US Airways Dividend Miles (Pre-FlightFund Merger) - Envoy upgrade on PAPER ticket question...

I am flying PHL-FRA-ZRH (US cnx to LH) on a PAPER ticket. I am a CP with an upgradeable fare, but if I don't get it at the 7-day (official) or 3-day (unoffical-call inv mgmt), what is the best plan for making sure I am at the top of the upgrade list. I don't think I can check in except at the airport a few hours in advance. Is that correct? Thoughts?

Thanks much!!

If you don't make the upgrade by the 2 or 3 day advance window, call and see if inventory mgmt. will open one up for the advance upgrade, explaining that you have a paper ticket and don't want to check in, in person, 8 hours early to get on the airport waitlist.

You also might be able to change the paper ticket into an E-ticket in advance of the trip if you can get to a USAirways ticket counter (but call and ask about that one, too).

Otherwise, if you don't see an upgrade by midnight on your flight date and you're still holding a paper ticket, get the airport nice and early.