<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by ETOPS01:
Kishna,
Actually, your question gets to one of the most fundamental aspects of the debate over the efficiency of EUA, that is, after the automated upgrades occur, what is the pecking order of upgrades on day of check-in? Is it first-come/first-served, or start a waitlist and clear it by the elite status pecking order?
The simple answer is that I don't know. I don't know what the airport personnel are told as far as this is concerned, or whether they're told anything at all, by the Houston policy writers (which purportedly don't exist if you still read Gordo's "Worst to First" as non-fiction). I haven't even inquired before with the CO associates with whom I'm familiar simply because this issue hasn't been a contingency for me since, as I mentioned before, I'm faring pretty well with the automated upgrades.
Further, I don't know if my anecdotes/experience would be helpful or even valid as a means to glean the answer to your question. Platinum elite status might make things a little more accessible in and of itself, not to mention that I'm friendly with many CO associates, to further confound things.
That being said, however, if you're angling for the upgrade, I would probably reserve the "policy says that if the seat is open it's mine" card for only when you can convey that in a most diplomatic manner for these agents seem to be a little miffed these days between the increased workload from their laid-off or furloughed co-workers, added wariness over security matters, fear of their own a$$es on the chopping block, and passengers who are frustrated as well between the security hurdles and re-routes. That it's all part of the job, and security should have been that way all along, is a whole other topic...
How well have I not answered your question?</font>
No, you answered it well. Thanks.
I know there is a dispute about whether or not "in the ideal world" it should be first-come, first-serve or be pecking order in order of status.
However, I was under the assumption that the real rule in existance was first-come, first-serve. I guess that was an incorrect assumption on my part. Thanks!!