Yeah, I know it does in theory, but if I never see the numbers change from A9 F0, then is there really any use for it?

I know the topic has been addressed, but here is my experience from my w/end EWR-IAH-PSP roundtrip.

First of all, I am a lowly silver, but even as such, this is my first 0/4 success rate on a non-holiday trip.

Second, I checked in at the Penn Station kiosk very early on my way to the airport. When I got to the C-1 Prez Club, I asked the agt about upgrade availability. She played around, said she'd have to split the record, claimed she was not sure if she's allowed to put a Silver on the waitlist, and she's sure she couldn't put my NW Silver companion on the waitlist. What waitlist? Aren't all elites treated in priority order, at least ever since the three-hour rule was initiated? (Same agent also said "Who are these other people?" regarding the four boarding passes I handed her. 2 pax x 2 segments - go figure!)

On the plane (764) see 5 people pulled from the back minutes before take-off - not us. Lots of elite tags and grumbling pax in the front section of economy.

In IAH, arrive at the gate as the flight is boarding - gate agt refuses to even check to see if our upgrades came through. "Nope. There aren't any." First had one vacant seat when we boarded, that passenger boarded soon after.

Return in PSP, the check-in agt -without being prompted- said "Let me see if I can get you two on the waitlist for an upgrade." WHAT WAITLIST? AREN'T ALL ELITES TREATED IN PRIORITY ORDER, AT LEAST EVER SINCE THE THREE-HOUR RULE WAS INITIATED? PSP flight, two pax pulled from the rear just prior to take-off. One loud elite woman in the front row complained to the FA. She very politely informed the passenger that this is handled by computer and ground personnel, and FAs do not get involved - but that didn't stop her from getting a 10 minute speech from the passenger. (No wonder they hate us!)

In IAH, same story - agent refused to check "there are no upgrades" - then three pax pulled from the rear to the front of the 777.

I'm not so upset about not getting the upgrades - I coulda burned the miles, but I gambled and lost. I guess with more infrequent travelers staying home these days, the proportion of elites is higher than it used to be. (I never had a problem upgrading on EWR-IAH in a widebody before.)

What does upset me is the complete lack of transparency in the system, the fact that agents don't seem to know the rules and/or refuse to be helpful. Not to mention the significant inconvenience factor of doing most upgrades on the plane rather than on the ground. Yes, better to get the people onto the plane rather than have them hanging out in the gate area waiting for the word, but geez - if seats are available at the 30 minute mark, who is helped by holding them until the 10 minute mark?

Elite upgrades used to make sense. I just don't get it anymore.

Some interesting experiences: Recent EUA Success

It sure is as far as I'm concerned.

i'm sure this has been asked a million times before, but i humbly AApologize upfront.

does EAU run 5 days (at midnight) or 120 hours before a flight for Platinum OnePass members?

thAAnks.

[This message has been edited by fly co to see the yanks (edited 04-16-2002).]

ITYT | Library : Airlines : Continental Airlines (CO) : All about EUA

Of course, I would argue that it doesn't matter at all when EUA runs as long as it's fair when it runs, which it generally is.

And that's part of my problem - if there are never seats available (at least on certain routes) at the time it runs, then what's the point? Instead, at least in my recent experience, people are grabbed at the last possible minute and pulled forward, and short of chasing down the people and asking their fare basis and status, there's no way to really know whether it's working fairly.

My longer haul flights for this week are A9F9. It was all A9F0 a few weeks ago up until push-back, but seems "fixed" now.

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daniel baker -- [email protected]
Reliable, fast, and unmoderated forums at ITYT.

Last 7 segments, no e-mail notification of upgrades. But I did get upgraded on all. I am Plat. Yes, I have checked my e-mail notification box, and it has been "notify me by e-mail" through all of these.

Last EUA Received 3/28/02 Flight Date 4/01/02

Segments flown Since 4 - all upgraded upon check in, some have shown upgraded on Itinerary, but no e-mails, checked preferences and they are set to receive notification.

I would have to say it no longer exists

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"A Southwest line never gets longer, It only gets wider"
Follow this link to find out how to earn UAL Miles: http://www.epoll.com/signupform-b.asp?ARP=1727]



[This message has been edited by dcwcce (edited 04-20-2002).]

I have received several e-mail notifications just this past week...so I say it DOES indeed exist.

Of course there is still a waitlist. It is entirely possible (likely even) that EUA will run at 3 hours and fill the F cabin but there will still be elites who are not upgraded. When not everyone shows up, pax are pulled from the back.

But in that event, it was always my understanding that all of the elites who had checked in would be served in priority order...not that I had to be manually added to the waitlist, so what was all that about?

Finally got one this morning even though the flight was showing A5 D5 F0 last night.

The email was time : Mon, 22 Apr 2002 06:32:18 CST

The flight left @ 7:00 AM PST.

Buyt was that helpfull to get it about the same time I was geeting up for the airport

------------------
"A Southwest line never gets longer, It only gets wider"
Follow this link to find out how to earn UAL Miles:
http://www.epoll.com/signupform-b.asp?ARP=1727

I'm flying out tonight on a redeye to EWR, then connecting to a couple NW codeshares.

My upgrade on the first flight came through at the Gold window, and I was notified.

My second flight, from EWR-DTW, was not upgraded at the Gold window, though there was plenty of F availability. I called CO and was told first that the computer would upgrade me, then that there weren't any seats. Perhaps the agent meant my third flight, which was F0.

Anyway, I called NW and they upgraded my second flight without me even asking, though apparently had to do some computer system gymanstics, telling me that the NW and CO systems still have some bugs in them. OK.

They apparently changed my CO-coded NW-operated flights to a NW-coded NW-operated flight and upgraded me, while leaving the first one in the system too. CO fixed this by removing the CO-coded flight, but I suspect I'll still have problems at the airport. I'm going to make another call to hopefully get this settled.

So at 3am EST last night, my day after tomorrow DFW-EWR flight showed A4 D2 F0. I checked continental.com and was in economy. This morning, I had an EUA eamil stamped 6am. Currently, the flight is shwoing A4 D4 F0. Go figure.