Back to the original question:
Do you think the upgrades should be on a first-come/first-served basis, or should the member's Elite status figure into the equation somehow, as it is done now?
Yes, of course Elite status should come into play, even more so now that NW is reserving several “P” class seats for last minute Full Fare/First Class ticket purchasers. (Which, by the way, I am all in favor of.) Think of it in this perspective; if those 3 or 4 seats, or whatever the number happens to actually be on that piece of equipment is, were not being “saved”, chances are a Gold or Platinum member would already have them, so why should we be punished because a Silver member checked in 3 hours before us in another city before arriving at the hub, when we happen to be originating in the hub on that day? Who cares if, because a lot of us are traveling on business and usually running a little behind as a result of this, we check in 15 or 20 minutes prior to departure? I, as a Platinum member, should sit in the back of the plane, while a Silver member, who checked in at Milwaukee 3 hours ago, sits in front just because I was originating in DTW, or wherever that day, just because he “came first”, so therefore should be “served first”? Come on; get real.
Yes, it is unfortunate that this guy was not correctly explained the procedure in Milwaukee, and that he failed to grasp the concept of Elite status playing a part in this system, and even more unfortunate that you had to suffer the consequences of these circumstances. But, there is no way to make it any “fairer” for your most frequent travelers than to let Elite status be a major factor in deciding who get the available First Class seats.
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Blue Skies to you all!