David,

Up until now, I was willing to wait and see what happened with this system, and except for complaining that I hadn't got any notice of the new system, I have pretty much stayed out of the debate. Well, I am now firmly and solidly on the "this sucks and I hate it" side.

The third agent told me the same thing the first two had. I called 1-800-WECARE2, determined to be calm and reasonable, but to get what I am entitled to (and this is the first time I have ever used the word "entitled" when discussing an upgrade). I told the woman who answered my status, and explained that I was confused about this new system I'd heard about from my friends, because I had never gotten any notice about it from Continental. She checked, and said they do have my email address on file (which I already know) and she didn't know why I hadn't been informed. She then went away for some minutes. When she came back, she told me that I would be upgraded tonight when the EUA runs --she didn't call it that, though-- and I did not have to call back. I asked her how I would know I was upgraded, if I wasn't going to call back. Remember, as far as she knows, I don't know anything about this system so I don't know about email notification of upgrades. She never mentioned that I should get an email notification, and instead said I would be issued a first class boarding pass when I check in Saturday night. We went back and forth on this issue several times--me repeating variations of "you mean I have no way to know if I'm upgraded until I check in?" and she firmly denying that there was any chance I wouldn't be upgraded. She never really explained anything to me, and politely and firmly refused to manually upgrade me.

NOW I AM REALLY, REALLY ANGRY.

Under the old system, I would have been upgraded already (I assure you I was awake at midnight last night), I wouldn't have wasted now over two hours of my time (at my office), and I wouldn't be REALLY, REALLY ANGRY.

As soon as I post this, I am writing a letter, with details including names and times. This is an unconscionable waste of my time--MUCH worse than the calling at midnight routine ever was.