Upgrade?
 

Hello folks,
I hate to reiterate the obvious, but I am just not seeing it. I am a Gold OP and have a flight on Fri(within 3 days). On ITN, I see F9 and can book a FC seat, but 2 calls to the OP desk told me there are no F class available for me to UG. They BOTH told me they are starting to save a few UGs at the check-in counter. Am I missing something?

were you calling the OP desk or the Elite line?

This might just be yet another case of "try try again" (call and get another person) because in my experience, for every 10 calls to CO, I'm guaranteed to get

-at least 5 different answers
-2 "I don't knows"
-4 wrong answers
-1 accidental hangup after being forwarded to the wrong department
-1 person who could care less about doing his/her job

it's all the luck of the draw, and who you get.
I would think with F9 you should have a seat. Which is why I suggest calling again. Call 5 times if you have to! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

My recent experience is the elite desk will not issue elite upgrades, they say it's done electronically. When something slips through and I don't get an upgrade is usually takes 3 calls to get one.

I love when I'm told, "well you should have been upgraded"

I have now called the Elite desk 5 different times and the last 3 told me that there are first class seats available, for purchase, but NOT in the class I am booked. I must wait until check-in to get them, if available. What gives? I bought the tickets via CO's web site 4 days ago, am GOLD Elite and it's within the 3 day window, i.e. no EUA this AM. I thought if there were ANY F seats within the Elite window, we would be eligible to snag 'em?

I would think your upgrade might come through just after midnight (2am Eastern) tonight.

And I thought the standard was 3 phone calls to the Elite desk was the magic #. It took me 6 calls before I received "...well that sure doesn't make sense- let me do it for you right here." Upgraded all the way through.
CO just keeps lowering the proverbial bar. I guees now I know where all those recently laid off telecom workers with under water options found a job.

one more thing I wanted to note -

My boyfriend has encountered a scenario where it says A0 D0 F9. And of course it's a fluke, so they won't upgrade you. Check to see what A&D are. This phenomenon seems to happen a lot lately, at least to us.

I've recently had a new experience mith the "multiple call-in" theory. On the 4th try, I was told "I see you've already checked twice already." Is this new, or have they always "put a notch" in your records, each time you try? (the notes above would indicate "no" to this). Sighhhh.

My experience lately is that CO releases only X number of seats for advance upgrades - if you're on a discounted coach and/or book inside the normal window, you may not receive an EUA. Also, the upgrade may come with only a couple of days to spare, instead of the normal five (in the case of Plat).

Keep in mind, 1B (on most metal) is blocked until shortly befor the flight - it's not sold in advance. I always ask for it, and so far, it's always been available within a couple of hours prior to pushback. (Drat, there goes my secret upgrade trick!)

US? oh oh... are Both of you traveling? And on the same record? I smell a possible problem.

Thanks Jetsetter,
I did see A0 D0 and F9, yet zero FC upgrades available. Maybe I'll just wait until 2 hours prior- now it's just a simple race to the Pres Club to check in the day of.
Bob