LOL, back to square one......

1. Status
2. Booking Class
3. Time of Check In

However, one is only allowed to check in 24 hours before the last flight..... so your check in time would be YYZ-HKG and disadvantaged for YOW-YYZ.

If AC associates your HKG-BKK into the check-in 24 hours, then you are further disadvantaged by another 15-18 hours.

On your return, you'd be very disadvantaged because 24 hours prior to YOW-YYZ (which is another 15 hours behind), while others travelling YYZ-HKG can check in 24 hours prior to that flight (15 hour advantage).

what exactly would be etc? i can't think of anything relevant apart from status and fare paid before they compare check-in times

Stupid and arrogant answer, or stupid and arrogant policy?

i guess it still failed to answer the question, if I am a connecting passenger with already an upgraded segment, will I be slotted a little higher in the priority list (perhaps above check in time or booking class)

It's all done by segment now

Although not sure about advance check in. Is it 24 hrs before the first segment? If so I would have checkin time advantage from yow-yyz-hkg over the same fare paying equal status member flying from yyz direct

I don't think its totally proprietary so I refer to the answer and the manner in which it was delivered. Maybe Andrew had a bad day.

they changed that several years ago, its 24 hours of the LAST segment..... dont ask me why.... stupid policy and it puts me in a disadvantage travelling YYZ-SIN as well!

Actually he gave us precisely the same answer a few years back when asked the same question. Additionally, this time he seemed like he tried to avoid giving an answer until he had his back against the wall.

To me it sounds like it's policy.

After watching the available seats (J#) and waiting at the desk and seeing who gets upgrades, I firmly believe there is something funny going on.

Each flight that I do not get an upgrade (as an SE), I see E's sometimes with their non-status companions being upgraded ahead of me at the gate.

Somehow I think it is completely based on fare class and not on status.

This leads me to believe that AC does not care about status and is rewarding higher fares only.

I can understand if it is a Y/B fare. But separating W from V? That is cheap.

More importantly, it should be plainly stated. This way when I am forced on a low fare by my company, I will choose more direct route on another carrier and spread my status around.

Obviously being SE for 6 years and being 25K away from MM means nothing to AC.

And if you ask, I am earning upgrade credits faster than using them. 1 for 7 on my TATL and 1 for 4 on TPAC.

Out of pure curiosity, how can you tell who is SE, E and non-status if you don't know them?

As a super elite I have never missed an upgrade tatl or tpac. That must be well over 100 segments by now.... To be successful upgrading you have to employ some dedication and occasionally a bit of trickery.

What bugs me is that the rule are still not totally disclosed and probably change all the time.

I find this very strange what you have mentioned above. SE's trump E's regardless of the fare paid. I have NEVER had an E trump me as an SE and MM'er....

It's Status
Fare Paid
Connection Point
Time of Check-in
and in this order ONLY.

I listen as the person goes to the desk and asks if his wife can be upgraded. After some hmming and hahing, they relent and give it anyway. When I am in that situation, they usually say no and I either send my wife up front or decline altogether.

This is what bothers me. The European airlines follow the rules to the letter. You know what to expect. If someone flirts better and that gets them the upgrade, then it is time to rethink my loyalty.

With all the distrust of AC and a lean period of high gas prices coming, AC needs to be transparent. In the US, the upgrade list is on a screen for all to see. You see where you are on the priority list and when the cabin is full.

So much good fortune for a lucky few. Long live SE's and MM'ers ! ^LOL:p::cool::D;)