And while I hate to be a wet blanket - and knowing so much of ones' upgrade success is route-dependent - as an EXP over the past three or four years, I've seen my percentage of upgraded flights dwindle month by month so that now, when I do get an upgrade it's at the gate. And that only happens about half the time when, say, a year or two ago, it happened about 90-95% of the time.

I understand that being in Boston I'm competing with a lot of other EXP's and passengers in paid Yup or F fares on domestic flights. But it happens on other routes - nowadays - with almost as much frequency. Meaning if I'm on the same flight as you, you have less chance than me to score a big seat.

It's not just business travel, either. Were this two or three years ago, I'm confident the flight I'm on tomorrow (to Miami) would have been upgraded already. I have zero expectation that we will be, though, for the simple reason that - as is so often the case - F is already full. It's not worth whining about - it's a triple seven and we're in the Business-Class-sold-as-coach-to-elites section and, well, I'll just have to pay for my vodka-tonic. Damn.

It would be interesting to hear how you make out, Mooper, upgrade-wise. As others have suggested, let us know sometime in the next few months if AA is meeting your expectations. I might be wrong, but I think you've set those expectations a little high.