Welcome to FlyerTalk Hashman. If your reservation, as a Silver Elite, is not on a separate record, call the Silver Elite Desk and split it. Continental's EUA (Elite Upgrade Automation System) is set by default to apply its priorities to the lowest status person on the record. Your wife has no elite status, therefore, EUA will not include you when it performs any Silver upgrades. After separating the records, request to be faxed or e-mailed updated itineraries for all of you, (both record locators).

Arrive early at the airport to increase everyone's chances for day-of-departure upgrades, your wife in particular and you, if EUA did not upgrade you in advance. Glad to hear your wife purchased the Prestige Pack, excellent investment!

Continental only offers one-class upgrades, to either First Class or Business First. None of their planes offer three classes, that I am aware of. Business First is the superior product IMHO. Most domestic CO flights have First Class. Business First is available on many international routes, otherwise First Class. If you're fortunate, you'll enjoy BizFirst on a domestic flight occasionally.

These threads should offer some additional insight:

Upgrade priority?
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum20/HTML/002589.html

Who says the prestige pack upgrades are useless?
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum20/HTML/002245.html

BusinessFirst
www.continental.com
Click on Search/Index
Click on BusinessFirst

Good Luck and Happy Travels!

[This message has been edited by MRLIMO (edited 07-20-2001).]