Today, 3/12/99, I did a one day RT IAH-SAT. I called 3 days early and received upgrades for both outbound and inbound flights. All normal so far. Here is where the twist comes in. I perused the fares and a RT leaving IAH at 7:40 a.m. and returning at 3:25 p.m. was $345. I booked a RT leaving IAH at 7:40 a.m. and the return at 8:17 p.m. for a fare of $160. Remember now, I'm upgraded on both flights. I arrive at SAT at 2:00 p.m. and go to the Elite Check-in counter. I say I want to stand-by for the 3:25 p.m. flight. The Elite counter person says OK and then says you are on stand-by for the flight. So, I have a Shiner Bock and go to the gate. Since I have an E-ticket I ask the gate agent to make sure I'm on the stand-by list. The agent says yes you are. So I sit down and wait. Pretty soon all rows are called and CO issues a final boarding call for the flight. No sooner than that announcement was made, the gate agent called my name and handed me a boarding pass. I looked at it and the seat was 2F, bulkhead on an MD-80. I wonder if this a "hole" in the system or this upgrade was just because I'm handsome and nice and Platinum?

[This message has been edited by JAWS_II (edited 03-12-99).]