Does anyone truly know how this works? I've heard so many different explainations over the years I don't know if any AC agents even know.

My understanding is that fare type takes precedence, and in the case of equal fare then wait list entry time. But, nobody seems to know if other factors such as milage totals (year to date, years of SE status, Million Miles status, etc.), fare totals (year of and/or historic), or any other factors.

One thing obvious is that when partners (Lufthansa for example) run the desk, mistakes are common.

Is the master programmer reading this??!!