On a recent trip my wife and I booked to NZ on an H-fare I made upgrade requests 7 days in advance for both outgoing and return flights. AC was unable to upgrade my wife either outgoing or returning (she is E and I am SE). When I had booked the flights the agent told me my wife would have an "SE chance" of being upgraded if her booking was made along with my own rather than having two separate locators.

On the return flight I observed 3 E's obtaining upgrades at the gate while my wife's was turned down. I questioned both the SYD concierge and the in-charge after we boarded. Both told me that the computer does all upgrades and that the E's who were upgraded ahead of my wife were probably flying at a higher fare level.

I would be most interested in hearing from Andrew (plus others of course) on their interpretation of the above action.