I just returned from FRA, so I've been out of touch. But a 30-second sound byte on CBS Network News around 6:35am this morning reported (paraphrasing): "Many airlines are resuming the process of Revenue Upgrades at the check-in counter. This is good news for regular flyers but bad news for Elites."

A Revenue Upgrade allows anyone (Elite or not) to obtain an upgrade (at the airport) --- if a FC or BF seat is available --- by simply paying an extra fee ranging from $50 to $300 per person. I was able to get a RU on a Vancouver to Anchorage Alaska Air flight for my wife and me, in 2005, for $50 each just by asking if FC seats were available. However, my past requests of CO Reps got an answer: "We haven't given out RUs for years."

The outlook for those Elites looking for automatic upgrades (without FFMs) is not good if RUs for CO have returned. Once the word gets out, every Tom, Dick, and Larry(!) will cough up $50 to move up to FC. Tom and Dick but not Larry would likely pay up to $300 extra for long flights (like EWR-LAX).