Checked in today at SEA for the evening flight to LAX, paid $100 upgrade fee reluctantly and after much consideration, (in hopes of being the only one in First Class). I asked the check in lady what she thought about it, and said the entire day, people were relunctant to pay the change fee and First Class flew out pretty empty on LAX flight. She said it was unfortunate because the First Class is so good. Ended up there were only 2 other people in First Class, both were long time Alaska Airlines member trying to fly VX for the first time, and were very impressed.