Getting on the upgrade list is harder than you think. Automatic? Not so much...

On Saturday, thanks to CO's PDA friendly site, I discovered many hours ahead of my departure time that my original last-flight-of-day from YYZ to EWR was cancx. I also found that the first flight out today was packed in back but had seats up front. Cool.

I arranged the re-book and hustled to the hotel biz center to OLCI. Checking in means you're on the upgrade list, right? Thirty minutes later, no sign of yours truly on the list (via PDA) so I called the OP CSC. "No problem," said the helpful gent on the phone, "You're on the list. Sometimes it doesn't show up on those PDA thingies." Umm. OK.

This AM enroute to airport - still not on the list. After navigating my way to the gate I inquired. "Am I on said list?" Ans: No. The GA asked me if I had checked in at the counter. Nope. You know, OLCI. "Well, " she said, "You always need to check in at the airport to make sure you're on the upgrade list. "Oh," said I, "I thought when I checked in online I was on the list?"

Ans: "Well sometimes, but not always. You really need to check in at the airport." Hmm. Kinda negates the whole OLCI deal doesn't it?

Anyway, she added me to the list and sure enough, thirty seconds later there's me, top of the list. A moot point as by then 1st was long since checked in.

Not a big deal on a short flt like this one, but I'd be bummed to mis a transcon upgrade with a similar issue. So who do I have to know to get on the list? Or do I start bringing camping gear to the check in counter?