Upgrade and stand-by together?
 

Flying ATL-SFO on 1/26. I want to stand by for the 6:45 AM (ATL-IAH) connecting to the 9:05 AM (IAH-SFO) When, if at all, will I be added to the upgrade wait list?
Thanks

You don't go on to the wait-list for F until you have a seat in Y. If they don't clear you very early (ie @ check-in), your chance of actually getting the u/g is very low (not that it is necessarily all that high anyways).

Not only that, not all the GA's are familiar with the nuances of the upgrade priority. So say they clear you as standby at the gate, you will need to ask to be put on the upgrade list (it's not automatic). I have often heard GA's tell me there are already several people on it, not understanding that Platinums will beat Golds, or something like First Class is full, not realizing there may be battlefield upgrades.

In other words, you may have to persist to get on that upgrade list.

Hi Noanker1, you'll be automatically added to the upgrade list (in Elite priority order) as soon as you clear a seat assignment on the new flight.

That used to be the case, Channa, but not anymore. Just last month we changed how this works - now it's automatic. This was a frequent complaint because it so heavily depended on manual intervention (and often customer persistence). Now, when an Elite that's eligible for a complimentary upgrade stands by and clears a seat assignment in the main cabin of the new flight, the customer will automatically be added to the upgrade standby list. At that time the customer will be prioritized ahead of any lower-ranking Elites that haven't yet cleared an upgrade.

This is excellent news!

Does this apply to just standby and clearing, or does it also apply to rebookings? I have had a few rebookings lately due to irregular ops, and the agent had to manually add me to the first class standby lists.