Originally Posted by ContinentalFan
If you're waitlisted for BF, that's different. The waitlist rules are changing in that the list will soon no longer be wiped clean 24 hours before a flight.
This is incorrect. The only change CO Insider described was that BF mileage upgrade waitlists will no longer be "closed." In other words, anyone can get on the waitlist for a mileage upgrade at any point up to 24 hours before departure and the waitlist will be processed according to elite level, etc. All BF mileage upgrade waitlists still terminate 24 hours prior to departure. I think you might be confusing this with the fact that it is possible to standby at the airport if you have a BF reward ticket that you were only able to confirm in coach for the segment at issue.
Originally Posted by CO Insider
We actually do have reasons for our 24-hour waitlist expiration, and I don't see this changing anytime soon. First, we have the challenges outlined above about managing customer expectations too close to departure. Second, and most importantly, we're not willing to do anything that could jeopardize our demand for premium cabin fares. Making it easy to stand by for upgrade awards at the airport would potentially risk our ability to sell these seats at their intended retail value. And that's not a risk we can afford to take.