Originally Posted by
Wudang
I guess I had the wrong assumption about early checking and opt-up but at any case I still got many opt-up even though I usually checked in online. I am only a Silver member but have had many PEY to business opt-up on long distance flights like SFO-HK or HK-SFO.
There are several factors:
1. You checked in online. That means you checked in early. The BN or SEC starts at OLCI.
2. You purchased PEY. Due to the limited PEY seats, you can get op-upped easier when PEY or Y is oversold.
3. You are lucky. My wife has been a GO and SL the past 10 years or so and only had a birthday upgrade, but not a single op-up on the SFO route. Well, she has been flying in J, and perhaps J-F op-up is not as easy.