I'm currently in the 90-day status match challenge period, temporarily granted Premier Executive status.

Just booked a flight to complete my status match:

SFO-EWR
EWR-MAD

MAD-EWR
EWR-SFO

All but the SFO-EWR segment are CO codeshares but I chose Premier Plus (exit row) seats for all 4 segments.

Are Premier Executives eligible for upgrades? I'm coming from DL so I'm used to automatic upgrade requests for all domestic segments.

Instead, I was offered to upgrade to first class on SFO-EWR for $450.

on domestic flights and some selected international, not the TATL flights
Presently "instant" complimentary upgrades are only available on CO operatered flights in Y/B & M for Plats.
On domestics flights, elite upgrades are available starting a times as far out as 5 days based on status

See Complimentary upgrades for more info

In a few months things will change a bit, 2012 Upgrade program

Are you doing this as an SDT? CO 92/CO 93? I just did that last week. Have fun with MAD security...

If you think it is worth, take it.

1P/GE's chance of getting CPU is very low on this route.

What is SDT?

My flights are UA62 and UA63 for the MAD segments.

Same Day Turn presumably.

Only you can determine whether $450 is worth it. I would pay that in a hearbeat, but others would not.

Yes, same day turn. And yes, I meant CO 62/63.

Expect to get thoroughly grilled in MAD as to why you're coming/going on same day, same flight. They won't let you transit, so try to be one of first pax off plane so you can walk the long distance to customs. Otherwise, you'll never make it back in time for CO 63.

I had trouble explaining an MR to the woman (in Spanish no less!) and she then stamped the loathed SSS on my BP. So I got free massage and they unpacked my carry on and inspected every inch. Fair warning...

I bought a W ticket and used SWUs to clear the entire ticket. Beware of lots of non-revs on EWR/MAD, so odds not so great it seems.

I'm not doing a same day turn and this is not just a mileage run. Going to spend a week there.

So do I need to specifically request an upgrade or I'll either get it at the 72-hour window or won't? Or should I be watching the screens at the gate?

If I upgrade to first, would I get more EQM? The fare I purchased were all in L.

For the domestic legs, as long as it is not a p.s.� flight you will be in the queue for complimentary upgrade, no need to do anything. It may clear anytime from T-72h right up to seconds before pushing back from the gate so if not cleared in advance do watch the screen at the gate. That is a difficult route to score complimentary upgrades; if you wish to have a confirmed upgrade you can take the offer to buy up for $450 or use some miles.

There are no complimentary upgrades on the EWR-MAD legs (barring an op-up) so if you want to sit up front you will need to shell out miles and/or $ for that.

You earn EQM based on the fare class which you purchased, not the cabin in which you actually sit. When you redeem an upgrade award for use with a purchased coach class ticket you earn at coach rates. When you take a buy-up offer you are paying additional $ to purchase the lowest available first class fare and you earn at FC rates.

Note: Non-Revs always go behind revenue upgrades.

Really? I've 1st hand seen otherwise

Thanks all.

One other question. If I wasn't doing a status match challenge, I might have chosen another route, with some *A segments instead of only CO and UA segments.

Why is there variation on the rate at which you earn miles and qualifying miles between different *A carriers? IIRC Aer Lingus flights seemed to earn less than 100% while Lufthansa flights seemed to earn 100%?

That's determined by the operating carrier.

So it's less than 48 hours from the start of this itinerary and my upgrade request status is "Upgrade wait listed" for the SFO-EWR outbound.

Should there be a status for the EWR-SFO return as well, which is on 2/11/12?

Or does it need to be within the 72-hour window?