I am seriously considering CO as my primary airline. I use AA and US quite often. I do a lot of last minute travel, full coach fares usually, from different parts of the US mostly. Unpredictable, SEA-SFO-DFW one day, then IAD-HSV, then something else. The other day I had to fly to BOS then surprise! had to get to Chicago for a meeting, etc.

My question for you CO enthusiasts is this: how often can you get the upgrade to F on last minute travel? I have been 95% with AA. The only time I haven't gotten the upgrade using the "stickers" as a platinum is when they cancelled my flight and flew me out on the next flight which had been sold out. They got volunteers and they found me a Y seat, which I was thankful for.

AA has really taken care of me. I'm not thrilled with the MD-80s. I'm a little tired of the food in domestic F although it's okay really. The service has been quite good actually. And they have a lot of routes (for instance, I had to get to SJC from BOS and they fly direct. I have to go DCA-MIA and they have a lot of flights. etc.)

But with CO, I save money by not having to buy "stickers", and they have what I think is better service, nicer equipment, etc.

CO doesn't have as many routes if you exclude NW (I hate NW) and my impression has been that it is very tight up front on most CO flights in terms of avails for last minute upgrades. Is this true?