[QUOTE]Originally posted by monitor:
If you read Vulcan's posts, you will see how many of us are now treating the HoKeY and 72 hour CO rules for upgrading, even to Europe (while Ed only travels to Asia), and that is to use NW or KL (or AA) any time CO that will not immediately confirm an upgraded seat in the front of the plane. Our rule is never to play HoKeY, because if we were to end up in the back watching non-revs and/or empty seats up front, there would be a lot of steam coming out of our ears.

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Yes yes yes

This is what COs 72 hr and HoKeY rules have led me to do - If it is a non BF flight I fly CO - and I really to like the free Elite upgrades - certainly on INt'l non BF to Caracas, Bogota, Panama City from IAH. BUT since I fly enough non-BF flights a year to secure PLAT why would I fly CO to Europe/Asia/Brazil/Peru - frequent trips I make. For me I fly NW to Europe and Asia - living in Seattle this is an easier decision - but I always know that I can easily use 10K-20K to upgrade and I fly AA to Brazil and Lima. I would frankly rather sit in coach on AA then deal with the insane hassle of COs BF upgrade system. I usually get enough miles on AA to upgrade 50% of my Brazil legs - certainly much better than odds on CO with HoKeY.