If your a Plat or even a Gold and willing to fly Saturdays I would not waste the miles. I literally fly BOS-SFO/SJC/LAX every week and have not missed a UG yet on those routes. Last year I think I missed 2 total. There is no doubt NW is holding back R inventory more than before and the Y-Up program is selling more FC seats to business people but that is mostly on the consult-o-tube weekday flights and for the most I am not finding a huge difference in results, just timing. I have had 4 BF UG's already this year but they were not the typical BF. When I got to the gate my FC BP was waitng for me and I did not have to hang out waiting. I see this as NW holding back a little longer for potential revenue but so far it seems like it is probably Silvers who are missing them. I don't even know if I could enjoy a domestic FC flight on NW knowing I shelled out 15,000 miles for something that is almost always free. Check KVS, fly on Saturday, and pick a good Y seat to reduce the angst!

I've now missed three segments this year which is the total number of segments missed since becoming Platinum 3 years ago.

Tonight I missed ATL-MSP. Indeed, people are actually buying FC seats. All 16 FC pax had purchased theirs per the GA.

Good for NW, bad for Plats. Although the exit row and the 1k bonus helps quell the pain slightly. ;)

>>>>>>Tonight I missed ATL-MSP. Indeed, people are actually buying FC seats. All 16 FC pax had purchased theirs per the GA.

The big question betwen this year and previous year, is what "purchased" means. Does it mean:

* Everybody is stinking rich with the tax cuts and the stock market and throwing money around for big seats and mixed nuts?
* People have figured out about Y-Up fares and are scarfing them down like pita chips?
* There are markets where paying full F costs the equivalent of a double-creme caramel froo-froo mocha-spinzel latte at Starbucks?
* The entire F cabin is being opened up to F award seats--and, so, like, what are miles worth these days...
* Corporate travel departments and/or others are getting "deals" on F seats as incentives--possibly even at prices that do not fully correspond with normal Y (this is pure speculation)?

"Purchased" is a very vague term, particularly given what information an FA might truly be getting. Hey Schmutzig (and anyone else who didn't get the upgrade)--go down the F aisle and say you are from Inflight Miraculous Magazine and are doing a poll. Ask each purchased passenger what their elite status is, how their ticket got paid for, and if they'd like one lump or two! :D

I have been missing upgrades all the time this year. I am at about 70% as a platinum. Granted a large number of my flights have been to the west coast, but last week on NW354 SFO-MSP the GA told me there were 28 Plats... on the wating list. Yeah, I missed that one despite checking in 23:55 before the flight on a B fare.

I've even missed upgrades on a full Y fare.

My flights to the East coast next week are still 4+ days out and I've been upgraded on all segments, including LAX-DTW & MSP-LAX. When I switched my seats, I had fewer choices than usual though.

You guys had me freaked out. I haven't flown NW dom Y since they started charging for snacks!

Starting to get nervous again, my flight on Friday from CLT to DTW is not showing any R availability as of yet on Expert Flyer. Wonder if we're now in a more "CO" like EUA environment? Going have to do more flying in and out of MEM:D :D

The only problem is that CLT-MEM is on a CRJ so no hope of any upgrade

Hence the smilies ;)

checked my reservations for next weekend. All 5 segments upgraded 6 days out, including MSP-LAX and LAX-DTW ^

Just looked at my bookings for the next 2 weeks (2 RT BOS-SFO) and I have been EUA'd for all legs at 6 days and 9 days. The best part is that one of the legs is a Friday am SFO-DTW (5/18) flight that I thought for sure would be a BF and I am in my favorite seat...1B :)