Originally posted by whughes3:
To 'semielite': when you try and book your upgrade over the phone, more often than not they will tell you that no upgrades are available. DON'T BELIEVE THEM! When you check in, just flash your upgrade cerificates and ask if you can upgrade; almost always, the answer will be yes. This happened to me a few weeks ago travelling MEL-CNS-MEL (in fact the phone operator insisted that I couldn't upgrade at the airport!); but the checkin staff were more than happy to oblige. (In fact BC was not full either way, and I had empty seats next to me).
I have never asked for an upgrade when booking, only at checkin and most non peak times I get upgraded.