Just completed PHX-LAX-HNL-GUM-TPE. PHX-LAX was upgraded at the airport, as it was an HP flight. Paper ticket. No segment was automatically upgraded. Called Elite line for manual. Agent apologized for the lack of an automated upgrade. She upgrade the LAX-HNL segment to BusinessFirst (!) and said that HNL-GUM was sold out in J. I asked about GUM-TPE and she said that she couldn't ugrade this, as it was an international segment. Funny, GUM-TPE is eligible for an upgrade while LAX-HNL and HNL-GUM are not.

Upon check in at LAX, the ticket agent told me that the telephone agent made a mistake and that she was going to downgrade me to coach. After some argument, I agreed to pay for the upgrade with $$$. The agent offered to call and get a mileage upgrade for me (how nice of her :j ), but I stuck with the cash option. I asked about the TPE-GUM segment and was told that it was NOT eligible, as the front cabin was sold as C. I informed her she was mistaken and showed her the printed rule. She declined to upgrade me. I decided to move on, as I don't want any more nasty notes in my PNR.

Upon arrival at the President's Club, I asked for the upgrade and was told there was no inventory (ha- C had 9 on ITN and D/Z had 9). OK, I'll call the elite line. I called the elite line and was told that if EUA doesn't upgrade you, you are out of luck. I informed the agent that I was at the airport and I wanted her to set the record straight that this segment was eligible. She replied that she has no idea what is and isn't eligible. She informed me that only the computer knows what is eligible and I must not be eligible, or else the computer would have upgraded me. I asked again at the gate and at the HNL PClub without success. Finally, the agent at the GUM PClub upgraded the segment.

For the record, the BFirst upgrade to HNL was NOT worth it. The seat was great, but the service was terrible and the food left a great deal to be desired. Air Mike was great up front to TPE.

If you are still reading this, I'll tell you about my preboarding attempt at HNL. I was in coach for HNL-GUM and was preboarding with my elite card. I was carrying on a small roll-aboard which fits in the small DC-10 overhead and a small attache which goes beneath the seat. The agent told me that I had no choice but to check my roll-aboard. I was not happy. I pleaded with her to let me take it on (I had no checked luggage). Upon arrival in TPE, no bag. I found out that my bag was sent to Manilla. So here it is, already late on 11/9 and I am wearing the same clothes as on 11/7! I can't wait for the laundry to arrive that I sent out this AM (I spent TWD $1,700 for the essentials, a nice shirt, and pants). The agent has no idea when my luggage will arrive. Hopefully it will get here before CO's next flight arrives in TPE from GUM (this Saturday at 10:30PM).

CO has done a good job of pissing me off on this trip. I guess they want me to join the ranks of the disgruntled. NJDavid, I think I'm ready to jump onboard with you.