Why is it so hard to upgrade to or from SFO? I just completed my third trip to SFO last week on a H fare with a K return and failed to upgrade. When I left PBI on Monday I was number 3 with 8 seats open on the flight into SFO when I got to IAH I was something like number 9 with all F seats filled. I asked about my chances at PBI and they told me it looked good to upgrade so I declined to change my Y middle seat thinking I would be upgraded (big mistake kids). The IAH PC agent told me that there were many full Y's sold so that is what bumped me down the UG list. Can anyone shed some light on why it so hard to score an upgrade even on H fares? Thanks.

As the IAH PClub agent said, there are many full Y (and F) fares bought on flights to SFO. There are also likely a lot of last minute tickets sold.

Here's my best guess...

- A very popular business route with a ton of Plats who fly to SF on a regular basis
- People flying BF connecting to/from flights out of EWR and IAH who were unable to get F themselves for the SFO leg (so they are ahead of you on the upgrade list no matter their status)
- CO knows they will sell tix at Y fares and fill the plane even though F is sold out

I fly to SFO 1-2 times a month & typically book 4 weeks out so as not to have my company pay H & Y...at least I get the exit row.

In terms of your hopes for the future, I am sorry to say they aren't good. I just broke an 0 for 60-something upgrade drought flying to/from EWR-SFO this past Saturday and am still 0-fer SFO-IAH...so I guess you'll probably have to get used to it or try flying on a Saturday (and even that is no guarantee). Flying on Monday morning, Thursday afternoon or Friday morning, I am so far down on the upgrade list as a Plat (usually K or V fares) it is laughable...my record low is 26th.

It's not just CO, even UA 1Ks have difficulties upgrading to/from SFO.

1Ks, however, have CR1s and SWUs to use to confirm upgrades in advance. 8 north america confirmable instruments per year (if you earn them), and 6 systemwide confirmable instruments on 1/1 of the qualifying year, with unlimited earning potential.

Another reason is that many large companies have a policy whereby their employees are permitted to travel in domestic F, or international J, for flights over 4hrs. EWR-SFO would fall into this category.

So would some flights from IAH and all flights from CLE.

I almost never get an upgrade on this route either (and I'm a plat). I've been successful on Saturday mornings. I'm flying EWR-SFO next month and requested a mileage upgrade and got waitlisted!

I can barely even buy full-A from SFO; it's no wonder that people don't get upgraded. Seriously, I wish CO would do away with the "buy Y, fly A" rule for elites. It's nearly impossible to buy F tickets on CO between SFO and EWR. And forget ever trying to change a flight within a day or two of travel. My less patient colleagues all reluctantly fly UA or AA on this route.

Right...and the companies that are wasting share holder money on putting average rank-and-file employees (yes -- I fall in that bucket too) because they cannot handle a transcon in Y should have their CEOs sacked.

6hrs in Y isn't going to kill anything .... except egos.

Sure, I'd much rather being in F (upgrade or paid) but I cannot see justifying paying for F on transcon for rack-and-file.

Sounds like a good story for USA Today .... how much companies are spending for F on transcon flights.

I take it you're not tall.

But, funny post.

and productivity, and morale....

Assuming legroom equivalent to United's E+ and I would agree with you. CO, however, provides a coach product that is unusable to many due to the terrible seat pitch.

Transcons between SFO and EWR are a hard upgrade, but I read some of these success (failure?) rates with disbelief. As a Plat on lowest available fares, I was 7/18 in 2007, 3/9 so far in 2008, typically flying west on Thursdays, east on Mondays.

Those of you zipping out for years on end, care to name the day/flights? There might be "snowball in hell" flights that are worse than average, that you're sticking to. Otherwise, I have a hard time believing you. One can't get lower in the Platinum barrel than me, and this is my route.

Avoid easy connections with Europe, and you don't compete with BF passengers. Better, pay the $50 cab far from SJC to BART, for a nearly sure upgrade in/out of SJC. I used to do this, but don't consider the inconvenience worth it; I just want to get to my destination with as little hassle as possible.

Can you tell us which companies these are? I'd like to send them my resume

I have to go to India for business early next year, and I can't get my current company to pay for anything but Y