Originally Posted by
makfan
Huh, what I have heard is elites complain that non-status flyers are offered buy-ups at checkin while they languish on the list.
That also happens, but is a separate issue from the opening of upgrade inventory with an active waitlist. Further complicating the issue at UA is that R can be open, but complimentary upgrades are (correctly) not processed. The biggest issue at UA is opening of R on premium transcon or international routes when an instrument waitlist is still present, which is basically the parallel to AS opening U inside of T-120 with an active complimentary waitlist, since AS isn't so sophisticated (that we know at least) to draw complimentary upgrades from an invisible subset of U inventory.