[Joe Zambito]

The gate agent acknowledged that I was 1st on upgrade list. She told me to board the plane and if a seat was available I would be called. I asked her that if 3 seats were open can I get upgraded now? She said that those seats may get purchased and they usually do get purchased. This was told to me as boarding was taking place and I found it highly unlikely that seats would get purchased at this point. I politely said - okay, and boarded the plane. While in my seat I refreshed the upgrde list from my Blackberry and I was still #1 on the upgrade list. The flight attendant was in uniform, went to bathroom and changed out of her uniform and took a seat in first class prior to the upgrade announcement on the plane. Two additional seats were open and announced for upgrade. I told the flight attendant, who was very nice and felt bad because she believed that the flight attedant in fist class should have been in coach and in addition she asked the gate agent why I wasn't upgraded when I was 1st on list. The gate agent said since I was on a flight from SNA to DCA that stopped in Houston but on the same plane that she wouldn't upgrade me. Also, we had to get off the plane in Houston and reboard same plan with a new boarding pass. I wasn't even listed on the Houston upgrade list. I believe that the gate agent, under her discretion deleted me from the list. I have asked Customer Care to contact me with a response. They have not responded to my request with an answer.