Either United has been doing it all along, or it's new. Used the Easy-Check-In kiosk for my Tuesday before Thanksgiving afternoon flight from Dallas through Chicago to Vancouver. It offered me a first class upgrade from Chicago to Vancouver for the bargain basement price of $220USD. Neat! Additionally, the the security line up at DFW was the SHORTEST I've ever seen it, and the plane seat-map shows only about half full. For the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, I'm rather shocked how empty the airport and my flight actually is. Better check the calendar. Matthew