Yes, and it does not require making any phone calls. The upgrades are processed automatically based on priority, not based on who happens to call a few moments after space opens up.

OP: were you on CO46 today (Oct2) from LAX to IAH? I was on that flight and the EUA system never ran at all. Only upgrades were two couples using mileage and 8 seats sold - everyone else was cleared at the gate (as I hope you were).

I guess this is strange. BWI-IAH tomorrow has only 6 out of 16 seats purchased and is still R0 a day before departure.

It seems like this is happening more in the last week than it has even in the recent past. Have been clearing @ the gate though.

Under three hours til flight time and no change. FC still wide open and upgrade list is at 21.

Nope. I was on the earlier flight - the delayed CO 1007 due to mechanical (apparently, all the pilot had to do was to "reboot" the plane and that took an hour). I chose that flight because it's a BF 757 :D. Surprisingly, I got the EUA on that flight and EUA ran at t-5 days to a point where it sold out F! :eek:

I had a flight last night that had 4 empty seats in F when I checked in at 23:59 hours prior to departure. At that time I was number 1 on the waiting list as a PLAT. By the time I boarded the flight, F was sold in full and I was number 10 on the list.

That sounds very typical to the experience I have when I fly a premium-heavy route like EWR-DEN on a low fare. I start off very hopeful but then realise just how many high fare pax are ahead of me...

That is a normal behavior, depending on the market, fare class, etc. But in this case in the past 48 or hours, it looks like CO is back to their old ways of few months ago of selling FC seat for TOD, holding seats till last minutes and hopping to sell the seats.

Well in the case of 46, they held back more than half the cabin, which was ridiculous. If they held 5-6 seats for sale, OK, but 13? Not a single EUA processed?

Do you actually have any evidence of this at all?

Yes, it seems like revenue management has been particularly stingy with the R/RN bucket over the past week or two (though not on all flights). I'm sure there are explanations - perhaps personnel changes (it's not totally automated AFAIK), the change in booking classes messing with the algorithms somehow.

Fine to let management know that we're aware of what's going on, but I say give it a little time to sort itself out before making accusations.

I don't have a smoking gun if that is what you are asking, and honestly, I will never. However, last time this happened ~ 6 months ago, I had inside scoop as well as external info that this was happening. Still too early this time around but it looks like the pattern is back. I do have some external info like last time so I am watching and digging into this.

I'm on tomorrow's 1162 from IAH to EWR on a 772, departs 1:10 pm local time.

Capacity: 50
Booked: 21

One person has been upgraded, but it's probably mileage or some other instrument. Does someone in revenue managment really think that they'll sell 29 seats before tomorrow, either via F/Y/B purchase or cash upgrade? I guess, but this does seem a little more 'stingy' than usual...

Exactly! See below:

Mon., Oct 3, 2011 at 7:05 PM (It is 7:25 pm EST - less than 45 minutes CST)
Capacity: 20
Booked: 10
Checked In: 10

Upgrade Standby List*:

26 on wait list.

Whiskey, Tango, Fox???

Yep - CO will sell 10 FC seats in 45 minutes.

Even though I was on the upgrade list, I was offered the chance to buy up to F for my IAH to IND flight up to the point I boarded my CRP to IAH flight. In CRP I was number 5 on the upgrade list. By the time I got to IAH I was at the bottom of the list.

Some of the "buy up to First" offers are actually the cost of buying up to a full fare ficket, which is then eligible for an automatic upgrade, so its not really the same thing as offering first class to a non-elite member for $29 like Northwest used to do. This offer is presented in numerous situations, from the time of ticketing right up until check-in is closed. And I almost paid $120 last week (I was on an H ticket already) for a guaranteed upgrade on a 3-hour flight, then decided to take my chances and received an upgrade after boarding. First was checked in full but there was one mis-connect and I was moved up to First. On the return flight I was upgraded 2 days out.