Had something wierd happen yesterday morning.

I had inquired about my status for an upgrade on my connecting flight at a DTW WC desk, and was told that there were a couple of people ahead of me (pretty wierd, since I'm a platinum and when not EUA'd I check in 24 hours in advance of my originating flight from PWM) and that only 2 had yet to check in. I asked again when I got to the gate and was told the same thing . . . board when my row is called.

Of course, the flight was running late because of an equipment change, so the GA decided to board strictly by rows after Exits and F boarded. I'm in row 5, so wasn't looking forward to finding any overhead space. Fortunately both of my carryons fit under the seat in front of me, but not at the same time

When the GA scanned my BP, it double-beeped. She cleared the error on the terminal and said "Oh, you're in F after all! Someone must have gone into your record and bumped you up!"

Not one to argue, I grabbed my new BP and bolted for my seat. Of course, pickings were scarce even for under-seat space, but the very nice young lady next to me rearranged her stuff and I got both of my bags stowed.

Anyone know how 2 agents would miss the fact that I was actually in F? And why I was apparently still on the waiting list? I suppose the change could've happened after boarding started, but if there were really multiple people in front of me on the list, one of them should've gotten the upgrade . . .

While I don't know the answer to your question, I can confirm that the same thing has happened to me and I am also Plat. I just chalked it up as an agent that didn't really review the notes, but perhaps the system doesn't reflect it.

NW's system is set to upgrade elites into F once inside the 30min checkin window if paid/already upgraded F pax have not checked in. Depending how many people don't checkin it's possible to be third in line and have the system do the upgrade. I was once the lucky last plat to get upgraded on a flight because of this. The agent might not know this has happened until they scan your BP and it beeps to let them know you've been upgraded.

In my case, I was told that all but 2 F pax had checked in (and F would be full when they did), and that there were more than 2 elites ahead of me on the wait list. My suspicion is that I was somehow already in F, and by some odd coincidence no one noticed.

I've had that happen to me too. It's the computer system that noticed your Plat and there was a seat available in first class. Thats why it beeped.