Originally Posted by boilerjt
I flew on NW28 from NRT-SFO on 7-27 and while boarding, I noticed 5 boarding passes at the ticket scan. I took a quick glance while walking through and saw two Silver Elites in the group of BPs for WBC. I am Gold Elite and never expect to get an Op Upgrade, but it seems kind of strange that two silvers would be upgraded in front of me. Does fare basis play a more important role than status (I was flying on an M fare)? BTW, this flight was jam packed and I had to endure a fussy, kicking baby directly behind me.
I received an op-up once as a silver. I was on a B fare (my return was already upgraded and booked into I class) and had a seat assignment in row 10 on the DC-10.
The GA paged me, said she needed my seat, and put me into WBC. I would hope fare paid plays a role, but where you're seated on the plane may play a role if they have to find seats for a couple or a family.
They may just look at the seating plan and see that a person in a specific seat is easiest to op-up to get other pax seated together (when the op-ups are done last minute).
When they're processed at check-in, I would think they go by status, fare paid, and how a person is dressed could even be a factor. I always seem to get more op-up's during the check-in process when I'm nicely dressed (i.e. nice collared, ironed, button down shirt and slacks vs travelling in a t-shirt and jeans).
SDF_Traveler