From the last couple of posts, it sounds like some agents are already applying what are apparently new rules before the March 1 change. Though I can say that not all agents are doing it, at least not intentionally (though some are doing it unintentionally ).

In any case, if this is in fact a rule change starting March 1, which it sounds like from the real-life experiences posted here, it devalues the upgrade certificates far more than we thought -- not only do you have to be on the same flight as the person you're upgrading, but even in those cases, and immediate family members, they're typicallly not going to get the upgrade!? (having no status of their own, and it's hardly the spirit of the system for a SE to be unable to get his wife a priority upgrade).

=aw