After all the typical wrangling to get myself on CO instead of AA -- of course they end up sold out in first. Am waitlisted for paid first by corp travel -- and it displays as such in my itinerary.

Anyone know if this list clears immediately when a first seat opens, or if it waits to scan at certain times like EUA? Don't know if I need to be proactive or not.

Or raise my hands and say CO for this was not meant to be -- and deal with the crAAp.

As far as I know, you'll clear immediately once a seat opens up. Might also help to pay attention and once you see it, call up and make sure it gets processed.

Even though it should work on its own, at the very least I'd probably check/call before any EUA runs.

How does one waitlist for paid first on CO? I've been on DL six out of my eight last flights only because SFO-EWR has been sold out in A for days in advance, and I'd love to be able to waitlist.

Our corporate travel agent (Amex) requests it. Don't know if it's a feature that is run by them or Continental.

However, when I look at my record, it says 'waitlisted segement' and shows two bookings for the same segment. One in coach, and the other in first waiting to be cleared. Both let you look at the seatmap.

If this is something Continental doesn't make available to the general public, would be great to see the feature extended to Elites. I agree one of the most frustrating things is to see transcons booked up and be forced to look elsewhere.

Makes no sense that you can waitlist for a mileage upgrade but not for one where someone is willing to pay full price.

See below:

Flight Details:
Depart:
7:20 p.m.
Tue., Sep. 23, 2008
New York/Newark, NJ (EWR - Liberty) Arrive:
10:34 p.m.
Tue., Sep. 23, 2008
Los Angeles, CA (LAX) Travel Time:
6 hr 14 mn OnePass Miles/
Elite Qualification:
2,454 /150% Flight: CO1502
Aircraft: Boeing 737-800
Fare Class: Economy (H)
Meal: Snack


Complimentary Elite Upgrade setting for this flight: On | Off Need Help?

Depart:
7:20 p.m.
Tue., Sep. 23, 2008
New York/Newark, NJ (EWR - Liberty) Arrive:
10:34 p.m.
Tue., Sep. 23, 2008
Los Angeles, CA (LAX) Travel Time:
6 hr 14 mn OnePass Miles/
Elite Qualification:
2,454 /150% Flight: CO1502
Aircraft: Boeing 737-800
Fare Class: First (A)
Meal: Dinner




This flight segment is waitlisted.



Depart:
9:50 p.m.
Wed., Sep. 24, 2008
Los Angeles, CA (LAX) Arrive:
5:50 a.m. +1 Day
Thu., Sep. 25, 2008
New York/Newark, NJ (EWR - Liberty) Travel Time:
5 hr 0 mn OnePass Miles/
Elite Qualification:
2,454 /150% Flight: CO1803
Aircraft: Boeing 757-300
Fare Class: First (AU)
Meal: Snack




OnePass Members: Upon completion of this itinerary, you will earn up to 7,362 OnePass miles.*

See this post by CO Insider. You can also find this in the FAQ at the top of this forum.

Thanks - good info but I still don't know how it is done. It sounds like you can request it through a travel agent but the requirement of a valid confirmed alternative itinerary on CO makes it an almost worthless feature for SFO-EWR given that entire days tend to sell out.

I think they generally clear pretty quickly once availability opens up. But it can also be helpful to subscribe to www.expertflyer.com (premium version) and set an alert that will notify you by email/sms, just as backup. My waitlisted segments on CO (paid F) have always cleared.

Forgot about that. Keep seeing the charge for it on my statement but forget to actually use it.