Catman -- American already does. They have electronic stickers. No more carring around paper versions (unless you are flying Reno, Canadian or Midway in which case you can have AA print out stickers for you).

The only problem -- they can't "forget" to collect the stickers (I had many a free upgrade when on a connecting flight they gave me my boarding pass for both flights but only collected stickers for one. I also had a situation where the gate agent did not even look at the reservation -- just printed the boarding pass, told me to enjoy 1st class, and I was off with no stickers collected)

JimBoliGuy, I also suspect that with electronic upgrades, you can't give/get them from friends?

You can use them for friends if they are travelling with you (companion travel)

Delta also uses an electronic system, but for segment upgrades only. If you have System-wide certificates (that let you upgrade at reservation time and only need one cert each way, as opposed to waiting, depending on your status and then using one segment per segment) you have to have the paper when you check in.

UA-upgrades: my price-info was wrong - sorry. PremEx is correct.

During my last trip, I noticed that the Red Carpet Club staff didn't staple my ff certificates to my boarding pass. I thought she had forgotten so I asked if I needed to have the certificates stapled to the boarding pass. She told me that United had a new policy which required the check-in staff to collect the ff certificates. It seems that some naughty ffs were taking the staples off the boarding passes and repocketing the ff certificates before boarding. I guess they must have carried pocket staplers with them to reattach the boarding pass to the ticket. What will people think of next to "cheat" the system?

on my last flights (oct-16 till oct-20) they still did staple them - but they were also stamped to show that they have been used.

upgrade on free UA-award transatlantic tickets.

In 1996: we (party of 6: Rudi & wife, 2 daughters btw 20-25, and 2 friends of my daughters) we booked on UA:

Zurich-IAD-ORD (stopver) ORD-LAX (open jaw) SFO - IAD - Zurich.

2 paid adult tickets in eco (discounted) for the parents.
4 award-tickets (using miles) for the children. To my surprise, the UA agent in Zurich offered an upgrade-possibility on these award-tickets for about SFr 850 = $600 each from eco to business. We did upgrade to of those tickets (and exchanged boarding-passes, so that the adults did profit from the business comfort without loosing on miles earned in paid eco (plus status-miles bonus).

So, at least in 1996, upgrading transatlantic UA-award-tickets by paying for it was possible.

upgrade on free UA-award transatlantic tickets.

In 1996: we (party of 6: Rudi & wife, 2 daughters btw 20-25, and 2 friends of my daughters) we booked on UA:

Zurich-IAD-ORD (stopver) ORD-LAX (open jaw) SFO - IAD - Zurich.

2 paid adult tickets in eco (discounted) for the parents.
4 award-tickets (using miles) for the children. To my surprise, the UA agent in Zurich offered an upgrade-possibility on these award-tickets for about SFr 850 = $600 each from eco to business. We did upgrade two of those tickets (and exchanged boarding-passes, so that the adults did profit from the business comfort without loosing on miles earned in paid eco (plus status-miles bonus).

So, at least in 1996, upgrading transatlantic UA-award-tickets by paying for it was possible.

You see that, Catman? Rudi has taken to double posting in the race to remain Grand Poo-Bah of Flyer Talk! Expect to hear some "story" or another about accidently hitting the submit button twice or some other nonsense. I submit that his getting together for lunch with you was just part of his plan to "size you up" in this heated competition. You've gotta watch those Swiss, Catman. Chocolates in one hand, double postings in the other!

I, on the other hand, would NEVER resort to that sort of thing.

Really.

When I have to use upgrade certificates, I
tend to get the agent who likes to stamp the
boarding pass, the upgrade certificates, the
luggage bag, my hand, my balding head, etc.
One agent once said "We wouldn't want you to try to use these again, now do we?"

Double double postings posting, That's funny, PremEx. I don't mind. I will just give it my best effort and hope the CAT Powers smile upon me (As you know, cats were once seen as Gods in ancient times. They are powerful!)

If I'm in the top five, I'll be happy. CATMAN

NOOOOOBODY, BUT NOOOOOOBODY, even if they never post again, has the record for posts but the GOOD SISTERTODD. Anyone trying to claim this title without giving accolades to the good sister, is falsifying their number of posts. We need some upgrade certificates for sistertodd.

ok jaws43 - please tell Sistertodd to meet me at sunrise before the RedCarpet somewhere halfway between Zurich and Sistertodd's airport - you are welcome as "Sekundant" - I will be accompanied by Catman. Sistertodd may choose the weapons (I would propose Internet-linked computers, the keyboards should be swiss-german ....) and then we start typing ....