I am not going to search, but I think I recall reading on FF that revenue management can pull R availability just before the EUA is run, and reinstate it after the EUA. This allows passengers buying full Y fares (and B or M) to upgrade in the days before the flight. Otherwise, this option would disappear if there were enough high level elites on discount fares.

I don't like it because I almost never buy full fare and my upgrade percentage went down when this was started. I will say, that for whatever reason, the percentage has been better this year.

As many have said, if you must have an upgrade, then miles or money can make it happen. Otherwise, you get it when revenue management says so. I am at peace with that and appreciate every upgrade when it happens.

Also, SWUs/CR-1s can be applied!

I am under the impression that the Y/B/M upgrades clear into a different bucket (FE/ZE?). Thus, there is no need for IM to pull and reinstate R/RN availability before the sweep.

Well, if they wanted to hold FC space for the YBM-UPs, but they also wanted to allow instrument upgrades, this would be a reason for withdrawing/reinstating the R/RN inventory.

Perhaps they're moving toward different inventory buckets for instrument upgrades and EUA/UDU/CPUs (e.g., R vs. RN) in which case they wouldn't need to do this.

FWIW, AA has different buckets for mileage and elite upgrades. Although their mileage upgrade bucket is also a revenue bucket on domestic 2-class flights for some stupid reason... (Which of course is good for travelers as it means mileage upgrades are almost always available on AA.)

Yikes! Never thought I'd be responding to this type of thread, but I'm on CO 1052 tomorrow (EWR-CUN) leaving at 7:25am. PDA shows 16 seats in F with only 6 booked... but as of now (7:45am) 0 upgraded ?? Similar story on my return Sun on CO 1011-- which also has 16 in F, but there it shows only 4 booked and 2 of those 4 were already upgraded (miles ??).
This Platinum has 97,645 miles this year, and I'm at 100% EUA, I can't believe this will be the one flight I'm sitting in coach
PS-- yeah, I know it will problably run and I'll be sipping on my bloody mary at this time tommow in 1A, but come on CO, don't make me sweat it out

Just checked again, and still showing the same, but CO is giving me the "generous" offer of using US$ 1,011 to upgrade to F for one of the available 9 + seats on tomorrows flight !!

Agreed - but I would posit a single UG bucket and a single UG list is more clear and intuitive than two of each, which just induces confusion.

Good point. I meant F/R=1 and I buy the seat. Point is that OP might not be the only person in line for the seat and that even if he is at any given second, someone could jump ahead of him one second later. Thus, carriers all hold seats to the gate.

JRegarding my non- EUA EWR- CUN, I just spoke to a CO Plat desk rep who politely informed me that EUA's are not available on flights to/from Mexico ?? But, if I wanted I could get immediately upgraded for a mere 25,000 miles each way or for a cost of $2,022 r/t

Misinformed agents. EUAs are fine to Mexico.

Yeah, I know.... problem was she kept me on hold for over 20 minutes, only to come back with that inaccurate info!

"The best in the business."

Enjoy Cancun!

Today, my EUA ran / upgraded me ATL-IAH for 5 October. ^

My SJO-IAH on Oct. 5 did not run as well even though R/RN = 3!!!! My IAH-SJO is showing R/RN = 5 and that did not run as well!

I don't really understand that...
It's nothing new that upgrades are not processed as it's been all the time like this.
Upgrade window opens up based on the status, but it doesn't mean that upgrades will be processed at all.
Basically what CO is saying that your upgrade might be processed somewhere between -xx hours till the departure and actual departure.

Maybe I am too used to UA's system whereby upgrade will clear once you reach the window and if it doesn't you can call UA and book you right into NC/NF if it's still available.