What programs offer free automatic upgrades for elites?
 

I know american requires you to use upgrade certificates for elite members. I heard continental will always fill first class with elite passengers and they automatically upgrade you without the need for an upgrade certificate. Is continental the best airline for the complimentary upgrades? If you are CO elite are you automatically added to the upgrade list or do you have to request this?

Thanks for the help.

NW also does complimentary upgrades. In my book they are slightly better just because they have more first class seats/aircraft than CO. CO service is defintely better, though...

US airways also does complimentary upgrades.

aa has free ug's for exp [top tier] elites , space available...

CO/NW/US airways will put you on the upgrade list automatically. AA Exp get auto upgrades, but AA gold or plat needs to use 500-mile certs. UA needs to use 500-mile certs. For AA and UA if you buy a Y-UP fare then you dont need to use any certs to upgrade.

Thanks for the info,

I just received silver CO and I am also AA gold. Are the chances slim that I would get upgrade on a CO flight between IAH and ORD?

I am looking at a flight leaving IAH for ORD next friday at 1:25 and only 3 out of 14 first class seats are occupied. Basically just wanted to see if silver's ever get upgraded or if its always filled with gold and platinum.

Thanks.

AS gives unlimited free upgrades to MVP and MVP Gold elites. Depending on the fare, some upgrades are confirmed at time of purchase, others are confirmed at 72 hours (MVP Gold) or 48 hours (MVP) prior to the flight. MVP Golds also get four upgrade coupons to give to friends.

Let's not forget that DL offers comp upgrades to elites.
Welcome to Flyertalk! One of the few things you'll learn about being an elite is that the seatmaps tell nothing about the number of First Class seats available for upgrades. For all you know, there could be many more people booked into first class, but without using ITN or the KVS Availability Tool, you have no way of really knowing what your upgrade chances are. Continental dispenses upgrades from a (quasi-)hidden "R" class. If the number of seats available in the "R" class is high, then your upgrade chances are also high. If it's 1, 2, 3 or even 4, as a Silver, your upgrade chances are likely low.