right on hnechets. upgrades in the hubs are very tough. connecting passengers check in hours earlier and take the seats. also, many flyers call in and reserve an F seat claiming to have ELTC certs, and hope the gate agent doesn't notice in the record they have to collect it. in the old days, if you called in a certificate they asked for the number. that took care of the wiseguys. by the way, the "buyup" for silvers is market specific....not for everyone.