I have heard this many times, including this weekend, from a gate agent. If this is taken literally, you must have to conclude that that means "no upgrade for you", since I can't possibly imagine someone checking in for a flight (which means they are in the airport) and then not getting on it, except in the rarest of circumstances.

Yet, a few minutes later, there were 4 empty seats. I did end up getting my upgrade, after I had already sat down in coach (I appreciate that they actually come back aboard and deliver the upgrade)

I've heard this line so many times, and (fortunately) it's often wrong. Another time at the gate we could only upgrade 1 out of 2 pax because FC is "sold out & checked in full". Then 60 sec before boarding I was upgraded into "the last seat in the cabin"; we got on board and flew amidst 7 empty FC seats!

Can anyone explain this perpetual inaccuracy?

Missed connections maybe, so folks from another flight have boarding passes to 1st class seats, but their plane cannot make the connection, so seats are released at last minute.

A number of reasons such as passengers with connections don't arrive on time or passengers who miss the 10 minute boarding rule and then the seats are released at that point. Another reason could be passengers who check in for the flight and decide to take a later flight at the last minute so their seats are released. If the gate agent says the flight has checked in full, I always ask "has First Class boarded full." That should get a more accurate response in terms of upgrade chances.

You're expecting honest, helpful information from a US domestic airline gate agent?

Oh yeah, sure. Well then in that case, your flight will be on time today, even though it's 10 minutes to your scheduled departure and your aircraft has not landed yet.

[This message has been edited by NJDavid (edited 10-29-2001).]

Well I for one am expecting honest information from the gate agents. Fortunately, Delta Airlines delivers just that at their Atlanta hub. They have nice new flat panel monitors mounted at each gate giving information on how many seats are in first, how many are reserved, how many people are checked in, who is on the upgrade list (in order), and so on. You know exactly where you stand without having to attempt to get service from a customer service agent.

Yesterday, I was booked on a flight from Grand Cayman to EWR and the agent told me that they couldn't upgrade me because they didn't have enough food in first class. They only had enough for the 5 seats purchased prior to that day, with no extras because of the cut backs.
I told them they could serve me my coach meal in first for all I cared. Amazingly enough when I got to the gate they upgraded me and my friend. Right before they closed the plane door, two meals were delivered, so we even had "first class" meals.
I love CO! I better go plan some mileage runs to keep my gold status.

On my trip last Friday I asked the gate agent in IAH if FC on my flight to TPA had checked in full. She told me that everyone in first had checked in already. Mind you, I was the 1st Gold on the wait list and I waited till the flight started boarding before I asked her the status of first. Yet, miraculously two people were puled from the mob in coach and upgraded prior to the door closing...neither was me. Personally, I don't think she even checked the seating when I asked her. She had no interest in helping me. on other occassions, I've had gate agents who have bent over backwards to give me every chance to upgrade, even to the point of telling me to wait longer because several connections were delayed. But not this woman. She led me to believe that every FC passenger was standing around the gate at that moment.

I guess, like anything else, it all depends on the person behind the desk and what kind of day they're having.

[This message has been edited by LouCap (edited 10-29-2001).]

If true, this is ridiculous. Unless, perhaps, that flight has a reputation of flying with empty FC seats because there are so few elites on board. I've run into this on other airlines where you must have a certificate to upgrade (in particular, AS), and this is somewhat understandable. But, considering their elite upgrade policy, CO should expect that FC will fly full on every flight. At the very least, they should be able to accomodate all of the paid FC passengers, plus however many elites are confirmed in the back the day before the flight.

[This message has been edited by Steve M (edited 10-29-2001).]

issue is that sometimes they double-cater flights into the Caribbean so, if they went out full they might not be able to have enough to come back full???

JL

Perhaps a Platinum and his/her companion were ahead of you on the list?

It's probable that a Plat and friend were ahead of me; no issue there. My point is that when I asked the direct question "has first class checked in full" prior to the ten minute seat release window, I was told "yes". Could be semantics, but in the past if FC had not checked in I was told just that.

I hope the folks who got the upgrade were Plats...

Even the Plats aren't getting the upgrades these days! As a spanking brand new Platinum, I was really hoping for an upgrade on the EWR-SNA transcon this last Monday, Flt. 787. A month ago, as a Gold, I was beat out by 6 Plats for 3 upgrades on this same flight.

Day before yesterday, I was a Plat who got on the waiting list in AMS. According to the GA, all FC checked in, and my wife and I were banished to Steerage. I hadda think, is this CO's reward for finally achieving Platinum...a middle seat in a crowded Coach section??? I could get this on any other airline with no status!

Why is this happening? With 20% of CO's flights cut, most flights are now flying at 80-100% load factors...the same number of pax fighting for fewer FC seats. Gordo's smiling, but we aren't!

Well, I've already got Plat for next year, so I'm gonna be sitting out flying until January miles will be counting toward next year's status. And, if CO hasn't restored those cancelled flights by then, I'll be seriously looking at AA or UA.

I put up with CO's limited routes for the upgrades. First, they took away the intl. upgrades, and now they seem to be taking away the domestic upgrades. Perhaps they'll restore the flights soon. If so, I'll prolly stay. If not, I'll be looking elsewhere. After all, I don't fly 100K miles to get a middle seat in coach. And an elite bonus and early boarding just doesn't cut it!

I hear this line "first is checked in full" constantly now it seems. I don't know what it means either. On a recent code-share on NWA from DET-CLE they told me this. I boarded only to find that 7 of the 14 seats were EMPTY. And they stayed empty after the door closed. I glared at the FA from my bulk head row in coach and she finally let me come up.

Last weekend in Seattle, we were told the same story for SEA-EWR. I was already upgraded but wanted to take my companion. I always say "even though it is 'checked in full', can we get on the list anyway?" They ended up selecting us as the 'random' pax to wand. I asked again about the upgrade after going through this ... when I took my seat I saw two empty seats in FC and they did let him and another pax come up to take them. So I have no clue. I think it means that either First IS checked in full, or they just don't want to bother with us.

(sigh). I hear this more and more myself...

On a recent NW flight, I got this same quote from the gate rep as well, then asked to be put on the standby list. She said I was already on it. I went back to the Worldclub and asked a rep. there about it and she said I WASN'T on the standby list. Boy was I furious!!! Of course I didnt get the upgrade on the flight. The interesting thing I did find out, is that when they put you on the airport upgrade list now, the machine produces a slip which shows you are on the list. So make sure you ask for the slip if you are flying NW and put on the UG list.