Just to go back to my original post - I did end up getting the gate UG for my 6:30AM DTW-DCA flight this morning.

For my tript to DEN tomorrow morning, DCA-MSP-DEN & DEN-MSP-DTW-DCA on the 16th, I'm waitlisted for the 8:45AM DCA-MSP & I'm traveling with 2 others who I was hoping to Plat companion UG at least one of them tomorrow AM. It's showing P0 F1, so I'm not sure that I'll clear, but I'm sure that none of my companions will. I'm going to ask at the club if any Golds/Silvers cleared as I've seen that before when traveling with a Gold friend of mine, he cleared & I didn't clear til the gate.

My return flights for MSP-DTW-DCA didn't clear (though DEN-MSP did). They are currently showing P5 F5 & P3 F3, respectively - so hopefully those will clear at the gates too. Unfortunately, I'm staying in a rented condo & won't have my laptop. Too bad NW hasn't enabled online checkin from crackberries yet - that'd help me at least check-in to get on the UG list in time.

thezipper, if you're reading this, you may get a phone call from me on the 15th asking you to check me in!

bhatnasx, sorrry, but if I get my Notice To Proceed, I'll be in the air on my way to India...

Spinz... definately not FT moderators, look at what fun bhatnasx has been having, plus my flight this friday that I had originally scheduled before I got the call on monday about going to India, I'm still in econ on a 6am flight thats showing P5F5Y9... so no love for this mod...

While I am at 98% (missed only one of 37 and that was a UA flight that I was put on because of a missed connection) I think we are starting to become victims of NW's success. I am no AL expert but I see much fuller flights and beleive that many folks are making the jump to NW for the Domestic UG's. As I said, I am pretty much perfect for the year but some of them have been at the gate or inside 2-3 days. This tells me they are holding more seats longer in anticipation of selling them. I have a couple friends who are also very high milers and they have simmilar records to mine. NW COULD be actively trying to get the UG's to high rev/milage flyers knowing that things are tightening up. We will have to see how it shakes out but the first half of the year is always tougher than the last. The "double Elite" months of Jan and Feb, then you have school vacations/spring break. The summer will be telling and next year will be the key. If NW keeps load factors up and holds back from expansion (adding flights if in-fact they are growing thier customer base) then next year will be bad for us. If they properly manage the growth and add flights then we will be ok. We shall see but frankly I would be ok down to about 80% then I would re-assess NWA for my needs. Lets face it, we give up a little to get the domestic upgrades and that balance is the key to most of us staying loyal to NW.

After two years as Plat ('03-'04) and a couple more as Gold I have definitely seen a change in my UG % in the last year or so. I got spoiled with a % in the 90s until the "Double EQM Promo" effect settled in. Things never improved - actually they degraded - and now I'm in the low 20s as a GE so far this year.

With the UG % figuratively "in the toilet" I'm willing to spend more time on DL and CO as partners, still earning EQMs and base miles since I no longer figure (read: count on) UGs into the equation. I've gotten used to row 5 and exits, or as a backup - a standard aisle - on my flights these days. Any UGs are a pleasant surprise, but I am no longer basing my flight decisions (read: exclusive NWA metal) on them due to repeated UG disappointment.

I'll still try to fly with SkyTeam exclusively, but not NWA - except for using my WP account for mileage earning.

Is this really the case? Namely, that people routinely get upgraded from 10 to twenty days out?

I have been a NW elite for more years than I can remember and have never been upgraded earlier than the 6 day platinum window. Perhaps it is because I am a "K Fare Junkie," but I wonder if these stories of early upgrades are fewer than we think.

Excellent analysis and well stated, for the elites, its the ability to sit in FC. NW's Y domestically is not a lot of fun as we all know. For NW I hope the good times keep rolling, but I also hope that for our sakes we don't run into CO type upgrade scenarios.

As long as NW keeps 4-6 rows of FC domestically, it should never get to the FC standards of other carriers.

Still didn't clear April 29's evening flight for DCA-MSP-BOI. I can sort of understand the 5:45 Sunday night DCA-MSP (which is still suprising to me because this is ex-DCA, not ex-MSP), but MSP-BOI on a Sunday night 9:25PM A320??? That suprises me!

I haven't cleared tomorrow morning's 7:15am MSP-DCA or Friday's 12:04pm DCA-MSP or the Friday evening MSP-PDX. I'm not too concerned. NW is holding back upgrades more often lately.

Conversely, yesterday I received my EUA on Monday morning's ATL-MSP.

The system is still working, but it's being more cautious. If you're supposed to get the upgrade, you'll get it. The system does work. Patience, please.

Yes they are holding back but securing those who "should" get them. My last 2 were at the gate but not really BF as they were waiting for me when I got to the gate. When I approaced the desk to ask if I was in the running they handed me my BP right then. So far I am 99% on 79K flown (missed one and it was a re-route on to UA) so the system is definetly working but they are just being a bit more cautious as last minute F/Y-Up's are on the increase.

I know, I know...

It's just suprising & I really like the right side of the plane window seats for sleeping purposes & whenever I get the gate upgrade, it's always an A seat or aisle instead of a D seat!

I'm currently in R on 6 out of 7 segments for a MR this weekend. Oddly, the one I'm missing so far is DTW-BWI, NW1136 on Sunday at noon. It's currently showing P4F0, so maybe a chance for a BF.

Sundays have been getting tough. I always get the EUA for Saturday flights with out fail and I used to always get them for Sundays but lately not so much. The 2 I got at the gate were both Sunday DTW-SFO and MSP-LAX. BTW, for what its worth, mine were showing P1 F1 and I had my fc bp waiting for me so you have a very good shot IMO.

>>>>>>>I earned my 5th upgrade guarantee bonus last night since March 1st (putting me at 58% upgrade success for this elite year as a plat) ...

Whoopee!! 6 for 6 for EUA 6-days out for my MSN-BWI-MCI-MSN swing next weekend. That ups it to 70%--and EUA's at that. Nice turnaround.

THANKS NW scoop !!! ^ ^

I actually got the 6-day EUA for SEA-DTW on a K fare.

The system is actually working fine. I haven't missed one upgrade this year so far in about 40 qualifying segments.

-RM