yes, indeed, as noted in post #6.     in brief, yes.    but it was a bit of a comedy of errors. or a tragedy of errors, more accurately.   as a sapphire, i boarded in new york at about 11:20 am. i got a big kick out of the clueless contract employee at the MCT who told those waiting in the diamond and sapphire area to be patient... that we'd be next, right after he lets the platinum folks on. needless to say there was practically an uprising; the sapphires we