While I certainly won't say that no agent has ever taken care of their favorite customer, the scenario I described would come into play with any customer. If a customer of any status walks up to the counter, asks if there's upgrade space available, and there is, they get the upgrade. It is a little screwey now that I've thought about it. But I don't think there is anything that will prevent this from happening unless it is an inhibit built into sabre that prevents agents from confirming upgrade space unless it is from the airport priority list within that 3 (or 4) hour window.

I've seen this happen as well.... down at the gate, the agent clears an upgrader into First from the priority list. However, SABRE will still show that "X" inventory is available until that passenger goes onboard. Meanwhile, up at the ticket counter, a passenger is checking in late and asks if there's upgrade space available. Guess what....there is... there just aren't any seats because the agent gave the last seat to that upgrader who was on the priority list. The late comer who was told he had a first class seat but would need to get his boarding card at the gate is now mad because while he may have gotten confirmed, he never had a seat.

Perhaps AA should invest in automation to prevent this, or at least announce some sort of policy to the agents. I've heard agents from time to time yell at the Admirals Club or whoever about clearing upgrades on day of departure, but I truly don't think that AA has ever told anyone they shouldn't be doing this. Or at least I don't remember it from my time at the airport.

I hope all that made sense... I'm rambling today from a combination of sinus infection and bronchitis and lots of drugs.