Originally Posted by ben1040

EXP desk told her that I should book on my own, and then my friend should call the EXP desk with my PNR # to have the upgrade applied to my ticket. They further advised that I call in to make the initial booking to make sure there was sufficient inventory that the upgrades would actually clear.


The EXP desk was correct


If the what the EXP desk told her is is correct, can I just grab an ExpertFlyer free trial account and look at the inventories for myself, then place the reservation and have my friend call in the upgrade?


Yes. You must actually buy the tickets first before asking for the upgrade and not just hold a reservation. There is always a small chance that the upgrade space will disappear between purchase and the call so don't delay.

What inventory do the eVIPs book into?


It depends on what cabin you want to upgrade to. Look up the details on Expertflyer.