Since we have this thread where all the upgrade offers are collected I think a thread on reports of upgrades getting cleared or denied may help to understand the logic of the new system. Maybe any one can report his experience on upgrades either by points or vouchers in this thread?

I start with tthis you are open to alter the format

TXL-HEL-ORD
Status: Plat.
Time of booking/request
05/07/2019
Date of flight
08/23/2019
Upgrade with
Vouchers
No upgrade in the 24 hour window, so I cancled

 

I think that current status is pretty important in this.

 

Wouldn't this info be better in the thread about upgrades, instead of another separate thread?

 

A thread with just this information will make it more transparent - that was my thought.

 

I think this thread is good for sorting denied upgrade instances and discussing the factors behind it while the Big thread can handle upgrade discussion in general. As Ed Size says it's clearer this way.

 

My story is simple. All my waitlisted upgrades have cleared so far. Some within an hour or so, others just a few days before take off (while being on a waitlist for many months). Even if it is frustrating, it still works for me, as (so far) always managed to fly J when I wanted, for the price of economy.

 

Or at least one would wonder that posts like below should go there as they do not contribute anything to this thread about not-clearing upgrades.

 

It is about both according the OP's first post.

 

True, maybe I should have written that it adds very little value just saying "all cleared" or "all not cleared" without any specific details about flights (e.g. routes, load factors).

OTOH, also if one cancels within 24 hours from booking it does not represent how the process would be in long-term.

 

I think this thread serves a good, and different, purpose.
I have an ongoing story on a LHR-upgrade, and was holding out on a final say (sic) but with this thread, I'll add current status and update when I know how it went.

HEL-LHR (A350) plus LHR-HEL (A32B)
Status: Plat
Upgrade instrument: Voucher
Time of booking: T-66 days
Time of upgrade request: T-66 days
Request-method: email to plat desk
Upgrade cleared within 24h: No
Time of upgrade confirmation:
HEL-LHR (A350): Still pending
LHR-HEL (A32B): T-65 days, do note that it was not within the 24h cancel window


Interesting observation: CS rep replied "only waitlist available, but the upgrade situation looks very good and I hope we can confirm your seats very shortly".
The way it was phrased kind of indicates reps can see some indicator of availability despite official avilability says U/0. Not sure if rep just looked at availability in revenue classes or actually had some inside info on how the waitlist clearing process actually works.

It also is kind of funny how upgrade on the A350 ride, with a massive, fixed size J cabin is still not confirmed after several weeks of waitlist. To me that indicates "supply&demand" is not the main factor in waitlist clearing - they can't possibly anticipating selling 42 J seats on the route and at the same time be sure they won't sell any J-seats on the smaller plane (where they can move curtain and make J cabin as small as 4 seats!)

 

For me, the only failed upgrade waitlist has been exactly on the LHR A350. I waitlisted it in good time, approximately 3-4 months before departure and it never cleared. Two people and in the end there were exactly two empty J seats but T-37 they cancelled the waitlist. Somewhat of a disappointment, but still - the only time the waitlist actually failed.

 

Adding my personal experience booked ~3 months ago.

SIN-HEL-JFK//LAX-HEL-HKG
Passengers: 3
Status: Plat for all 3
Upgrade instrument: Voucher
Time of booking: T-188 days
Time of upgrade request: T-188 days
Request-method: call
Upgrade cleared within 24h: No
Time of upgrade confirmation:
SIN-HEL: pending
HEL-JFK: pending
LAX-HEL: pending
HEL-HKG: pending

 

TXL-HEL-BKK-HEL-TXL
Passengers: 2
Status: Plat for all 2
Upgrade instrument: Voucher
Time of booking: T-76 days
Time of upgrade request: T-76 days
Request-method: call and email
Upgrade cleared within 24h: Yes

 

Congratulations, sir!!!

 

Here is one of my upcoming LHR trips:

HEL-LHR (A333) and LHR-HEL (A333)
Status: Plat
Upgrade instrument: Voucher
Time of booking: T-41 days
Time of upgrade request: T-41 days
Request-method: phone call to plat line
Upgrade cleared within 24h: No
Time of upgrade confirmation:
HEL-LHR: T-35 days
LHR-HEL T-34 days

Edit: the pending lhr-hel flight cleared