Spent the week in PHX for a conference and came home today on HA 35. When I looked at the seatmap last night, Y had plenty of seats open and F had 8 seats open. Decided not to upgrade to F even though the 15K upgrade was available when I called reservations. At PHX, I switched to an exit row since I was originally in row 12. Y cabin was very light and even row 26 where I was had 5 seats wide open. Just before door closing, the PHX gate agent came on the PA and asked if I could identify myself to an FA. Of course I did to the FA who was standing in the galley right next to my row. After she got on the intercom to the agent she told me that I was upgraded to F. Of course I was quite excited but confused. I thought HA didn't do automatic upgrades for elites on transpacs. They gave me the last F seat in the cabin and no one knew why I was upgraded. Before boarding, the gate staff made no announcement that F class upgrades were available.

Is HA changing or has changed their upgrade policy to allow elites automatic upgrades if space is available? Or was this just a nice customer service gesture from the PHX gate agent since he knew from the computer system I was a Pualani Gold member and didn't want to let the F seat go empty?

Unlikely, in my opinion. It seems they do quite well selling the cash and miles upgrades <24 hrs prior to departure. Haven't seen F seats go empty on HA ever. (just my somewhat limited experience) Also can't imagine any domestic airline changing policies to increase FF benefits.

I don't know why the PHX gate agent would care, they are just contracted from another airline.

Chalk it up to good luck, haven't heard of many people getting op-ups on Hawaiian.

Actually, it might have helped that the GA was contracted from another airline...they might have actually looked to see if there were any high level FF's on the plane. Are you sure that you didn't say anything to another agent (i.e. while checking in luggage, for example)?

My lips were quiet. I only asked the GA if I could change to an exit row and anyone can do that given they meet the exit row requirements. The only time they could have known I was gold was 1, when they checked me in at the counter and looking through the reservations system 2, when they scanned my BP at the gate into the computer while boarding and 3, actually looking at the BP as HA usually prints "Premier", "Gold" and "Platinum" on those respective elites' BP's.

Whatever the reason it was quite nice and made my return flight a lot more enjoyable after a long and intense conference.

I have been Platinum for 2 years and fly out of PHX to ITO about 15 times a year. On one occasion I was upgraded to FC at the gate. In this case they needed my seat for a minor flying with her mother. I have been on the flight many times when they left with empty FC seats. I once asked for a comp. upgrade and they told me they never give upgrades without $ or points. That flight left with open FC seats.