Check In prior to 3 hour EUA run?
 

In a separate thread, there was a unanswered question as to whether checking in and getting on the waitlist prior to the 3 hour EUA process might preclude you from receiving an EUA UG when seats are released. Any thoughts on this??? Thanks.

I have no experience with this regarding checking in for a non-stop flight earlier than three hours beforehand, but I have been EUAed several times at the three-hour mark while in the air (based on the times of the EUA emails I had received) for connecting flights that hadn't cleared yet at check-in.

I think checking in should only improve your chances of EUA... I have also been upgraded for a connecting flight while in the air- thus after check-in.

Based on my own experience, the 3 hour EUA still gets processed the same way if you check in for your flight over 3 hours in advance.

I did this for a trip from EWR-IAH. I checked in 3 1/2 hours before my flight at the kiosk and was advised that I have been placed on the FC waitlist.

I hung out in the terminal, had lunch and went to the PC for the rest of my wait. However, since I lost track of time at the PC, I ended up having to rush to the gate to get onto my flight. (I totally forgot about the 3 hour EUA.)

I then boarded and took my seat in coach. Low and behold around 15 minutes later, another passenger shows up with the same seat assignment as I had. Then it dawned on me....I must've been upgraded! I took my belongings and spoke to the FA who checked with the gate agent and she came back and told me that I had been upgraded and what my seat was....

I really felt stupid for not checking before boarding....was just too concerned about not having the storage space for my belongings...

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SFnFlaGuy

[This message has been edited by SFnFlaGuy (edited 10-28-2002).]

i love your attitude because you are not OBSESSED with the upgrade. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Awww... thanks for the compliment! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif (I think...that was a compliment right?)

Well, with all the travelling that I've done, I've learned to set my expectations as low as I can to the bare minimum acceptable levels that any positive deviation from that would result in a "pleasant" surprise for me. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

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SFnFlaGuy

I did a little experiment a few months ago. I checked my wife in (separate PRN) about 4.5 hrs prior to the flight and I checked in about 2:45 hours prior. The result... Both upgraded and EUA mail sent to both of us.

It may not matter but I would check in as soon as you have the opportunity.

Keith

Well I am going to test the system this weekend and I will let you know what happens when I return. I am flying LAX-EWR-FLL-Hampton Inn-FLL-EWR-LAX. I was EUA'd on the first 2 segments and used a UF0W for the return. I am waitlisted for the last segment while revenue management holds onto the A bucket seats knowing that there will be lots of full fare FC customers walking up to the counter at the last minute.

I was told by the Plat Elite Line rep that CO clears the waitlist 3 days out. I don't understand why but that is what they said. In the old days you could be UG'd for both segments when you checked in but for me flying through EWR, no luck anymore. I Hopefully I will get lucky and get to UG by using miles.

Did you get EUA'ed on the FLL-Hampton Inn segments? I hear CO's generous with those. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/tongue.gif

Not yet but I have my fingers crossed http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif. But I did get my UG from EWR-LAX as the waitlist cleared at 3 days just as the CO res agent told me.

it was definitely a compliment. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by fly co to see the yanks (edited 11-01-2002).]