[QUOTE=TWA Fan 1]The higher the fare the higher up you would be on the upgrade list.

And in each fare category the higher-level elite status would get the upgrades first. So with an H fare, for example, the platinum elites would be ahead in the list before gold, and the gold before silver. And so on and so forth in each fare category. So by the time you get to O fare, as a Gold elite, there is only a small chance of being upgraded.



This is not correct.
upgrades are given first to Y full fare, then its by elite status. If you have plat then you go first regardless of class fare, then come the gold and then silver.
so it is more important which elite you have than which class you bought.

This is off Continental Website:


Priority for First Class/Business Class Elite upgrades is determined by:

Unrestricted Y fare class or Northwest Airlines -26/-27 fare: Allows all Elite members to upgrade at the time of ticketing when a seat is available. If a member is already ticketed and wants to request the upgrade, they can visit Manage Reservations or call their Elite Priority Line and provide their confirmation number.

Elite level: Members are prioritized according to their Elite level -- Platinum, Gold and then Silver. When traveling with other Elite members or non-Elite members, Elite members should purchase their flight on a separate itinerary.

Restricted fare class: Upgrade priority within Elite level will be based on fare class purchased. The fare class structure in priority order is as follows: H, K, N, B, O, V, U, Q, I, S, W, T, X and L.

Booking date/time: All else being equal, the sooner Elite members book their flight, the better their upgrade chances.

Check in time: If your upgrade is processed from the standby upgrade list at the airport, check in time will be used in place of booking date/time.