you can't make this up.

i get to the dallas airport yesterday at noon. my flight home to philly is at 2:40 pm. i walk up to the little elecronic kiosk to do an automated check-in, and punch in my frequent flyer number.

message on kiosk screen: there is an earlier flight available. would you like to switch your ticket? y/n
me: *squeal* why yes! yes, i would! *touches the "Y" button*
message on kiosk screen: as a silver preferred member, you are eligible for an upgrade to first class. would you like to upgrade? y/n
me: *squeal again* why, YES! yes i would! *touches the "Y" button*

i give the ticket agent my suitcase, totally psyched... my old flight would have had me in philly at 7:00, now i'll get to be home around 5. w00t! i go through security and walk to my gate... only to find out, 5 minutes after i checked in, that MY NEW FLIGHT IS DELAYED UNTIL 2:50pm, so i'll actually now be leaving later than my original flight.

so yeah, i got home later last night by booking an earlier flight. grrrr. but at least i got to roll first class...