I'm just hoping for some info on how this works with CO.

We purchased a 4 segment coach ticket (U class) and did a 15,000 mile $75 each way upgrade. The first outbound and first return segments allowed us to choose our seats and looks confirmed (R class) but we were waitlisted for the other two segments.

My question:
1) Since we got to choose our seats are we really confirmed?
2) The waitlisted flights actually had more seats available than the other segments. Is there any rhyme or reason to how this works?

Thank you, I'm looking forward to my first time on CO metal in a LONG time.

I'm a little confused...
You purchased 1 ticket that has 4 legs (OW or R/T?) and upgraded the itinerary with miles and $. The first segment of your itinerary was confirmed (If it show R class it's confirmed) and the first segment of the return was also confirmed however 2 more segments are still Waitlisted - is that correct?

Sorry- trip is LAX-IAH-BON-IAH-LAX. LAX-IAH AND BON-IAH are now R class and IAH-BON and IAH-LAX are waitlisted.

It sounds like you are confirmed for the r-class flights. regarding the other flights. Upgrades clearing have nothing to do with the number of seats available. Im waitlisted for a flight with like 40+ seats available and probably will not clear until the day of the flight. Basically if CO thinks they can sell the seats they will try to.

Thank you. I'll just hope for the best for the other 2 legs, especially the IAH-BON since it's a redeye. Really can't complain heading to BON anyways.

There is some information on the waitlist in the FAQ, although to be fair, it doesn't seem to have any information on what happens after the waitlist expires:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/conti...ml#post7374763

The waitlisted segments can clear pretty much at any time up until 24 hours prior to departure. Waitlisted mileage upgrades are prioritized ahead of free elite upgrades, although the waitlist itself is prioritized by elite status, so any elite members on the mileage upgrade waitlist will be ahead of you, as will any non-elites who requested the upgrades before you.

At T-24 the waitlist expires, and you will get an email notification. At that point, you can check in for your flight online and will be added to the Upgrade Standby list. The priority is similar to the advance waitlist. The Upgrade Standby list is processed beginning when the flight closes for check-in (usually 30 minutes prior to departure). Any un-checked-in or unsold seats will be given away at that time. Any no-shows or mis-connects will have their seats given away about 10 minutes prior to departure. You can see your position on the standby list and the status of the FC cabin at pda.continental.com/info (or on the regular continental.com website under Flight Information).

The structure of this process means that between T-24h and T-30m, mileage upgrades can be skipped over in favor of free elite upgrades, which are more or less continuously processed by EUA after the T-24 mark. Not sure if they're working on rectifying this.

Thank you for the detailed reply ijgordon. Hopefully we will clear before the 24 hour mark but if not it will be interesting to watch our names climbing up the list to the point the GA will call us over and re-print our upgraded boarding pass! Hopefully. Thanks again and safe travels.

CO often holds several seats back until about T-60. If this is the case, you will probably the #1 name on the list clear about every 5 minutes or so, with the last one or two seats being held open until after boarding. A redcoat should come on board to pull the last 1 or 2 people out of coach.

Leg 3 of 4 is confirmed! They changed to a larger aircraft so we are confirmed First. One more to go which is the overnight leg where I am hping to get some sleep.

In a scenario where the initial flight upgrade (miles + $) was waitlisted and hasnt' cleared at T-24... then at check in you would have to pay for any checked bags... What happens if you get the battlefield upgrade, is the baggage fee refunded?

What does continental.com say?

Here, I'll help:

Still a bit new to CO, so forgive the newbie question, but my partner is waitlisted for an upgrade on a flight with me (currently at T-48). The segment is listed as waitlisted in the view reservations section of the website, but when I check the flight status it says there is no one on the upgrade standby list.

Is there a blip and I need to get him on the upgrade standby list even though he's already shown as waitlisted? From reading the above posts, it seems that all is ok-that the upgrade standby list only starts at T-24 and as long as he's showing as waitlisted he's still in the queue. If the upgrade doesn't clear before T-24 then he will move to the upgrade standby list. Is this right?

You need to read the Upgrade Standby List FAQ that is linked at the bottom of the upgrade standby list screen (hint: it's the second entry). And then you need to understand that the waitlist and the upgrade standby list are two separate things.

Quick question (with I hope easy response)...

I am on an X tkt (miles redemption) to Europe (and back I hope). On (either) leg, are "paid" upgrades available and if so where to ask (check-in desk or gate)? I plan on using OLCI but if a decent deal is available then would like to pay to get out of cramped class into stretch class.

Comments?
Thx

Discounted cash upgrades to BusinessFirst from even paid tickets are all but unheard of on CO. (Except to Hawaii.) It is very unlikely to happen.

Your best bet is to waitlist for a BusinessFirst reward, but obviously you need the miles to do that.