I'll be hitting the Silver mark (yea for me!) on my next trip, in a couple weeks. This will come on my return trip, and I will have 2 segments afterward as an elite. So can I try to use that status to upgrade on those final 2 segs, assuming space is available?

motnot:

I think the official rule is the benefits kick in the day after your qualifying segment or miles (I'm too lazy to look it up at this hour), but my experience was that my new status printed out on the boarding card for the qualifying flight. So unless that has changed in the last few months, you will be able to get silver benefits (such as they are now ) on your qualifying flight.

Now I've looked it up. This is from the 2000 Elite members' guide:

The benefits kicks in as soon as the CO Database is updated with the flight data. It usually takes 2-3 days at most.

Both answers are correct. However sometimes it takes 5 days (especially if weekends or NW flights come into play). Call and speak to a supervisor and (when it is time for an upgrade) tell them the situation. You will need the ticket/flight numbers of the flights you flew. I had this exact situation, two weeks ago. I was 10 segments short of Plat on a SAT. (and there was only one FC seat at the three day window). I called and talked to three agents who said they could do nothing. Wait until monday when the flights credit. I explained as a gold I could upgrade on Sun at midnight, thus monday was useless. What I really needed was to upgrade on SAT (since there was one seat!). Finally got mad, asked for a supervisor. Supervisor, said that he's heard it all...do I really want him to believe i flew 10 segments in the last two days. I said, YES! He reluctantly looked up my ticket numbers, caame back on the line... and begged me not to tell anyone he doubted me. Needless to say, I got the upgrade!

..."if... NW flights come into play"...

IMHO, if NW flights come into play, best be prepared to "dig in for the long haul!"

[This message has been edited by doc (edited 11-02-2000).]