Wouldn't this be a sight to see....

A PAX gets yanked from the back (Y Pax in a middle seat) to be upgraded to FC as the door is closing...the FA's make their usual announcements after take-off and the PAX then opens the CO magazine and fills out the OP enrollment card while sitting next to you, then handing it to the FA during the flight.

Before my husband was Silver elite I would try to get him upgraded with me, also Silver. An upgrade only happened once and that was because the GA felt sorry for us because we had to put our cat down the night before our trip to Puerto Rico. Other than that, I have flown several times up front with the front of the plane empty and the back jammed packed. In the olden days, last month, we could sit in the Exit row, so it wasn't so bad. In this new era of no silvers in the Exit row it will be difficult for us both if we don't get upgraded..

The downside is that it would result in a completley arbitrary decision by the GA or FA. How would they determine which middle seat passenger to upgrade? The one who offered the largest bribe? The one is the best looking? The one who flirted with them the most? The one who is most obese?

You see the point. As I've stated numerous times on this forum, rules exist for a reason. And, the rules are that non-elites don't get upgraded even if there is a seat in F.

I can see the new OnePass published elite upgrade order now: "CO elite upgrades are prioritized in the following order at the airport: Plats, Plat companions, Golds, etc. . . . . In the event that all elites, elite companions, other Skyteam elites who otherwise would not have upgrade privileges on CO, elderly people, priests, rabbis, nuns, and elites from other alliances like OneWorld or Star have been upgraded, the Gate Agent will upgrade a passenger seated in any middle seat. Such a selection will be completely arbitrary and based upon whatever criteria tickles the Gate Agent's fancy at that particular moment, including, but not limited to, bribes, obesity, looks, charm, height, or hair."

On most flights, this point is moot. Seems like everyone and their brother is Elite nowadays. Unless the flight is flying with a 10% load. I've seen flights where there are more people in F than in the back (I wonder if the plane will tip over with all that weight up front).

I may start doing this to mess with FlyerTalkers minds.... :p

I will just add that CO Senior Management has assured me that a report is generated every day which shows any flight which operated with any seats empty in F, and the status of those sitting in coach. I can count on one hand the number of flights which have had empty seats in F over the past 4 years, and I have never flown in the back with any empty seat upfront.

Of course - YMMV.

Were they to implement such a policy, it might occur to them to select the lucky non-elite by, say, class of fare, time of booking, time of checkin... just like they prioritize Elites for EUA.

If filling up the forward cabin is a requirement at CO, then it sounds like they should change the name of that cabin from first class to upgrade class.

Then again, CO makes a big deal of its "complimentary space-available first class upgrades."

Does this phrase not imply that, as long as an FC seat is unfilled, it would be available for a passenger who is eligible for an upgrade?

Yes, there is a report generated every day showing what flights went out with empty seats in First Class AND ELITE CUSTOMERS SITTING IN COACH. It is a BIG DEAL when this occurs out of our station. The company is huge on fufilling our commitment made to you regarding "unlimited complimentry upgrades". It is not about just filling up the First Class cabin.

Hope this clears up any confusion......

Have a great day!

This is absurd. The proper thing to do would be to upgrade no one and given an elite an empty seat next to him in F.

LOL....Good Idea!

I flew last week from DTW to IAH and the last two rows of 1st were empty. I know b/c at the last minute they upgraded a NW Elite to the seat next to mine and she promptly fell asleep on me. I moved, looked over my shoulder, stood up and asked the FA if I could move to the last row of 1st. She said we could ALL spread out, and as I took my seat in row 4, I asked the FA how could there possibly be free seats on this flight. I don't always get upgraded on this route and it's usually a guessing game until I get to the counter, so I found the empty seats odd.

She told me that there might be Elites in back BUT the GA should've upgraded them if there were. I'm remembering that in case I miss an upgrade in the future. For the record, there were about 6 people in 1st Class. The back seemed pretty full, but how can we tell who is Elite or not? I've only once before ever flown in such an open 1st Class cabin.