I have issues with the CX waitlisting system. I tried to waitlist 2 tickets booked in Y fare class on a HKG-PVG sector that was showing Y0. I did this around 2 days before the flight and I was informed the flight was overbooked, but I asked to be put on the waitlist anyway.

So on the day of the flight, I see that its showing Y2 on ExpertFlyer so I call CX eService and ask if my waitlist has cleared, they say no, the flight is full. I ask them to check again because I see the Y2 and then they then say that yes, there are seats available.

So my question is: if there are seats available, why doesn't my waitlist clear?

As a corollary, if someone else sees these seats open, and they call CX, they will be able to make a booking in Y class, even though I am waitlisted in full fare Y just because the system doesn't clear me automatically. How is that fair?

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Yep, I got exactly same experience few years back. I called MPC to clear my waitlist by myself when I saw availability in Expertflyer. I had not fly with them long time, and I cannot believe they are still like this currently.

Yes, the waitlist system is useless.

Even as a then MPC DM< I have had to call in to advise that I see space available rather than an instant confirmation in business class (in D or I class).

The same issue applies to upgrade waitlist. My guess is the computer "sweeps" waitlist probably around once a day, and there is a gap between seats being released and computer sweep.

Totally a guess from IT perspective. The system doesn't work on an active waitlist algorithm but rather a static waitlist algorithm. I.e., it sweeps when certain conditions happens (such as time restrictions: once a day, every few hours, etc.) From corporate perspective they don't really care as long as the seat can be sold, and even if nobody wants to buy it they know someone on waitlist will. Of course, like you said if someone purchase the ticket before your waitlist is cleared, then you're screwed.

Chalk up another IT issue for CX to fix.

By the way, How about other airliners such as SQ, QF or BA..?
Are they the same as CX on clearing waitlist?

Hardly any news. Same applies to awards as well. Here's my thread from 3.5 years ago.

Award waitlists don't automatically clear

Maybe MPC should add "Guarantee Award Seat" to their MPC DM and GO benefits...

We're not talking about the other airlines here.. so I'm not even going to answer this .

If discuss about the example/benchmarking from other airlines is not allowed in CX forum,then please delete my post since you are the moderator.

Please also revise the CX forum policy that no one is allowed to refer to another airline in their posts.

Thank you very much.

I don't really know if we can call the waitlist system unfair because the Expertflyer system sometimes are not exactly accurate. I one had a similar situation where Expertflyer did show 1 or 2 seats in the booking class that I needed but when I called MPC DM hotline, they said that booking class is still not available. So I called my friend who works for CX to help me check the loading of the flight and also the availability for each subclass, and she said that it shows as being 0 in the CX system.

So now when I check Expertflyer, I take it with a grain of salt because it is not always 100% correct... And this is true not just for CX, I've found this to be true with EK, AA, UA, CI, and CO.

As for award seats, if you are DM you can call MPC agent to check with their capacity control supervisor to confirm the seats. MPC has their own award seat quota that is completely separate from Revenue seats and are able to force confirm the seat for Diamond members. I once was able to confirm an award seat from HKG to PVG while my friend was still on waiting list for a revenue seat and that flight was already oversold in Y.

So when dealing with Revenue tickets, you need to contact CX reservations directly as MPC does not have control or the ability to check with capacity control supervisor.. but if you are dealing with a Award ticket, they might be able to work some magic...

that has mostly to do with the POS as far as i know...

That's correct.

Though IME with EF, if it's showing CX seats available with POS US or UK, it's rarely the case that they're not available with POS HKG.

Right POS is correct... I recall now... my friend did explain the complex CX system... All subclasses are actually not created equally.. the CX system is a bidding system... with the passenger paying the highest dollar value have highest priority... so and I class purchased from HKG would be ranked higher thank an I class ticket purchased from Bangkok since the fares departing from Bangkok are cheaper... this also happens across subclasses...

for instance.. I was holding a D class ticket to SFO and my parents an I class issued in Bangkok... their 'I' class+ MPC Silver got confirmed before my 'D' class+DM...