"You're #1 on the waitlist"
 

Hey folks

Just looking for a quick answer. If I use a RUC and the agent on the phone says "You're #1 on the waitlist" there's no way for me to not be #1 on the upgrade list right?

I used a RUC and I checked this morning and I'm #2 on the list.

Could it be someone burning a GUC?

Diamond trumps Platinum. What is your status? Or maybe another RUC with a higher fare class than you?

I'm a Diamond and already got Diamond for next year. I'm on a mixture of Y and U for the trip. This one is a Y

Yes, The person can "burn" a GUC (only for this flight or having an intl flight before or after).

Do you have the Reserve card? Was your trip booked under a corporate caravel contract? These are additional tie breakers beyond status and fare class.

Between being # 1 on the waitlist and the upgrade list, additional customers could also have purchased tickets for the flight or could have SDCed onto it.

There is an AMEX card which puts cardholder at the top of upg list (within Medallion level).

Yes, the DL Reserve card that I mentioned in my post right above yours.

360 could have used an RUC too.
Or someone used a GUC,not necessarily burning it when it's connecting to an international leg.

if you don't get the upgrade you won't loose your RUC so apart from you being disappointed it doesn't hurt to apply the RUC I think?

Well the seats are gone now anyway must've sold the upgrade. 0/5 on attempting to use a RUC. God these are worth less

I've been 3 for 3 with RUC this year and 3 for 5 on GUC. So, it is possible. Just gotta know when to play that card.

could be a distressed traveler in IROPs or just a regular guy with a paid ticket and no seat selected.

Perhaps I've mis-read, but from the GUC thread, I'd gleaned that a RUC and a GUC sit at the same priority, and a GUC doesn't trump a RUC?

I am starting to feel like people say this only because everyone else says this. I have made DM in 2016, 2017, 2018, and this year I have already qualified for PM and will hit DM for 2020 sometime in early November. Since 99.9% of my flights are domestic USA, I select the 4 RUCs for PM each year and the 8 RUCs for DM. I have never had one expire, and I have never used one for a shorter flight than PDX-ATL, or maybe DTW-PDX.

I find that I have to waitlist around 75% of the time, but the waitlisted ones probably clear 90% of the time when there is > 0 first class seats remaining.

So, y'all just go on thinking that they're useless. More upgrades for me!

agreed. first year as PM and successfully used all 4 of my RUCs. All of them cleared before the gate too, including two to Hawaii.

I use mine as +1. In doing so I only need 2 trips to clear in one year to burn 4 RUCs.