Two Questions:

1) How full is first class on the red eye from SAN to ORD on Sunday nights?

2) What is the order for clearing standby passengers for first class? I would guess it goes by status, fare class, then upgrades...Does an award ticket trump someone trying to upgrade?

Please read on for more background.

I am trying to use miles for a first class saver award into SAN. The outbound portion is fine. For the return, the only saver flight times available are early in the day. I would like to go later. Unfortunately there are no saver 1st class seats on the red eye from SAN to ORD sunday night. Of course there are standard award seats. I don't care if I go in coach on my connecting flight out of ORD it is only a 1 hour flight. Normally I wouldn't use miles for a domestic trip, but this is important and the fare was pretty high.

What should I do?

Do I keep the earlier flight and hope a saver seat opens up on my desired flight (I doubt this will happen, it seems there are no saver seats for this flight anytime)?

or

Do I try and go standby on the later flight?

Which begs my next question...

How full is first on this flight on Sunday nights and what is the order they clear standby passengers? I was told by a CSA that it was airport dependent. He then told me upgrades would clear before standby award ticket people. That doesn't seem quite right...Is it?