Plan B for non BF Upgrade
 

Searched about 15 minutes and no luck, so I risk asking something I can't imagine not having been discussed before...

I have a US - Mexico itinerary that I "purchased" with a 60,000 Saver Pass award. One of the 4 Segments (IAH - LAX) on CO Metal came back in Coach (G Class) I am waitlisted on that flight for a First Class (E class) seat that looks like it will not clear (one unsold seat for flight 30ish hours out). IMHO that makes me a displaced first class passenger, which ought to put me on the PR-1 list for an "upgrade".

Can anyone confirm my thinking, or better yet, give me what to tell the agent to look up on their computer.

Once you check in you should be able to see your name at the top of the upgrade list on the pda info site. As you "paid" for a first class seat in miles you should be at the top of the list assuming someone else isn't in a similar situation and checked in before you.

Maybe this is the thread that you are seeking:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=642160

I found that one. That's Business First, I'm thinking it may be different for standard domestic first.

This same thing recently happened to me....
 

One of my domestic segments for a reward ticket had to be confirmed in coach with a waitlist for F. Be aware that your "waitlist" on your reward ticket will drop off 24 hrs prior to departure. You WILL NOT have any "priority" over those vying for their plat/gold/silver 5/3/1-day-prior elite upgrades. I'm a silver & still did not get upgraded that way, either, nor did my "reward ticket waitlist" automatically place me on the upgrade list. Bummer.....

That is only true if you are on a mileage upgrade waitlist. If you are on a waitlist for first on a reward ticket, you are "PR1" and at the top of the first class waitlist.

Co 1e ...
 

Guess it didn't work this time - I had a standard F award tkt (not an upgrade reward) - when my "reward waitlist" dropped off at 24h prior I did not even get ON the waitlist let alone make it to the top.

I had a similar situation earlier this year (domestic portion of a BF reward) where I noticed that I was not on the waitlist for F at the 24 hour mark and had to call the elite line to have them fix the issue. I do not know whether you are automatically placed on the waitlist in such certain situations, or whether you must have an agent manually add you to the queue.

Tried that, too...
 

...and THAT didn't work. Got the runaround on the elite line and at the airport ticket counter. Each said the other had to do it!
Let's hope that OP has better luck than I did...

Many agents either confuse this issue with trying to waitlist for a mileage upgrade within 24 hours of departure (which is not permitted), or simply do not know how to put one on the waitlist.

T - 18 hours, 2 calls to platinum desk and a transfer to co.com support and no help, just cluelessness.

E Bucket appears empty (no First rewards showing), but there are still revenue seats for sale. Waitlist has expired. I'm checked in but not showing on pda.co.com

Capacity: 24
Booked: 21
Checked In: 10

10 have cleared, 2 standing by, and I'm not on the list.

I have by fingers crossed for luck at IAH, but I'm glad I have an exit row!

Got the FC Seat
 

At airport check in at IAH, I told the agent checking my bags I was a displaced first class passenger, having paid 60K miles for a saver award, and I wanted to be added to the PR-1 list. She spent a few minutes reading the remarks in my PNR to verify the award level, and then added me to the list. pda.continental.com/info showed me as #1.

At about T-30, I checked the pda site again and saw I cleared. I walked up to the gate as she was pulling 3 upgrades from the printer, had her swap my seat with one of the other battlefields, and enjoyed my oriental shrimp and infamous soup.

I have a flight in two days, booked GN, F domestic reward booked in coach. I can now see it on the PDA site and it has two people 'upgraded'. If we are top priority, how can someone be 'upgraded' ahead of us, unless a displaced PAID F person?

You are not on the PR1 list at the airport until you actually go to the airport and get on the list. It would seem that CO has issued EUAs to two passengers. RNE is going through a similar experience with a flight this weekend as well, with EUAs being issued and displaced F rewards not getting upgraded.

When to check in ?
 

Two questions that I think/hope are relevant to this thread:

a) As a displaced-F customer, is it better to check in online in coach and go to the airport and ask to be put on the waitlist, or to check in at the airport, or does it even matter ?

b) My wife is flying in EWR in BF but on her domestic connection, she is again a displaced-F passenger. When will she clear (if she does) the waitlist ? Before starting or TATL flight, or will she have to go to the gate of her connecting flight at EWR to find out ?