online waitlisting for BF?
 

Happy to purchase with upgrade both ways for one ticket bought for my husband. Then when I went to buy my ticket, no upgrades available on those dates.

Is there an online method to be placed on waitlist for BF? or must I call? Searched but kept finding posts that people called in and thought they were waitlisted but were not - frustrating!!!

Answer
 

Call CO (either the OnePass or OnePass Elite numbers <http://www.continental.com/web/en-US/content/Contact/default.aspx> with your request. Does your "purchase with upgrade" mean you purchase a fare class that isn't Y or B and then you apply 1 of the upgrades listed at http://www.continental.com/web/en-US/content/onepass/rewards/upgrade/charts/default.aspx ? Or you're wanting a Y or B with an instant upgrade?

No there is no online administration for those Series upgrades. continental.com does a lot, but you must call for that.

If you refer to International BusinsesFirst (and not the domestic first class which isn't called BusinessFirst), one can request an upgrade then be instantly cleared off the waitlist thus not on the waitlist. As usual with such complaints, some detail is lacking and the Devil's in the details.

You can confirm the waitlist status by viewing your reservation at http://www.continental.com/web/en-US/apps/reservation/default.aspx .

I don't know of a way to do it online, always had to call.

If the UG is not available at time of purchase you must call to waitlist.

After the call you should see dulicate itineraries for the flight, one up front and one in coach, for each segment on which you requested the upgrade. If you don't see that, then you're not on the list. That's how you know whether they really put you on or not.

About a week ago I booked 2 reward tickets for October 09 in BF SAT-IAH-LHR and the final IAH-SAT segment wasn't available up front. Only because of FT did I know to ask to be waitlisted (thanks FT).

The waitlisted segment showed up as an additional segment, but wouldn't let me select seats. Last evening I checked my itinerary and there was a message that the waitlisted segment had cleared and to contact CO reservations. The agent had some problems, but after about 20 minutes he said we were all set.

The only glitch was that our seats on a prior segment went away (but still showed occupied) then came back about 30 minutes later.

Everything worked well. Thanks CO (and FT).

I wonder though if someone else could have grabbed the F seat if I had delayed confirming it?

Hmmmmm, when I have been waitlisted I automatically cleared got me seat assigned and did not have to call. I am now waitlisted to HKG and wonder of the process has changed. Maybe I will have to call this time.

Thanks to all who responded!

thanks for this especially, now I be able to confirm if I am indeed on the waitlist.

I believe the process is semi-automated. When the waitlist clears, it goes into a queue to be processed by an agent who finalizes the upgrade, which involves charging the credit card the upgrade service fee. This doesn't happen immediately. I'm guessing it's prioritized by how soon the flight is, and will depend on how busy they are. So if you happen to pull up your reservation between the waitlist clearing and the reservation being "cleaned up", you'll see the message to call. But if you wait it out, it should happen on its own. Usually. But always a good idea to periodically check the reservation online.

Thanks for the information, makes perfect sense. I will be sure to keep checking my reservation online.

I'm currently wait listed for a upgrade using miles on CLE-LAX and it shows the extra leg when I log in. I didn't even know you can get wait listed on domestic runs.