<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by NJDavid:
Good question.

Ultimately, CO is probably handing out more upgrades today, but not by choice.

If one had the ability to compare the CO schedule and revenue management figures from 2 years ago to day, one would find (and this is just my guess) a 2/3 reduction in available F inventory more than two days out. CO made the concious decision to SEEM to be giving more upgrades in advance, but the upgrades actually come from a severly reduced pool - less advance upgrades - revenue management holds the seats in A on many popular routes up until 2-4 hours before
flights.

With the very sluggish economy, these held back A seats are in reality NOT selling today, so there are more upgrades to go around. An example is my flight yesterday CO 220 from IAH to EWR. It was a DC-10 that was half full, with no less than 8 non-revs in the business first seats. They can't give away the seats fast enough.

The direct, peak time transcons (EWR to LAS, LAX, SFO, etc) have not been as impacted by the economic slowdown, so the result of holding the inventory in A means less upgrades on those routes than there would have been if I could have called in and confirmed an available F at my Gold window. Sure, I might get the upgrade if I waitlist, but that means instead of getting to the airport an hour or so before flight to check in, I have to get there 2, 3 even 4 hours or more in advance to get on a list that may not clear - and any platinum that decides to switch to my flight at the last minute gets the seat ahead of me. That extra time is valuable to me and my company, and the EUA has sucked it away.

Some might argue that that last minute platinum SHOULD get ahead of me in the waitlist. That arguement I can understand. But no one will tell me that that isn't a drastic reduction in the benefits I was promised when I earned my elite miles last year.

So 2 years ago, I could have confirmed an F upgrade 2 days out and relaxed. My benefits have been reduced by taking away my ability to confirm, and by a severe reduction in F availablity in advance.

</font>