Originally Posted by
Kacee
This is a close call and there's no sure answer. People do clear automatically off the waitlists, and on some difficult routes - just check the "GPU Success" thread. So there is a possibility if you don't waitlist, you will never clear. On the other hand, just waiting for R to open and then applying the instrument is an easier process. You don't have to rely on finding an agent who's willing to clear you manually (or to redeposit the instrument so you can do it yourself). You also need to be fairly obsessive about checking EF, particularly since it is not dynamic but runs periodic sweeps (much like the UA upgrade system).
It is a close call. For me, on this itinerary, the deciding factor was to choose a strategy that didn't require calling since I have too much concern that an agent would screw up my record in shares.
Perhaps the most superior option is to apply rpu, wait list, and use EF as backup if sweep does not happen, but for me that just creates too much work.
FWIW, using this strategy I did clear a mid week hub to hub route that has been impossible for me to clear since CO took over. Not trivial.