Expectations for Waitlisted BF
 

Hello Fellow FTers,

A while back (6 weeks perhaps), I used all 4 of my 2010 SWUs to waitlist for upgrades for myself and my fiancee for early July IAH-AMS (CO58) and early August TLV-EWR (CO91). I have since been diligently using the upgrade search feature to check for R-class inventory, and there's never any. Meanwhile, using ExpertFlyer, I can see that there's plenty of unsold inventory. I know there's nothing anyone can tell me for sure, but I'd love some thoughts on your intuition for what my expectations should be? Am I likely to clear in advance? If so, how far? And if not, is it a good shot at the airport?

If I don't clear at T-24 hours, is there anything special I need to do to ensure I get put on the airport wait list - call CO? Ask about it at check in? The lounge? The gate?

Thanks so much!

No one knows when a wait list will clear - just keep your fingers crossed. If it hasn't cleared, at T-24 then you will be automatically added to the standby upgrade list - no need to do anything.

Your question about upgrade clearing (or not) is analogous to the proverbial "how long is a piece of string?". If you try doing a search using "upgrade waitlisted" or "upgrade clear" you'll find myriad threads asking essentially the same question as you for different flights. Perhaps your question rests in this thread?
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/conti...mysteries.html

This thread below also talks about your issue:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/conti...lly-clear.html

You shouldn't have to. The best thing to do is to check in online, then go to Flight Status for your flight and verify that you've been added to the waitlist. You can then also see how many seats there are left, and how many other passengers are ahead of you on the waitlist. If for some reason you get checked in and do not appear on the upgrade waitlist, then that's when you know it's time to call.