There's a reason you don't get the EUA on EWR-DCA as a platinum...I'm in your seat

This is a big business market, similar to the DL/US shuttle markets, but for the people who use CO or the EWR market, this is the better option (I live in Manhattan, equidistant between LGA/EWR, but fly CO as my primary carrier, and I like the upgrades). The majority of the seats sold to these business travellers are Y, with a smattering of N mixed in (these are the only two fare classes I've seen on the route for non-saturday stay itins). Booking 3 weeks out I can get W fares with a saturday-night stay, but my travel plans for work aren't concrete enough to book that. I buy my Y fare and take my instant elite upgrade and plop down in F when I get on the plane. I only get them on the DCA-EWR segment; the 6:50am EWR-DCA on Monday morning is always full by the time I get to booking.

Sorry for taking your seat, but I'm paying more, and CO rewards me for that. Knowing that this is such a business/Y fare last minute market, CO doesn't release too many seats for EUA. It is a business game. If I wasn't getting the F upgrades, I'd probably switch back over to DL (crediting the points to CO). The schedules are tons better, and there are no RJs on the route.

S.