I guess I had the opposite experience of the original poster. I posted this complaint on 5/31/05. I was on CO 6 GUM-NRT-IAH --a "direct" flight. I had been upgraded for the GUM-NRT portion and I guess the system just upgraded me for the NRT-IAH portion too. I was happy until they stopped me in NRT and downgraded me. Direct flights are loads of fun like that!!