues at EWR (and other AS destinations), or inner details of the upgrade process, I'd appreciate it. But it makes me wonder about the wisdom of flying on Alaska to AS destinations that aren't fully staffed by AS personnel, even for a loyal Alaska MVP Gold like me.