Waitlist using PU503 certs?
 

Greetings, I booked a flight for my son and myself...he is silver and I am Diamond. I wanted to use my PU503 certs to upgrade us on both segments. The agent said only one segment had space to use the certs and we could be put on the waitlist for the other seg. The flight is in July. Where does this put us on the upgrade list? Does his silver status bring us way down the list? Do these clear earlier than the normal upgrade waitlist? Thanks.

As a DM wanting to use an SWU (PU503), you will be at the top of the list. Since your son is a companion on your SWU request, he will be at the top of the list with you.

Please search - there are numerous threads on this exact topic.

Also note that the coding must be done exactly right to ensure that you receive the higher priority on the wait list.

Please also post your route(s) so we can provide a further analysis based on whether or not this is a domestic vs. international trip.

Thanks for the reply. It is a domestic route. Sea to MSP on a 757-300. Then MSP to IAD....this segment was already upgraded. Cheers.

A few recommendations...

1. Sign up for ExpertFlyer (EF) and set up a notification for G availability (assuming your flight is marketed as Domestic... If it is marketed as Int'l, you are looking for Z inventory). As soon as you get notification that availability is there, call DL and have them process the upgrade.

2. If inventory does not open before day of departure, you are eligible to transfer your SWU waitlist to the Airport Standby List (ASL) with the highest priority there is. If this happens, it is extremely critical that you contact DL *after you check in* and make sure that your upgrade request is coded as "UP2A" which means "DL RESERVE DM / DM PASSENGER BOOKED IN Y/B/M/H/Q/K AND DESIRING TO USE A SYSTEMWIDE UPGRADE TO FIRST OR BUSINESS CABIN." If you are coded properly, you (and your son) should be #1 on the list. The only person(s) that could trump you (and your son) would be another DM that's also requesting to use an SWU that is booked on a higher fare than you.

Hope this helps.

This is very important. In my experience, these are often not coded/transferred right and you end up on the normal comp upgrade list. I agree..you must CHECK this!!!

+1

Otherwise as DM on SWU UG you should be #1, even trumps DM on Y fare for complimentary UG.

Question:
I understand the above scenario but what happens if you are on a SWU wait list (and the normal V "requested" wait list) several weeks in advance on a flight that currently has no V or G inventory, who comes first on the list if they add either V or G before the gate lottery begins?

If V/X but not G/Z is added between the time the Medallion Upgrade Window (T-5/6 days) opens and T-3hr (gate control) then there is no hope of the SWU clearing. The increased upgrade priority is only effective when you check in which effectively places you on the airport standby list at the higher priority code (*if coded correctly!!*) for a gate upgrade.

Before the gate, these are two separate lists for upgrades into two completely separate upgrade inventory buckets. If G becomes available, someone with a SWU or upgrading with miles gets the seat. If V is made available, it goes as a free upgrade from a Y fare, and then to a DM etc. as a free upgrade at the window.

At the gate, any remaining FC seats become essentially available as a single category using a single priority list.

Thanks for the explanations. I have been wait listed using both types on an "H" fare (ATL/SAN on the 30th and have not had any luck with either, watching all the "F" seats disappear over the last 30 days. There was apparently no "V" left at the first window (6/5 day mark) as the inventory did not change between then and 2 days ago but based on what has been posted they either added a few "V" seats that went to DM's (or others on a Y fare or had requested an upgrade earlier than me (30 days out in this case) or more likely they sold the remaining seats as "P" or "F". Anyway it looks like the gate lottery for me so I will be sure and follow the advice already given be being sure the standby code is done correctly ( I am sure my friends at the Sky Club can verify that for me.

Thanks again for all the help ^

very helpful. Thank you. I used one last week and it worked like a charm. I just didn't know if it was correctly input until I was #1 on the list. Other than to ask are you sure it is in the record correctly (which is a little insulting to the agent who entered it), I didn't know what to specifically ask for.

twice
 

Flights coded correctly will show twice on the itin.

The SWU UG will come first. Either way, having a WL'd SWU should put you at the TOP of the list.

Many FT-ers burn their SWU's that are about the expire this way.

I'm in exactly this situation for my tomorrow's FLL-ATL-SFO trip. Will ask the GA's what upgrade code I have. For now I can see myself both complimentary and swu wait-listed. As a DM on M fare using SWU only stars should be higher than me on the list ;)

OP and others in the thread -- please post your results!!!!!