MSPeconomist

Yep. UA and AA let elites transfer SWUs/eVIPs to anyone they want, although sales and trades are forbidden.

Actually I like the DL non transferability rule as it very effectively presents sales and trades of upgrade instruments. I'd rather not lose an upgrade to someone who shouldn't have one.

Ben and Jerry

Wow.

And how would you possibly know if someone was upgraded using an instrument they did not earn themselves? It's not like you get double the GUC's if you share them, so the total number issued does not change no matter who is using it.

MSPeconomist

Of course I have no way of knowing whether someone else is using an upgrade instrument that they are not entitled to use, but I would prefer that my FF program enforce their own rules about not trading or buying/selling upgrade instruments. I follow the rules and I assume that the benefits I get are calculated based on how many others use their benefits either for themselves or for others. All promotions make calculations using the anticipated breakage rate.

So I repeat: I obey the rules and I don't think I should lose upgrades because others who have bought upgrade instruments from brokers are ranked above me in the list.

OTOH, I recognize that shenanigans by DL staff or downright incompetence in listing and confirming instrument-supported upgrades is likely to be a more significant factor.

baccarat_king

4x2 (2 Diamonds), plus one or two that were never "pulled" when tickets were re-issued (no idea why).

SO did not use as many as anticipated since she purchased business fares (Delta and non-Delta) instead.

It's not really risky, as there are other ways to use. Just not something that is widely circulated.

[oh, and I live for risk, and would consider this a "low risk" situation.... ]