Originally Posted by
WineCountryUA
Not as bad as you might think.
I agree with your assessment. There is a possibility of a minor impact in some cases. Even though minor, I still think it good PAX be aware and able to make informed choices.
Originally Posted by
WineCountryUA
UA processes upgrades in two different ways. There is there pre-gate upgrade process (previously called invisible). This list is active and used until an hour or two prior to departure. Your check-in status is not a factor. So no penalty there
There's
a Wikipost that explains this. It refers to these two lists as the "upgrade waitlist" and the "upgrade standby list." I stated priority on the upgrade standby list may be affected, rather than the upgrade waitlist; but perhaps I should have been more clear. Apologies.
Originally Posted by
WineCountryUA
The gate list is not used until check-in has closed and generally processed after boarding has started. This list does use check-in time but you must be checked in before the list is used or you will be offloaded. So you will have time to check-in before the list is used.
I think we have the same understanding here. When this "gate list" or "upgrade standby list" is used, check in time is a factor; and when one is forced to check in at the airport, they will be at a disadvantage, even if only a minor disadvantage, because check in time is the final factor, and it's likely others will have already checked in using the app or online.
Originally Posted by
Repooc17
Not sure how the UA app or the website can verify the validity of onward travel. I am not aware of any other airline's app or website can do so.
Can it verify the validity of onward travel when on a RT itinerary or separate O/W tickets booked via UA? What about flights operated by partner airlines?
Even if UA can find no automated solution, they could provide a method to upload or send the required information for manual review in the same way an employee at the airport will be required to do. Failing that, UA could recognize this limitation and stop using check in time as a factor for the upgrade standby list. There are additional options beyond this; but UA may not have sufficient motivation to implement any of them, because I suspect UA prefers that people book RT itineraries with them, rather than O/W itineraries.
Originally Posted by
Repooc17
I just traveled on an one-way ticket from Asia back to the US on another airline, and couldn't check-in online, on the app, airport kiosk. Human involvement would still be required with certain scenarios.
Originally Posted by
emcampbe
there are likely multiple factors involved, and multiple reasons why online check in might fail.
No disagreement here. There are certainly multiple factors involved. You are correct that online check in can fail for multiple reasons. Many of these reasons don't even involve proof of onward travel; however, in this particular case, I was advised that the reason is proof of onward travel is required.
Originally Posted by
emcampbe
Case in point: I frequently book travel to Canada on one way tickets. And have rarely had problems checking in in either direction. Sure, my ‘return’ ticket on a separate itinerary is almost always also UA, but I highly doubt One ticket purchase is connected to the other in order to see it. Saying an international O/W will always block checkin is just not correct.
I didn't claim an international O/W will always block check in. Specifically, I wrote, "...if you book an international O/W itinerary with UA, even if you possess required proof of onward travel, UA
may penalize you by not allowing you to check in using the mobile app or website in advance..."
Originally Posted by
emcampbe
try and relax a bit - just show up at the airport and have proof of your oneward ticket, and you’ll be just fine.
Thank you. I'm well aware I'll be fine. That doesn't change the validity of the information I shared.