Yesterday I was upgraded 5 days in advance for my out flight but was not upgraded electronically for the return. I checked in for the return flight at the PC in IAH before the flight that I was leaving on at about 7:30 a.m. My return flight would leave DFW to IAH at 6:50 p.m. I was told that there were about 5 seats in FC available but they had not been released. I was also told I was number 1 on the list. At DFW that evening (about 6:00 p.m.) I checked at the PC and was told the seats had not been released, but there were now 3 available and I was still number 1 on the list. She told me to check at the gate before boarding.

At the gate at about 25 minutes before departure I asked the gate agent. She said that there was now only 1 seat available, to go ahead and board, that I was probably not going to set upgraded, that now I was number 3 on the list. I boarded, and right before the doors closed they upgraded me.

I was also told at the DFW PC that the upgrade list plat, gold, then silver, and that the fare you paid did not matter.

I am a plat and I was on a V fare.

This was a very short flight DFW-IAH - maybe 40 minutes in the air, but in the afternoon I like FC because at least you can have one drink to unwind after a long day, sometimes 2 if the FA is quick. Either way I was not that concerned about the upgrade but I am curious as to the mysterious procedures of the upgrade list. I am also assuming that they did not sell the 4 FC seats on the day of travel and I doubt that anyone would pay the $600 one way fare to fly on FC for 40 minutes, and at that time of night there is only the BF flights to South America as far as people connecting.

My questions is (1)is there really a list, and how did I move from 1 to 3 if I checked in first and I am plat; and (2) where did the other four seats go? IE how does this work?

People on the "List" are ranked by status and miles flown. So if another Plat with more miles flown for the year checked in you get pushed down one.




[This message has been edited by Renfro (edited 08-29-2002).]

Thanks - just miles or segments or both?

Renfro: Where did you hear it is how many miles a Platinum flies is what puts them ahead? Never to my knowledge has this happened and doesn't make sense as the gate agents and ticketing agents don't have access to this kind of info. It is supposedly based on 1. Time of check-in for that flight and of course, Silver Gold or Plat 2. What type fare Y,V etc you are booked under and 3. Date you booked it, earliest having preference. So for instance, which happened to me as a Platinum, is that I was booked on a T class and checked in quite early, ultimately a Gold got upgraded ahead of me on the plane b/c he had a Y or K fare or something also an early check-n, ..I am almost positive it works as I mentioned because that one instance upset me. Any comments anyone?

The execs at IAH swear that the fare you paid has no bearing on your spot on the list. It is status and date of purchase (not reservation date). Once you get to the airport, time of check in is supreme. Remember that someone on a connecting flight may have checked in hours before you did. That is one way the you can move down the list if you are not upgraded at the last EUA run at 3 hours before flight time.

[This message has been edited by Vulcan (edited 08-29-2002).]

I still think the class of fare comes into play, hence the price you paid...would love a final verification from the execs hiding behind 1-800-We-Care

1director -

I've heard the same thing you did. If two Plats are vying for the last upgrade seat, it will go to the one who purchased the ticket FIRST. I have never heard that fare basis was a consideration.

Of course, if it was changed, and we weren't told, I wouldn't be surprised either....

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http://concordeboy.tripod.com/continental/onepass.html

what about EUA?

Was wondering when FCTSTY would chime in...

coplatlrd--

You should not have been switched from #1 to #3 on the list. I have always been told that the priority is: 1) Status, 2) WHEN you check-in, 3) WHEN you purchased your ticket.

You should call sombody at CO, let them know what happened and ask them to explain WHY it happened ... maybe Mark Sullivan?? He's the head of the FF marketing (I think).

Or ask to talk to someone at revenue management ... IF they can pull these demons away from the depths of hell from winch they work. Actually, that's the real problem. Revenue management is holding back WAY too many F seats till the last minute, which creates problems like this.

i REGULARLY get different answers at the gate. some gate agents say it is 1) status, 2) when you check-in. some say it is 1) when you check in (regardless of status as long as you are elite), 2) status. but, i have heard every iteration at this point.

i guess, at the end of the day, it's whatever the person in charge at the gate wants to do. period.

that's why i: 1) book an exit row seat so that i am not overly disappointed and 2) am very nice to everyone at the gate.

I bought the ticket about 3 weeks before but I changed the ticker two week before to a different day. It was a V fare and I checked in about 11 hours before. That day I was flying LRD-IAH-DFW. In Houston at the P.C. club (on my outbound )I checked in at 7:30 a.m. for the evening flight back. P.C. said this was ok. I was told then that I was number one. Also at DFW I was told that I was number 1 at the P.C. At the gate I was then told 3. Politely I informed the Gate agent I had been one what happened. She said board, it did not look good, there were 2 people in front of me, PC was wrong. I boarded and was upgraded when the door closed. What I suspected was that something funny was going on with the list and I just wanted to know how it worked to confirm or disspell my fears. I would like your comments, thanks.

the gate has the final say-so regardless of your status, when you checked in, and the fare basis on your ticket. you could be platinum and checked in six months ago and it just doesn't matter. oh, and enjoy your flight.

Hi coplatlrd,

Welcome to the board.

I don�t really have anything to add.... just wanted to say Hi from another frequent traveler to the Texas border region.

From Monterrey, Mexico,

Viajero Joven