When do GA's start processing the upgrade list
 

I'm 4 of 11 on the upgrade list for a flight, with 8 seats available which I know means pretty much nothing at this point but I'm curious as to when GA will start processing this list do they start at T-3 or is it at T-30 mins. I've never actually been upgraded at the gate prior to boarding even though I usually hold out if I'm 1 or 2 on the list.

I thought it was T-15 minutes because that is the "rule" around when you have to be at the gate or lose your seat. I could be wrong but that was my understanding.

30 minutes before departure is when the GA should clear upgrades.

this is "SHOULD" ... However, many times, esp. in Atlanta, it is done during boarding or even after boarding has completed.

Theoretically.....if they need to board at T-30, wouldn't they need to clear the upgrade list at T-40 or so?

This would also allow them to process the standby list (for Y seats vacated by upgrades).

It would seem that this would become increasingly necessary given the recent increase in the number of battlefield upgrades necessitated by FCM.

Can someone who flies one of the JFK/CA routes where they all clear at the gate comment on when that process usually happens?

If the GA has not cleared upgrades before boarding starts and you have a shot, wait and then try to catch them between zone 1 and 2 boarding. Just ask if they have cleared upgrades and that you are 1 or 2 or whatever on the list.

Boarding starts at D-35...if someone starts clearing upgrades at D-30 part of zone 1 has already boarded. Personally I clear around D-35-40 depending on how many seats are left.

mostly 30-45 minutes before departure in my experience.

Are you finding more and more seats being held back?

If so, have you been given any new instructions from the company as to when upgrades should begin clearing?

At a small station like mine, we'll clear upgrades if we see that all the medallion members have checked-in (or if its a Thursday and we've got a 35-person long list and only FOs and GMs are left) or at about D-35 to D-40 as well.

Same with HKs and non-revs. If the aircraft is only half-full, we'll clear them as soon as someone gets to the gate. But if it's looking tight, we clear the HKs once everyone's checked-in, and then non-revs only when we know for sure the appropriate load.

Interesting.....does this mean that if the person who is #1 on the u/g list hasn't checked in when the GA clears upgrades that person is out of luck, even if they check in at a kiosk 2 minutes later and then show up at the gate 25 minutes before departure?

I take the JFK/CA flights quite a bit, and as a general rule, the upgrades come through about 40 to 30 mins prior to boarding.

Depends on the Gate Agent
 

Sometimes they clear the upgrades 45 minutes before departure; sometimes as little as 10 minutes before departure. Since ticket sales for a flight are cut off at least 30 minutes in advance, one would think that 30 minutes would be the norm. In my experience, they clear upgrades before they start boarding the F cabin 8 out of 10 times.

As far as I know it is impossible to be #1 on the UG List unless the SM member is checked in.

That is correct and the reason the list is kind of useless until the gate.