Originally Posted by longtime lurker
If you're elite, you're less likely to get upgraded on the "direct" flight as well. Generally, both segments must have room. So if MEM-DTW is full, but DTW-PDX is wide open in F, EUA won't upgrade you on DTW-PDX. That's one (pretty stupid) way a Siver can get upgraded over a Plat.
Even better is on any NW itinerary that involves both domestic and int'l segments, the computer won't ALLOW a GA to give even a Plat an EUA--a couple years ago when NW001 went MSP-LAX-NRT-BKK, the GA dumbfoundedly tried and tried to UG me but to no avail.
After checking with higher-ups, she found out that there is a tiny rule about no EUAs on these continuation of Int'l flights, even though it was a 757 on that flight, while LAX-NRT-BKK was on 742/744.
Now, though, I think NW has done away with just about all domestic/int'l combination flights. I know they used to have NW7/8 MEM-SEA-NRT, and NW11/12 NRT-DTW-DCA, along with some flights LAX-MSP-Europe. Are there any left?