I flew CO SAN-IAH-CLE and entered my NW WP# in reservation. At the gate I asked if I had upgraded and the answer was that sorry, first class has been sold out. No problem, I had exit row aisle seat.

I boarded after FC and the lady ticked off on a paper list that I had boarded. I stow my luggage and sat down. After most pax boarded, this lady approached me and said in broken english that I was sitting in her seat. I take out my BP and look at the seat# and look at her seat# and they were identical.

I pressed the call button and the FA in the front screemed as to what the issue was. Told her the issue and she snatched both of our BPs and went to the front. Then came back and told me that I had been upgraded. I waited for all the people passed thru and then pulled my luggage and made room in FC.

In IAH I went to the GA, inquired whether I had upgraded, got same response that FC was sold out. Boarded after FC, sat in my nice exit row seat. This time some cowboy appeared and told me I was in his seat. Pressed the call button, FA came, gave her my BP. She went in the front, called somewhere, came back told me I had upgraded to 1A. I really had to think whether I should take that seat. Probably the worse seat in FC. Anyway, pulled my luggage, found room over row 4 for my carry on and in the coat cabinet for my laptop.

Also, the CO website doesnt let me choose seats. I have to call and explain my Gold status and request exit row seats.

So, isnt there a more seamless integration between Northwest and Continental? Why doesnt CO GAs scan each boarding pass individually that may flag someone if they were upgraded? BTW, I was flying on refundable H fare. One credit that I will note for CO is that the quality of their food was best of any US airline that I have seen. Certainly much better than DL, UA and AA.