I'm getting the hang of the US upgrade process and being a Gold helps quite a bit, but I'm still not sure on what happens when you standby for another flight. Seems like whenever I standby for an earlier flight I completely lose any chance of getting an upgrade even if I already had a confirmed upgrade on my regular flight. I've tried to ask for a standby AND an upgrade, or a standby into first (using an upgrade) but neither seem to be possible.

Is it just timing? Since standby is probably cleared at the same time or after those waiting for upgrades, maybe it's too difficult to do both?

Has anyone ever been upgraded after getting on a standby flight on US?

Seems like I shouldn't waste my time or the agent's time if it isn't possible.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum51/HTML/000814.html

Ah, thank you, I should have found that first.

Next time that I pay the change fee I'll have to see if that increases my chances. Maybe the reservation agent will tell me how much of an FC queue there is and how many are CPs? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

LEB-

Once at DCA I was standby for later flight as I had missed the early one, DC to Albany, and got FC seats. No fee, just certs. Just last week at PHL, coming in from CDG, I switched from a connecting flight into IAD and went standby for a flight to DCA, once again got into FC w/certs, no fee.

Both flights less than half full and I am Gold.

MG

Hello US FTers,

This is the a good time to remember the Golden Rule of Air Travel. "Gate Agents Can make or break any rule" if they want to.

Va.SquireFlyer

Originally posted by Va.SquireFlyer:

This is the a good time to remember the Golden Rule of Air Travel. "Gate Agents Can make or break any rule" if they want to.


Right you are. When I got to PHL and asked about getting on the upgrade list I was told, "sorry, the flight is all booked." It wasn't until later that I got to thinking...so what, unless they are all checked in there's still a chance for upgrading. I snuck a peak at the gate computer and saw that FC was sold out, but 2 seats hadn't checked in yet. Sure enough, when I was sitting in coach the agent came onboard and upgraded two folks to First.

My note to self: always ask if First is checked in full.

Originally posted by LEB:
Right you are. When I got to PHL and asked about getting on the upgrade list I was told, "sorry, the flight is all booked." It wasn't until later that I got to thinking...so what, unless they are all checked in there's still a chance for upgrading. I snuck a peak at the gate computer and saw that FC was sold out, but 2 seats hadn't checked in yet. Sure enough, when I was sitting in coach the agent came onboard and upgraded two folks to First.

My note to self: always ask if First is checked in full.



The agents in PHL have improved in the last year -- they used to snap "it's full!" in their best snippy voice without so much as looking at the list and then never bothered to pull people up from coach. I've been on flights with 5 empty seats in FC after being told that it was "full".

I've found that the best tactic after hearing that it's "full" is to politely say something like "oh, that's too bad, what are my chances? has everyone checked in yet?" That usually gets them to do 2 things -- 1) pull up the list and look at it and 2) check to see who you are. More than once I've discovered that I've already cleared the list by asking that simple question.

And the golden rule is ever so true. The gate agents can and do make exceptions for everything. Especially if you're being patient and understanding with them.