UAInsider, thank you very much for being here to answer our questions. Can you describe how upgrade priority will work in the new system?

Specifically -

1. If an upgrade clears before the departure management window, what is the priority in relation to: time of booking, status, fare amount, fare class, upgrade instrument type (i.e. miles vs. SWU), and

2. If an upgrade clears within departure management window, what is the priority in relation to: time of check-in, time of booking, status, fare amount, fare class, upgrade instrument type (i.e. miles vs. SWU)

Some additional questions:

a. If there are two PAX on 1 PNR and 1 PAX has low/no status, how does that affect things?

b. Do these rules apply the same to a UA metal vs. a CO metal and same on an itinerary that combines UA and CO metal?

c. Can we now use 1 instrument to book an upgrade on an itinerary that combines UA and CO metal? If one segment clears but the other segment doesn't clear until DM window, does it still work? With the "old" system, this scenario required two instruments.

I'm a long-time UA flyer, but I have noticed some very strange things about CO that concern me greatly -

1. It seems like priority is given based on time of check-in for upgrades within departure management, and this means that a member with no status whatsoever can jump ahead of a 1K/GS just by checking in early.

2. It seems like with CO that the instrument type (miles, UDG, CRU, SWU, etc.) has a much greater role in determining priority than it did with UA.

I'd very much appreciate the most clear and precise answer to these questions so I can plan accordingly.

Good luck with the cut-over!

Mitch