Originally Posted by ryanfinger

I have been using several RUC over the last two months. I comment a lot on these things in the forums. I watch them very closely (as you need to do) to make sure they are applied correctly and I get the best use out of them. (Yes, it's crazy that I have to do Delta's job but its the price you pay for taking them as your award).

So I just discovered a bit of a trick and want to share it with the group. Perhaps others can provide input as well.

As you know when you apply and RUC you get an additional tab in your itinerary showing First / D1 but you cannot select a seat. If you try and select a seat - no avail. However, when I check on my flights I always click on the RUC seat tab and try anyway (i'm in IT so always trying stuff like this).

Two weeks ago on a flight I was waitlisted I clicked on a seat and it actually selected the seat. My ticket still showed I was in coach. When I tried to save the selection I got an error. So I called the diamond line to check on the cert and "see if there was availability" and the agent checked and said there was. She processed the cert and I was given a seat in first.

Now today - on a flight departing Sunday that I am waitlisted on. Did the same thing - checked the seat map for the D1 waitlisted segment and was able to again select a seat. Called the diamond line - same thing upgrade processed and sitting in D1.

So, it looks like if the system "allows" you to select a seat in the seat map tap added its an indicator that space may be available. At least I have two examples of that being the case.