I apologize if I came off as if I am trying to find "cheap" airfare to Beijing during the OLYMPICS. I do know that the price is going to be quite high - although $1800 r/t EWR-PEK is a really reasonable price for the time frame.

My intent with the post was to get possibilities to upgrade from coach to fly the segments in Biz or 1st.

Any time to fly to PEK or otherwise in Biz or 1st is an astronomical amount of money 10k+, regardless of the Olympics.

The CO fare for 1800 is upgradeable with mileage (if there was availability - and there is not). The DL flight is $1700 to NRT and is upgradeable and the segment on NW NRT to PEK is $1000 in coach. So that's $2700 - not that bad - but I was looking for alternatives......