Today, 3/12/99, I did a one day RT IAH-SAT. I called 3 days early and received upgrades for both outbound and inbound flights. All normal so far. Here is where the twist comes in. I perused the fares and a RT leaving IAH at 7:40 a.m. and returning at 3:25 p.m. was $345. I booked a RT leaving IAH at 7:40 a.m. and the return at 8:17 p.m. for a fare of $160. Remember now, I'm upgraded on both flights. I arrive at SAT at 2:00 p.m. and go to the Elite Check-in counter. I say I want to stand-by for the 3:25 p.m. flight. The Elite counter person says OK and then says you are on stand-by for the flight. So, I have a Shiner Bock and go to the gate. Since I have an E-ticket I ask the gate agent to make sure I'm on the stand-by list. The agent says yes you are. So I sit down and wait. Pretty soon all rows are called and CO issues a final boarding call for the flight. No sooner than that announcement was made, the gate agent called my name and handed me a boarding pass. I looked at it and the seat was 2F, bulkhead on an MD-80. I wonder if this a "hole" in the system or this upgrade was just because I'm handsome and nice and Platinum?

[This message has been edited by JAWS_II (edited 03-12-99).]

I've done a standby for an earlier flight and been upgraded several times.

You are allowed to standby for an earlier flight on the same day without cost.

So if they put you on the earlier flight you are eligible for an upgrade as a platinum, if a seat is available.

Thanks Boomer, As much as I have flown and done this, I was not aware of it because I had never been upgraded before on a standby basis. Maybe there just were no FC seats available.

see NW for a comment--it seems that CO will retain your upgrade priority even if you are standing by--there were several people on my IAH/ORD flight that seemed to be standing by and were placed into f/c even with seats open in back.

Priority standby is one of the great benefits for Elites! This can be really valuable when there are flight irregularities, many passengers and few available seats. Just go to the gate and you're at the top of the list. I often standby for earlier flights, and have had good luck with upgrades. Last week I was traveling from RDU to Arizona with a connection at EWR. My plan was to standby for an early flight to EWR to allow enough time to have dinner with my brother and some friends. If I had booked the flights I wanted the layover (over 4 hours) would have been considered a stopover and substantially increased the fare. I had not been able to do an advance upgrade on the later flight, but was upgraded on the earlier flight and had a great dinner at El Mezon in Harrison. So far as a new Platinum I have a 100% upgrade rate, 6 of 6 so far under the new program.

This does not seem unusual to me JAWS.

I think what CO is doing is awarding its best flyers The PLATNIUMS Like Old GOld and Boomer and you for your service and if there are seats available they give it to you.

SO congrats on those upgrades folks!

OFF TOPIC: I'm batting 1000 with UA and its upgrades which surprises me! I'm waiting to be sent to the back of the plane later!

And knowing you JAWS, your Texan charm and friendliness (plus the CAT powers smiling down on you!) probably put you over the edge to those upgrades. SO have a SHiner Bock for me & ENJOY!


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CATMAN

I'm 5 for 6 as a platinum on upgrades, the one miss was ewr-iah late sunday afternoon, always I tough upgrade.

As for "extra" elite perks. Many of them fall into the "If you don't Ask, you don't receive" category.

CATMAN is right, Continental is being good to the Platinums, use my latest trip as an example:

Fly cross country on a cheapo V class $331 RT ticket, FIRST CLASS all the way, took a layover in JERZEE, and will earn over 12,000 OnePass miles!

The downside: My cat "Lap top" (her job, not her name) was "laid off" while I was away.

WHOOOOAAAAA!!! Old Gold. I don't believe I will touch that one. Of course, one cannot touch anyway!