Originally Posted by
BER Flyer
Sorry, no, it not works that way. I have an similiar case for an flight in a few weeks, PE is full, C is not ( still showing J9 ). Spoke to agent which was knowledgable about GUC but was sorry about not beeing able to process my request. When the PE booking classes are zeroed out the agent can't prcess the upgrade and therefore i will not show up on the waitlist at all. The gate agent won't see my name on the waitlist and won't even know that wanted to use an GUC for that flight. As you wrote: In order to get on the D1 waitlist your upgrade to PE has to be going through first. If that is not possible you won't be on the upgrade list.
Correct, you won't show on waitlist. However the GA can clear you directly into D1. The D1 waitlist is an automated (or should be automated process). No way to be on it without being in PS. (Either by paying for or upgrading using GUC)
However at gate if PS is full and D1 waitlist has cleared, the GA can manually place you directly into D1. They process the GUC the same as before the changes last year in this case. (Ie if you showed up to gate and D1 waitlist was empty, they didn't bother adding you to a waitlist, they simply sat you in D1 and attached GUC)
If agent says no, ask for redcoat.